Examined effects of combining cross-age tutoring, peer tutoring, cooperative learning, and computer-mediated writing in a peer-assisted learning package on writing skills of second through sixth graders with learning disabilities. Found that the treatment group enjoyed working with partners, asked each other for help, had friendships extending…

Describes how a project in Great Britain designed to promote learner independence in English-as-a-foreign-language students clarified issues regarding the need to provide guidance in any student training program. Notes how e-mail and computer conferencing were used to encourage learners to work together, independent of the tutor, to learn English.…

To facilitate the integration of technology into the learning environment, the Office of Instructional Computing at the State University of New York at Stony Brook engages students as peer mentors and as technology mentors to faculty. Examines the two mentoring relationships, the design of the programs, and the pros and cons of such programs. (PEN)

A study of a junior high school inclusion program that provided four students with disabilities with nondisabled student aids found the students with disabilities experienced growth in levels of independence, social networks, academic skills, and in behavior. Describes beneficial outcomes for the student aids and contributing successful program…

Describes the feasibility of the peer leader component of a school-based nutrition intervention for young adolescents designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and lower fat consumption. Results from a multicomponent process evaluation involving participant feedback, observation, and teacher ratings and interviews indicated that…

This article discusses activities developed for the "Theme Scheme," an instructional program for elementary and middle school children at risk for failure. "Theme Scheme" is a listening and reading comprehension program that uses peer-assisted learning strategies and writing exercises to teach students to understand text at an…

A study examined perceptions of 26 teachers, including 13 special educators, of the Peer Buddy Programs implemented in a Nashville school district. Teachers reported positive relationships between buddies and their partners with disabilities and enhanced personal growth for students with disabilities. The majority agreed buddies assisted in a…

Discusses the peer approach to teaching writing with adult students. Discusses theoretical ideas about adults-in-transition, particularly women, that make the peer approach important to their education. Describes specific instances in which the peer approach has been used successfully with adults. Discusses student response to the process. (JS)

Presents five plans to assist students in information seeking on the Internet and provides examples of activities. Highlights include practicing search skills, learning about a topic of inquiry and/or question answering, reviewing multiple perspectives on an issue, solving authentic problems, and publishing synthesized and/or critiqued information…

Developed for poor students in England during the 19th century, the Lancaster system was cost effective and was based on the "monitorial" concept giving students responsibility for their learning and emphasizing entrepreneurship. In 1805, the Lancaster system came to the United States, but it quickly ended when it came under state…

This article reviews 17 spelling intervention studies for students with learning disabilities and provides implications for improved spelling instruction in the areas of error imitation and modeling, unit size, modality, computer-assisted instruction, peer tutoring, and study techniques. (Author/JDD)

The drive for full inclusion has proven disastrous for certain learning-disabled students who may require alternative instructional environments, different teaching strategies, and special materials. Students with learning disabilities would succeed in regular classrooms if more special-education learning strategies, such as collaborative…

A high school teacher created a writing center for private student peer tutorials without a teacher. Students borrowed some tutoring methods from the teacher and devised some rules and strategies of their own that led to a more socially constructive environment in which they were more enthusiastic about their writing. (Author/SM)

This article shares procedures that were used to establish coaching partnerships across disciplines in an early childhood setting for children at risk. The procedures were effective in facilitating collaboration among personnel that resulted in an increase in effective teacher behaviors and a decrease in ineffective teacher behaviors. (JDD)

Intermediate grade students with learning disabilities learned to work in pairs to help each other with editing and revising of their compositions. The 13 subjects made more revisions and produced papers of higher quality when revising with peer support than did 16 students in a process-approach control group. (Author/JDD)