Project BEST (Basic Educational Skills and Training) is a mentoring program involving Virginia Commonwealth University students and area middle school students. In the two-tiered program, VCU faculty mentor the Project BEST college students who, in turn, serve as mentors to the middle school students. Activities include Saturday mathematics and…

This article systematically reviews research on the achievement outcomes of three types of classroom approaches to improving the reading achievement of students in grades 2-5: Reading curricula, computer-assisted instruction (CAI), and instructional process programs. Study inclusion criteria included use of randomized or matched control groups,…

Research on the effectiveness of cross-age tutoring is presented and specific applications with disadvantaged and learning disabled students noted. Reasons for success are cited, including greater personalization and strengthened ego strength and self-esteem of both tutors and tutees. (Author/CL)

A qualitative study of 14 adolescents teaching younger children identified 10 elements of program success: dedicated adult supporters, active recruitment, strong curriculum, initial training, ongoing training and support, attention to details, recognition and reward, team building, ensuring success experiences, and feedback and evaluation. (SK)

"Caring School Community"[TM] ("CSC") is a modified version of a program formerly known as the "Child Development Project" ("CDP"). The "CSC" program has been recently revised to eliminate some elements of the "CDP" that were shown in evaluation studies to be inconsistently or poorly…

Finds that the effectiveness of the "Pause, Prompt, and Praise" procedure varied according to the method of analysis used: subjective interpretation of gain scores indicated that the procedure was the most effective treatment for both tutees and tutors; the ANOVA indicated that the tutoring experience was effective; whereas the more rigorous…

The author combines principles of cooperative learning where older students at risk of dropping out are recruited to teach violence prevention to younger learners. The secondary students learn problem solving and conflict resolution skills while providing a positive model through cross age peer tutoring.

In its first year, an interdisciplinary recreational aquatics program serving eight deaf blind children (3 to 18 years old) developed and sequenced individualized objectives for communication, social, and gross motor areas. Inservice training was conducted for 13 nonhandicapped high school students serving as peer tutors, who were then evaluated…

This paper focuses on children helping children through peer and cross-age tutoring with special emphasis for programs serving the student remedial or special education setting. The historical roots of peer and cross-age tutoring are discussed. Explanations of the nature of the tutorial experience are presented, along with a discussion of the…

This paper examines research on peer mentoring programs, highlighting their benefits and noting conditions and components of successful programs. Research shows that elementary peer mentoring programs can increase the use of critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution skills. Studies also highlight the benefits of…

This document discusses the relative merits of cross-age helping programs, where one older more experienced student helps younger less experienced children to learn. Two types of approaches to organizing cross-age helping programs are reviewed: (1) one emphasizes a programmed or structured approach which consists of a series of detailed steps for…

In the San Francisco Bay Area (California), community agencies and organizations routinely use teenagers as mentors and teachers of peers and younger children. Despite the literature indicating that teens should derive many benefits from these roles, agency staff have observed teen teachers who appear frustrated, bored, or disengaged, or who have…

The article synthesizes results of studies dealing with cross age and peer tutoring in special education, noting both tutor and tutee benefits (academic and personal/social). Implications for instruction are noted. (CL)

Peer tutoring and cross-age tutoring are two student-to-student tutoring methods. Peer tutoring occurs when tutors and tutees are of the same age. Cross-age tutoring refers to older students tutoring younger students. Studies of cross-age tutoring have reported improved academic performance for both tutors and tutees. The present study was…

The student-to-student chemistry initiative (SSCI) impact on elementary school students is examined quantitatively. Results reveal that the number of students attending the chemistry outreach demonstration performances sponsored by the small chemistry department increased more than five-folds.