Skip to 0 minutes and 21 seconds Hello, I’m Allen Thurston. Welcome to this course on the use of peer tutoring to improve student reading. This three week course will help guide you in an implementation of a successful paired reading technique for use with children aged 8 to 14 years old. The technique used is informed by extensive research and is a form of peer tutoring. That’s when we put two children together to share a book, and we assign specific roles to children as either tutor– that will be the older child, acting as a teacher– and tutee, the younger child. The benefits of the peer tutoring program include improved reading for the tutee, but even more so for the tutor.
Skip to 0 minutes and 58 seconds Studies have shown that there are social and communication benefits, with tutors responding positively to the responsibilities and trust placed in them. Children engage enthusiastically in the process. The technique provides children with an ownership of their learning. They make friends through the technique, have increased confidence, and learn how to communicate more effectively– not only in the classroom, but also at home. With paired reading, it is easier for children to learn how to pronounce new words. Not only do we look at the mechanics of reading, but also the meaning of text. The course is not only aimed at primary and teachers in high, or secondary school, settings.
Skip to 1 minute and 39 seconds It’s also aimed at childcare specialists, and those who work in non-educational settings or home education programs. And it’s generally for anyone whose interested in the promotion of reading skills and literacy in children. A range of free and user friendly resources have been made available to support you, to get you started with implementing the technique. So I hope that you can join us on this course for what will be a valuable learning experience for you, and also for the children that are in your care.