Student support systems (small groups of students who meet to learn), help combat the problem of large student-to-teacher ratios and increase cognitive and affective outcomes. Small groups allow large amounts of participation and interaction, rapid error correction, individualized practice, and self-paced work that actively involves students in…

Presents study results showing that a range of modes of interactive organization coexist in expert-novice problem-solving activity and vary with the asymmetry of the relationships. Reports that by combining high achieving status with task-related expertise, the resulting interactive dynamic is guidance/tutoring. Argues for multidimensional…

Analysis of "tutor talk" occurring between native or proficient nonnative speakers of English and limited- or non-English-speaking elementary students found that, although tutors used little sentence-level simplification, they made extensive use of conversational and tutorial strategies similar to those used by native and nonnative adults. (59…

This study of implementation of a classwide peer tutoring program for 108 disadvantaged students found that specific variations in program implementation and teachers' applications of the program produced differential levels of student outcome. Implementation factors considered included, among others, opportunities to receive program sessions and…

Three typical preschoolers were trained as peer tutors for three young children with autism. Tutors used incidental teaching to obtain verbal labels of preferred toys by children with autism. Adult supervision and assistance were faded systematically with resulting maintenance of increased reciprocal interactions. (Author/JDD)

Describes a month-long tutoring project involving the use of fairy tales which combined storytelling and process writing. Notes that students responded favorably to the project. (RS)

This paper describes and evaluates the efficacy of a combination of curriculum-based measurement and peer tutoring incorporated into 40 elementary education mathematics classes, to differentiate instruction and improve student achievement. The evaluation indicated that students with low achievement, average achievement, and learning disabilities…

This study investigated the relationship among input, interaction, and second-language production among 16 native-nonnative dyads. The results indicated that both modified input and interaction initiated by the native speaker lead to greater comprehension by the nonnative speaker, as measured by task performance. (Contains 48 references.) (MDM)

Presents one parent's perspective on what children of different abilities teach each other. The parent gained this perspective as a result of her son's experience with a developmentally disabled classmate in his fourth grade class. (BB)

Discusses advantages of flexible grouping over ability grouping. Maintains ability grouping is nonprogressive, and blames it for the unequal treatment of students who have a low perception of themselves. Flexible grouping is based on the use of a variety of group patterns to accommodate diverse interests, learning rates, and special styles. (DG)

Twenty-one articles employing peer-mediated interventions to promote social skills of children and adolescents with behavioral disorders were analyzed on their experimental, procedural, and generalization components. The review found that peer-mediated approaches produce immediate positive treatment effects and have contributed to the…

The effects of peer coaching were examined with five teacher trainees who were having difficulty learning instructional skills. Peer coaches (other trainees) provided immediate feedback on trainees' performance after reading sessions. Effective teaching behaviors increased and ineffective teaching behaviors decreased for all five trainees.…

Explores the origins, characteristics, and objectives of peer coaching in faculty development, looking at its two basic forms (coaching led by experts and reciprocal coaching). The article presents theoretical concepts and proposes directions for future research, indicating points to consider when establishing a peer coaching program. (SM)

This panel interview from the Indiana University Summer Arts Institute contrasts notions about a traditional Bauhaus foundation with a flexible, organic curriculum model. Directed instruction is also compared to problem-solving approaches. Peer teaching, science for art majors, and art for science majors are also discussed. (Author/PB)

Describes the positive experiences of a tenth grade writing teacher using peer evaluation to encourage revision of papers. (PRA)