Description

For this strategy, the instructor may pair an excellent reader with a struggling one to help learners finish activities created to promote the development of reading skills. The strategy complements the existing reading curriculum by providing research-validated learning strategies through a course of peer-mediated instruction (i.e., peer pairing, peer tutoring); grade-appropriate versions of PALS address specific reading issues.

Advantages

• Learners can often teach concepts to one another in a straightforward way because they’re on the same educational level and closer in their learning journey than the instructor who probably learned the content eons ago.

Disadvantages

• Peer-assisted learning is not the same as the learners providing the instruction. Learners must continue to view each other as partners in education.

Implementation

1. Invite learners from a grade level above to come into the classroom and act as moderators of discussions on topics of interest.
2. Pair stronger learners with weaker learners. Have the stronger learners demonstrate their knowledge by supporting the more vulnerable learners.