LAKE STEVENS — Corrine Minnard isn’t getting as many calls from grade-nervous parents these days.
The counselor at Lake Stevens Middle School believes she knows part of the reason why as she scans a busy classroom where more than two dozen students are engaged in after-school tutoring.
Roughly a third come from Lake Stevens High School to help their younger counterparts.
"Coming here really helps," said Brian Unger, an eighth-grader, who initially didn’t want to go to after-school tutoring for help.
The temptation of TV and computers is far removed. His homework doesn’t linger until after dark. And, between pointers on square roots and negative numbers, he gets to chat about life with the likes of Kyle Chapman, an LSHS senior.
"I like to tutor," Chapman said. "I have a little sister at home."
Although adults worried a bit that the tutoring program’s medical theme, known as "The Grade Doctor," might seem hokey to students, the results have been encouraging. The school is getting more students —10 to 15 on any given Tuesday or Thursday — than in the past to get extra help.
With teacher supervision, high school tutors play the role of physicians assistants.
It doesn’t take long to diagnosis middle school students’ maladies.
The tutor asks what classes they are struggling with. They walk across the room to a computer where they can look up grades online and track down missing assignments.
They discuss goals, say, getting an F to a C or nudging a B to an A.
They fill out so-called prescription forms with color-coded copies going to the student, parents, teachers and school counselor.
And then they sit down and get to work.
In between, they give them advice on everything from sentence structure to organizing backpacks.
Minnard believes the high school students and the fact the forms get into the hands of students, parents, counselors and teachers are making a big difference. The high school students often relate well to the middle school students while the forms provide a critical link between school and home, she said.
Trevor Gallo, a seventh-grade student, started showing up to improve his grades.
He said there are advantages to having high school students as tutors.
"They know a bunch of stuff that I don’t," he said. "It’s easier for them to explain it. They know how a kid would expect to hear it. Teachers sometimes explain it technical and stuff."
Justine Fowler, another LSHS senior, is picking up community service hours to meet a graduation requirement. Tutoring time is a homecoming of sorts for her. She attended the middle school and can empathize with their frustrations.
"I see what they are struggling with," she said. "I was there once."
Margaret McCarty, an LSHS freshman, also knows what it’s like. It wasn’t long ago at all that she was in middle school.
"We understand what they are going through," McCarty said. "We also understand in their life there is more than just school."
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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