Lessons at Academy Prep

In keeping with yearly tradition, members of the Writing Center's Academy Prep outreach group traveled to Academy Prep to teach the students mini lessons on writing skills and styles.

Tutors teach engaging lessons to Academy Prep students.

As always, both the tutors and the students had a great time.  The students really enjoyed having people close to their own age visiting their classrooms.  Mira Rajani, a junior, said that "working with the kids was an amazing experience! Every student really wanted to learn and had an incredible amount of determination."

Mira Rajani smiles as she works with a group of students.

Mira liked the change of routine that comes with working with the students at Academy Prep.  "By teaching a lesson rather than tutoring an individual paper, we were able to see the kids really improve certain writing skills and put them into action," she said.

Janae Noah teaches a mini lesson to a class.

Madeline Katsarelis, a Berkeley senior, taught a lesson on "showing not telling" and writing personal narratives to 6th grade boys.  "I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the boys because they were so kind, respectful, intelligent, and creative.  It was so fun to play teacher, especially for such a great group of kids," she said.

Teaching mini-lessons to Academy Prep students has become a beloved Berkeley tradition for many reasons, but Madeline sums it up best: "The students' enthusiasm was infectious!"  All of the members of the Academy Prep outreach group eagerly await their next trip to Academy Prep!