Why Use Peer Tutoring.

 

As we know, peer tutoring is considered an effective method to use in the classroom because both students involved in the process benefit from it.  I'll be examining this topic today and Friday because it is so important.  Today, we'll look at the benefits and advantages and on Friday we'll look at what you need to do to ensure that peer tutoring works in your classroom. 

First off, students who read and discuss the material with each other tend to remember more and score higher on assessments.  Although the research was done in regard to literacy, the basis should still work in the mathematics classroom because they are reading a specific type of passage.  

In addition, students who worked together as pairs or in groups did better on tests that involved reasoning and critical thinking because they become active learners when they discuss and put the concepts into their own words.  Peer tutoring also helps students improve their communication skills and confidence since those involved in peer tutoring get immediate clarification and feedback.  This is also true when at-risk students use peer tutoring. 

Furthermore, many students also work better with peers than with adult figures.  Consequently, students are more likely to ask questions of each other and more likely to work through a challenging math problem because they are less likely to be teased by others.  

In math, using peer tutoring can help strengthen student knowledge, convert knowledge from short term to long term memory, allows for better mathematical communication when one student explains to the other and can decrease student math anxiety.  

On the other hand, peer tutoring needs to be implemented in a way that avoids some of the pitfalls such as students not providing good feedback or criticizing, or matching two students who are more likely to talk rather than work, In addition, many times, peer tutoring is set up so it is obvious who is the tutor or the tutee and that can make it more difficult.

Fortunately, there are ways to set things up so that much of this does not happen.  Check back Friday to see how one can set up peer tutoring in the classroom so it is more effective.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.