In this essay, the author discusses her journey from her first year of the PhD program at USC, and the work she is doing now for a company that builds infrastructure in Afghanistan. She explores the ways in which studies for her 1985 PhD in Rhetoric, Linguistics and Literature did and did not prepare her for the work she does now. Her memoir…

One-to-one tutoring is an exceptionally effective teaching method. Adding a well-designed peer or cross-age teaching component to an elementary or secondary school program has the potential for significantly augmenting the school's capability to promote academic achievement and interpersonal growth. (LHW)

The institution of peer tutoring among black school children is the subject of this paper. The author acknowledges that while peer tutoring is not a new concept, the idea is resurging, especially among educators, because of: (1) the failure of the educational system to adequately prepare a large portion of urban youth educationally; (2) a…

Home schoolers have much to offer their school board and administrator colleagues. Parents who teach their children at home can offer lessons in the following: (1) children setting their own reading goals and achieving them; (2) using vertical age grouping in instruction; (3) children forming friendships with adults; and (4) using student…

Responds to an article in the April 1998 issue of this journal. Shares evidence about the effectiveness of peer tutoring. Discusses literacy tutoring of K-3 emergent readers by volunteers. Explains why tutoring is not teaching, and offers a model for successful tutoring practices. (SR)

Replies to an article in the same issue of this journal, which responded to this author's earlier article. Elaborates two fundamental points of disagreement (the definition of tutoring and the characteristics of the children being tutored). (SR)