Janette Joyce
Senior Researcher
Working with Legacy High School in Bismarck, North Dakota, through REL Central, we were recently asked to look into considerations in building an effective peer tutoring program. Peer tutoring allows students to learn from one another in a more informal environment than the classroom.
Research has shown peer tutoring has benefits such as:
- Improved comprehension of basic academic skills leading to better student outcomes
- More timely responses to learning materials
- Relationship enhancement among students
However, successful peer tutoring involves more than handing high-achieving students a textbook and asking them to help peers who might be struggling with challenging material. If you’re exploring peer tutoring as a strategy to help address learning needs stemming from the pandemic, we uncovered four key considerations from the research that were associated with better outcomes for students:
1. Provide training for tutors
Effective training is an essential component of a peer tutoring program. Programs that have more extensive training requirements for tutors are more often associated with better outcomes for students. No two people process information the same way, so tutors who expect everyone to learn the same way as they do will quickly grow frustrated with their tutees.
When developing training for prospective tutors, include various strategies for delivering instruction, providing feedback, monitoring performance, and managing challenges. Incorporate modeling, scenario navigation, and role-playing activities into the training.
2. Set tutoring routines for tutors and tutees
A preestablished, structured routine for tutoring sessions provides support for both tutors and tutees by creating a familiar setting. Each tutoring session should begin with setting goals to be accomplished and end by reflecting on progress toward those goals. Sessions should have clear steps and schedules.
In general, tutoring sessions should be three times a week at most and last half an hour. Sessions should occur over a maximum of two months.
3. Use a reward system
Tutoring programs that use a reward system for attending and achieving specified goals have a greater effect on student outcomes and may be particularly effective for middle and high school students.
Students can be rewarded for individual attendance and goal achievement. You can also consider group rewards for classes or full grades that use peer tutoring. Tutors can earn rewards for tutee achievement and for adhering to routines and strategies as outlined by program leaders.
4. Monitor tutor performance
Once there are established guidelines for tutors, it is important to monitor their instruction. Feedback, reinforcement, and error correction are associated with better student outcomes.
Conduct regular meetings with all tutors to provide general feedback and problem-solve and meet with individual tutors as needed. You should also provide opportunities for tutors and tutees to provide regular feedback on how the program is doing.
Before implementing a peer tutoring program, it’s important to consider if you have the resources and capacity to implement these components. If you can devote the necessary time and effort on training, structured routines, a rewards system, and progress monitoring, you’re more likely to foster a successful learning dynamic for students and get the positive results you’re aiming to achieve.
For additional information and research references, download REL Central’s Research Considerations for Developing a Peer Tutoring Program.
