Peer tutoring in writing: A school systems approach

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What is peer tutoring?

Peer tutoring in a classroom context involves training students in instructional methods so that they can assist younger or same age students’ learning. Peer tutoring is a practice that classroom teachers can deliver in such a way that it allows them to cater for diverse needs within an inclusive and responsible social context.

Peer tutoring:

makes use of the support children can offer each other while working together in a structured approach that caters for the individual development needs of both parties;
can provide academic gains for both tutors and tutees;
has been found effective, with same-age and cross-age peers, both in small groups within classes, and as part of class-wide peer tutoring arrangements;
benefits from a positive relationship and balance of power between participants (therefore participation should be voluntary for both parties); and
has been demonstrated to be a successful intervention in a range of disciplines including: reading, mathematics, spelling, reading comprehension and writing.

Some studies have suggested that peer tutoring may promote greater academic gains than teacher instruction. This may be because students feel comfortable in peer interactions, allowing for a more easy development of cognitive growth and skills.

Being a peer tutor can train a student’s social skills, enhance their self-efficacy, and remedy skill deficiencies. In some cases, tutors have made significantly greater gains than those they have been tutoring. In such cases, tutors have been selected on the basis of who stands to make a gain rather than who are the most competent students in the subject.

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Research Home Themes \| Find digests \| About the digests resources glossary researchers contact TRIPS Introduction What is peer tutoring? The main findings of the study What else did the study find? What were the aim and the design of this study? What does an inclusive 'process writing' approach consist of? What training did the peer tutors receive? What are the implications of the study? Where can I find out more? Send us your feedback Collated digests To find out more about collated digests click here Get Word Reader Peer tutoring in writing: A school systems approach This digest found in Assessment for Learning English Send to a friend Word doc 60KB Printer friendly Collate for later What is peer tutoring? Peer tutoring in a classroom context involves training students in instructional methods so that they can assist younger or same age students’ learning. Peer tutoring is a practice that classroom teachers can deliver in such a way that it allows them to cater for diverse needs within an inclusive and responsible social context. Peer tutoring: makes use of the support children can offer each other while working together in a structured approach that caters for the individual development needs of both parties; can provide academic gains for both tutors and tutees; has been found effective, with same-age and cross-age peers, both in small groups within classes, and as part of class-wide peer tutoring arrangements; benefits from a positive relationship and balance of power between participants (therefore participation should be voluntary for both parties); and has been demonstrated to be a successful intervention in a range of disciplines including: reading, mathematics, spelling, reading comprehension and writing. Some studies have suggested that peer tutoring may promote greater academic gains than teacher instruction. This may be because students feel comfortable in peer interactions, allowing for a more easy development of cognitive growth and skills. Being a peer tutor can train a student’s social skills, enhance their self-efficacy, and remedy skill deficiencies. In some cases, tutors have made significantly greater gains than those they have been tutoring. In such cases, tutors have been selected on the basis of who stands to make a gain rather than who are the most competent students in the subject.