PEER TUTOR PROGRAM
Peer tutoring is an educational approach that joins students from Years 5 to 8 who assume the role of tutee with older students from Years 10 or 11 who assume the role of tutor to develop skills and confidence in reading fluency and comprehension.
The research literature on peer tutoring is extensive and international studies have clearly shown that peer interaction is conducive to a host of important early achievements, such as:
- children's understanding of fairness
- their self-esteem
- their proclivities toward sharing and kindness
- their mastery of symbolic expression
- their acquisition of role-taking and communication skills
- their development of creative and critical thinking.
Research literature also shows that the gains for tutors often outdistance those of the students receiving assistance. These gains result from reworking what the tutors know in order to make it understandable to their tutees.
The benefits of peer tutoring are:
- development of reading, writing skills and language development
- development of social behaviours, interpersonal and communication skills
- improvement in attendance
- improvements in self-esteem
- opportunities for leadership and social responsibility
- gaining a heightened sensitivity to younger student’s needs and concerns.
Tutors can gain a TAFE certificate in the course Literacy Volunteer Tutoring (Schools) Theory and Fieldwork. Senior students enrol with TAFE and are trained in reading assistance by participating in set modules on theory. At school, the tutors participate in fieldwork by supporting junior students in the reading of the actual classroom texts from their various subjects during Drop Everything and Read sessions on four days per week.
The program demonstrates significant success in the full range of government schools including coeducational, girls, boys, central, collegiate and primary schools. The success achieved by Aboriginal students and by boys is particularly significant.
Resources:
| Newsletters support the program by offering advice and suggestions. These are available at the following links: |
Peer tutor newsletter 1.06.pdf
Peer tutor newsletter 2.06.pdf
Peer tutor newsletter 3.06.pdf
A hard copy of the Peer Tutor Program manual is available from the Literacy Unit at Ryde State Office on 9886 7619. It is also available online for reference by clicking on the title above.
The program is available to schools through self-funding for 2009 and beyond. The following forms are intended ONLY as support materials for liaison with TAFE institutes and from 2009 should not be forwarded to the Literacy Unit:
Click here for other resources for teacher professional learning into reading and literacy.
Information: For further assistance with the Peer Tutor Program, telephone Bernard Pryor, Adviser, Literacy on 9886 7619.
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