The Writing Center at Grier, led by English teacher Dr. Boudreau, has become a vital resource for students looking to improve their writing skills and refine their writing assignments. Dr. Boudreau’s inspiration for creating the center came from recognizing a common challenge: students often struggle with writing, and teachers don’t always have the time to provide one-on-one feedback on every assignment. “I wanted to create a space where students could come and feel comfortable getting another set of eyes on their writing,” Dr. Boudreau explained. “Peer tutors can often explain things in a really concise and clear way that even teachers sometimes can’t.”
Creating the Writing Center was not a small task—Dr. Boudreau had to plan the timeline and recruit students who’d like to tutor. One major challenge was trying to cram years of teacher training into just two weekends to prepare the tutors. “I had to make sure they knew where to begin,” Boudreau said. “Students often focus too much on grammar and not enough on whether they’re answering the prompt or structuring their argument correctly. We trained the tutors to guide writers through these crucial first steps before addressing the finer details.”
Making the Writing Center a welcoming and homey space was also a priority for Dr. Boudreau; she wanted to avoid the classic sterile environment that some classrooms have, and instead, create a “café like” place where students would feel encouraged to work and get help.
While the first semester focused on establishing the Writing Center and training tutors, Dr. Boudreau is now moving into phase two: introducing writing workshops and community events.
She plans on hosting open mic nights in 1853, slam poetry competitions, and workshops led by the tutors themselves. Additionally, Dr. Boudreau would love to host a conference with writers from different fields–fiction authors, songwriters, poets, cartoonists, etc.–to show students that there’s more to writing than just essays.
“We want students to see writing as something creative and integral to life,” Dr. Boudreau said. “Whether it’s sharing music, poetry, or just trying out something new, we want to give them opportunities for exposure and growth.”
One of the Writing Center’s tutors, junior Natalie Kelsey, shared her motivation for becoming a tutor. “Honestly? College applications and community service,” she admitted with a laugh. “But I also just really like to write. It’s fun.”
Natalie and the other tutors work with their classmates, helping them tackle everything from brainstorming ideas to fine-tuning grammar. Dr. Boudreau highlighted that the tutors themselves often come to the Writing Center for help, sometimes even more than the other students.
To make sure tutoring sessions are effective, Dr. Boudreau uses feedback forms to assess each tutoring session. However, just seeing the relief and gratitude on student faces after a session says it all. “I often hear students say, ‘This would have taken me two hours at home, but I finished it in thirty minutes here,’” Dr. Boudreau shared. “It’s amazing to see them walk out with newfound confidence and a sense of accomplishment.”
Whether you’re drafting your first paragraph or putting the finishing touches on an essay, the Writing Center is the perfect place to polish and refine any piece of writing.
Looking ahead, Dr. Boudreau hopes to make the Writing Center a signature part of Grier life. “I want it to become a place where students are constantly coming in and out, grabbing coffee, talking with tutors, and engaging in writing as a core part of school life,” she said.
