Project BEST (Basic Educational Skills and Training) is a mentoring program involving Virginia Commonwealth University students and area middle school students. In the two-tiered program, VCU faculty mentor the Project BEST college students who, in turn, serve as mentors to the middle school students. Activities include Saturday mathematics and…

The author combines principles of cooperative learning where older students at risk of dropping out are recruited to teach violence prevention to younger learners. The secondary students learn problem solving and conflict resolution skills while providing a positive model through cross age peer tutoring.

This document discusses the relative merits of cross-age helping programs, where one older more experienced student helps younger less experienced children to learn. Two types of approaches to organizing cross-age helping programs are reviewed: (1) one emphasizes a programmed or structured approach which consists of a series of detailed steps for…

Responds to an article in the April 1998 issue of this journal. Shares evidence about the effectiveness of peer tutoring. Discusses literacy tutoring of K-3 emergent readers by volunteers. Explains why tutoring is not teaching, and offers a model for successful tutoring practices. (SR)

The purpose of this study was to determine if cross-age peer tutoring of fifth graders with learning disabilities and kindergarten students would have an effect on reading attitudes and reading achievement. A tutoring program was designed to meet the literacy needs of fifth grade special education resource students as well as provide enriching…

Theoretical considerations for peer and cross-age tutoring are presented, essential inqredients for effective programs are offered, and a practical approach used by consulting teachers to design and implement a cost-effective tutoring program in Barre, Vermont is described. Benefits for the tutor and tutee are pointed out, including that tutoring…

Describes a cross-age reading and writing program in which sixth-grade students (all average and low-average readers) were paired with kindergarten children to read and write collaboratively on a regular basis. Finds evidence from the students themselves, their parents, the teachers, and the school librarian showing how students' attitudes toward…

The Kountze Public Library in Texas conducted a program using cross-age tutoring as a strategy to strengthen family reading skills, to develop a collection of educational literacy materials in the library, and to disseminate results to the public. During the 1-year program, 29 volunteers participated, with 14 trained as tutors. Tutors worked 64…

Focuses on elementary and middle school students as peer helpers. The five articles describe the peer helper concept and how it can enhance learning, offers suggestions for training peer helpers, describes helping projects and program evaluation, and suggests other ways of improving school climate through cross-age interaction. (JAC)

This practicum project developed and implemented a program to teach young children reading readiness skills before they entered first grade. A target group of 20 students ranging in age from 4 to 6 years old in an elementary school kindergarten class was established for the program. During the 12-week implementation, the target group participated…

Describes a cross-age tutoring program that provides benefits to both the university student athletes who serve as tutors and the elementary school students with whom they work. Gives reasons for the success of the program, as well as evidence of the success. (MG)

There is a present concern that the majority of children in the United States will be exposed to drug and alcohol use before they leave elementary school. It is further known that the ability of children and teenagers to avoid indiscriminate use and abuse of drugs appears to be related to a number of social, economic, physiological, and…

This article describes a cross-age peer tutoring program in reading developed and implemented at a special school for students (ages 8-18) with moderate learning difficulties in Ireland. Evaluation studies indicate multiple benefits accruing to both the learners and the helpers including progress in reading, enhanced feelings of self-worth, and…

Describes an affordable and effective program to improve the reading and literacy skills of struggling high school readers. Describes and discusses components of the program including tailor-made assignments for each student, the use of community volunteer and peer tutors, and regular opportunities for the students to read to elementary school…

Explores benefits derived from the "Gardendale Family" (a vertically aligned team of K-6 classrooms). Describes how older students give guidance, feedback, and validation to those in lower grades as the younger children become active members of the literacy community; and how students use written and oral language in authentic and…