Tutoring

Tutoring is a common instructional strategy used throughout schools, universities, and communities to enhance academic performance. Typically in tutoring, a more advanced individual (tutor) teaches an individual with less advanced skill (tutee) the necessary skills to master an academic task. The tutor typically works one-to-one with a tutee on skills that are deficient (e.g., reading, math, writing, or study skills). Through tutoring the tutee is provided an opportunity for individualized instruction in which he or she is able to practice and receive immediate feedback in the identified area(s) of need.

Tutoring programs may include strategic and/or instructional approaches. When using the strategic tutoring approach, the tutor teaches the tutee strategies needed to independently complete an academic task (e.g., strategies to write a research report). Instructional tutoring is a cooperative learning strategy in which the tutor teaches the tutee skills to complete a task. Unlike strategic tutors, instructional tutors are more content-based, which means that these tutors rely heavily on their knowledge of the subject matter to teach skills. Strategic tutoring is usually seen in schools, college and university settings, and agencies that employ professional tutors. Instructional tutoring is seen in schools that might use volunteer tutors and/or high-achieving students. Community-based tutoring involves volunteers or employed tutors from agencies outside of schools to provide academic remediation services to students. These tutors may offer their services in the form of after-school programs at a community organization (e.g., YMCA) or from within the school.

The most effective types of instructional tutoring formats used in schools are Classwide Peer Tutoring (CWPT) and Reciprocal Peer Tutoring (RPT). CWPT is an effective format for teaching at-risk students. CWPT involves pairing students within the classroom to carry out the tutoring process. The teacher serves as a supervisor of the process to ensure appropriate out-comes. RPT is cited as an effective tutoring format for students with mathematical deficiencies. Unlike CWPT, in RPT each student in the pair has an opportunity to assume the role of the tutor and the tutee during the tutoring process. This method is said to enhance the learning process for both students.

Tutoring is beneficial for students’ academic success. Studies have shown that CWPT can help prevent school failure and that RPT has positive effects on mathematic achievement as well as student behavior.