Writing Buddies.

The "Writing Buddies" program is designed to allow students from one grade level to write, edit, publish, share, and celebrate their success with peers from another grade level. Students also benefit from the strengths of two teachers and parent volunteers. The role of the teacher is to provide the atmosphere conducive to writing, and to allow and encourage students to seek other means of support for their writing. Students also become more comfortable with the computer as they type, edit, and publish their pieces. Teachers interested in setting up a Writing Buddies program need to find a colleague who is also excited about the writing process and is interested in combining classes to explore writing. Teachers should design a management system that works for them. The program developers found that the more they empowered the students and developed the program around students' ideas and needs, the smoother the program went. Having the students meet twice a week worked well. Parent volunteers worked in the computer area, allowing teachers to concentrate on conferencing with writers. Materials needed include at least one computer per teacher and a laminating machine to reinforce the covers of the books published. To make the program more memorable, each year the developers hold a celebration for the Writing Buddies involving videos, pizza, and the sharing of writing. (RS)