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School help is as close as your peers

By Sandy Mouat
CORRESPONDENT

Recognizing that students helping each other one-on-one is a most effective teaching and learning tool, Acalanes High School has a very successful peer tutoring program, implemented several years ago and sponsored by the Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation in partnership with the Acalanes Parent Club.
       Trained by directors Mary McCosker and Fran Taylor, the program currently has about 30 junior and senior peer tutors. The tutors are excellent students who are willing to volunteer their academic services three times a week. They are recommended by teachers or apply to the program themselves. They tutor in all levels of math, any of three foreign languages, all sciences, history and government, and English. The tutors receive classroom credit for their services and a grade from the directors at the end of each semester.
       "Fran and I enjoy working with both the tutors and tutees", said McCosker. "Peer tutoring has become a safe, friendly place for some students (especially freshmen and sophomores) to come to. We view PT as a positive part of the high school experience. For the fall semester of 1999, we had over 1,400 visits by students. For the same period in 2000, we had over 1,900 visits. We work with specific teachers and specific students as needed, but are available as a drop-in service every day at lunch, seventh period and after school until 4 p.m."
       Said student Joe Hughes, "I love it. If I don't 'get' something a teacher's saying, they are able to explain it to me a different way. Also, since most of the tutors have already taken the classes they know what's coming up, so they can help explain what I need and what to expect next."
       The tutoring room is vibrant with bright and enthusiastic students helping each other. Junior Abagail Liddle received help from peer tutoring as a freshman, and feels compelled to return to help others. "Peer tutoring is an excellent program, because you go there as a tutee when you are a freshman or sophomore and give back to the program as a junior or senior when you become a tutor," said Liddle.
       Maggie Corr and Casey Nunez, both seniors, enjoy helping other students while at the same time renewing their own basic skills. "The higher math levels are challenging, but do not necessarily focus on review, so this is good for us because we can refresh our skills, while helping others to understand the basic math theories. It's a good experience, three times a week," Corr explained.
       Said Casey Nunez, "It is really a great program because while we are helping the students, we have the chance to review the material we have most likely forgotten for college and entrance exams."
       Success is evaluated with feedback from teachers, tutors and questionnaires given to the students about the effectiveness of the program. The increasing numbers of tutees and the fact that the same kids keep coming back is an even greater indication of the success of the program.
       McCosker and Taylor think the program is so effective because it consists of and appeals to a wide variety of students. It supports freshman who are overwhelmed with the newness of high school as well as older students who need assistance with high level math or science. Also, foreign language students who need help in writing autobiographies or conjugating strange verbs will find help in peer tutoring, as well as students from all grades who need someone to proofread and comment on English essays.
       Freshman Amy McLain said that the peer tutoring program is "excellent." "I can come in and get help with my homework any time I need to. I often come in at lunchtime as well as after school. I really appreciate the help that I get from peer tutoring."
       "We often have students who just need to talk to an adult about the stresses of school, home, college aps, or being a teenager. Sometimes we have students come to peer tutoring because it is a safe, friendly place or because we have free food and candy. Students can stay for five minutes or for the whole period. They can get help with one problem or a whole essay," said Taylor.
       McCosker continued, "We have found this program a wonderful way to interact with a wide variety of students. It is thrilling to work with a freshman who still comes in to 'PT' as a sophomore or junior just to say 'hi' and let us know how he is doing. 'PT' is another opportunity for students at Acalanes to have access to another adult who will listen."

10/01 Reprinted with permission. Visit the Contra Costa Times on the web at www.contracostatimes.com.

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