ABSTRACT
Peer tutoring, when done right, has large and widespread benefits on student learning. Both the student tutor and tutee gain in academic achievement relative to their non-tutored peers. Peer tutoring program generally pair students in one of three ways: same-age reciprocal, same-age nonreciprocal, and cross-grade. Peer tutoring works best when students of different ability levels in a content area work together. As long as a gap in ability exists, all three forms of peer tutoring can be effective and enjoyable for students. Peer tutoring should not be used to teach new material, but only to help students develop proficiency with material they’ve been learning. In terms of cost-benefit, peer tutoring is one of the few educational elements that provide both learning benefits and cost reductions. Relative to alternatives like decreasing class size or hiring additional teachers or professional tutors, peer tutoring is unmatched for its low cost, learning efficacy, and socioemotional benefits.
