The peer tutoring resource being featured today is FUNdamentals First: A Guide for Kindergarten Teachers Using Peer Tutoring in the Classroom. This resource guide which explains how to implement peer tutoring practices at the kindergarten grade level was developed as part of a California State University Northridge graduate project, in which author, Shelby Mendoza, proposes the use of peer tutoring strategies in helping students master concepts in a collaborative learning environment.
In the introductory section of the paper, Mendoza explains the rationale for developing this peer tutoring program guide, offering it as a possible solution to some of the challenges faced by teachers such as larger class sizes, students with a range of ability levels and school experiences, and higher academic achievement demands in kindergarten.
The actual resource guide begins on page 49 of the project report and is divided into three sections. The first section gives an overview of the benefits of peer tutoring, a description of the different types of peer tutoring programs being used in today’s classrooms as well as some research studies that have been conducted on each peer tutoring style. The peer tutoring programs described include: Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS), Class-wide Peer Tutoring (CWPT) and Classroom Student Teaching Teams (CSTT).
The next section in the guide defines the design of the kindergarten peer tutoring program as an adaptation of the different aspects of the aforementioned peer tutoring styles. Tips and guidelines are given to successfully implement, maintain and assess a peer tutoring program.
In the final section, you will find sample materials such as activity sheets, assessment forms and progress monitoring forms to accompany the lessons presented.
A link to FUNdamentals First: A Guide for Kindergarten Teachers Using Peer Tutoring in the Classroom is listed in the peer tutoring resource library.
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