Learning to read is of primary focus in the early grades. Reading can be a challenge for many students, especially those with disabilities. With rising class sizes, and more students with disabilities included in the general education setting, the need for more individualized support in literacy instruction is vital. Innovative approaches are…

In this article, we report on a cross-age peer learning program, the Martha's True Stories Reading Buddies program, focused on supporting the vocabulary and comprehension of multilingual learners and their peers in elementary school. We describe the principles of the program and provide information about our evaluation of the program. Then, we…

Peer tutoring is a form of structured peer learning technique. This study develops and tests a new form of peer tutoring technique, 'Interdependent Cross-Age Peer Tutoring' (ICAT). The method is informed by the 'what works literature' within peer tutoring and brings together crucial elements which have been shown to provide high effect sizes.…

In this paper, we explore how tutoring could become a permanent feature of the U.S. public education system. We outline a blueprint for taking tutoring to scale nationally and estimate its costs, while highlighting a range of design and implementation challenges. Our blueprint is centered on ten core principles and a federal architecture to…

Peer tutoring is a structured process of co-operative learning, supported by social interdependence theory shown to have cognitive and affective level benefits. During a RCT, this study explores teacher perceptions (n=62) of effects of co-operative learning, including implementation issues, using a mixed methods approach during a 16-week peer…

This article examines the effects of peer tutoring as a strategy for teaching and including students with disabilities in general physical education (GPE). Different teaching strategies allow teachers to meet the needs of students, whether in a classroom or gym setting. Research has been conducted on various teaching strategies in physical…

Many school districts are seeing a need to introduce technology education to students at the elementary level. Pennsylvania's Penn Manor School District is one of them. Pennsylvania has updated science and technology standards for grades 3-8, and after several conversations the author had with elementary principals and the assistant superintendent…

Peer teaching has been recognized as a valuable and effective approach for learning and has been incorporated into medical, dental, and healthcare courses using a variety of approaches. The success of peer teaching is thought to be related to the ability of peer tutors and tutees to communicate more effectively, thereby improving the learning…

This annotated bibliography cites journal articles, books and ERIC documents related to cross-age tutoring. Contents are organized in four sections: (1) trends indicating a need for cross-age tutoring; (2) variables in implementation of cross-age tutoring programs; (3) positive effects of cross-age tutoring; and (4) a review of research in…

A kindergarten teacher implemented a cross-age tutoring program pairing second-grade students with her kindergarteners for the purpose of improving the younger children's pre-reading and mathematics abilities, and increasing the older children's self-esteem and motivation for learning. Chapter I describes the focus of the study. The literature…

Reviews ERIC materials dealing with effective tutoring programs. (FL)

This guide has been created by Project TUTOR to assist elementary schools in the development and implementation of a cross-age tutoring program. The guide notes that the TUTOR experience is designed to build self-esteem and increase resiliency in elementary students by acknowledging accomplishments, supporting learning, and encouraging community…

Asserts that multi-age grouping in early childhood settings can and does work. Addresses four main hurdles to successful implementation: (1) laws and regulations that act as barriers; (2) health concerns; (3) overcoming educational values that conflict with those of the age-grouped classroom; and (4) staff misunderstanding of multi-age grouping…

Describes the Teens for Literacy project, in which teens come up with ideas to improve literacy in their schools. Notes that, in the nearly five years of the program, teens have developed a Big Brother/Big Sister reading program, selected and displayed posters in school corridors, developed videos promoting literacy, read with children, and…

Offering suggestions on setting up and maintaining a cross-age reading program, this book describes teachers' experiences in establishing a cross-age reading program in a multiethnic, multilingual inner-city school in Oakland, California. The book notes that what began as an effort to engage one under-achieving fifth-grade boy evolved into an…