EVERY afternoon at Bombala High all students ‘Drop Everything And Read’ for twenty minutes after lunch, but there are two class groups that now come together to harness the power of peer driven learning support.
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The Peer Tutoring program sees Year 10 students assisting their Year 7 counterparts in all aspects of literacy and numeracy including reading, spelling and grammar.
The program, which began at the start of the year with a reading test and assessment, is designed to find areas where students need extra assistance and, with effort and practice, increase their reading age and general literacy.
The Year 10 students also benefit with revision in phonics.
Each day a student from both Year 7 and 10 are paired together to complete activities and read passages of text. Partners change daily so interaction between classes is high.
Each student completes an individual program based on their ability and progress at their own learning speed.
“It’s good to be able to help the Year 7s with their reading,” said Year 10 student, Todd Jamieson.
Fellow Year 10 pupil, Jade Crouch believes the program is working because “We can see the Year 7s learning and having fun, and it’s great to know we’re helping them.”
The Year 7 students also agree the program is a success.
“You get to know your tutors and it’s great to have help with the harder work,” Leeanna Haley-Perkins said.
Cheyenne Medcraft, who was busy reading to her tutor, says she has realised that “It’s not just teachers that can teach you at school”.
In 2011 many students increased their reading age by up to three years as a result of four months on the program. Program Coordinator, Belinda Rodwell hopes this year’s results will be just as impressive.
