美国学校开展互学项目,要求同龄学生互相帮助以提高阅读、写作能力,效果颇佳。同龄学生互为彼此的老师,既新奇、有创意,又极大地提高了学习效率,提高了学习成绩,可谓一举两得、一箭双雕。
Sometimes the best way for students to learn isn't from a teacher—it's from another student.A new learning program pairs students having difficulty in reading at Handley High School with struggling readers at Quarles Elementary School to help them improve their reading and writing skills while working together.“It builds their confidence reading with other students,”said Jessica Cavalier,a reading expert at Handley.“There's an understanding between the older and younger students because they both struggle.”
Eight students from Handley began visiting Quarles twice a week to work with struggling fourthgraders.The fourthgraders taking part in the program were picked by their teachers and reading experts at the school.For 30 minutes,the students read together in Quarles' library,working with the same “reading buddy (朋友)” each week.“They're building relationships,”said Cavalier.“We're seeing some progress.”
Handley freshman Noemi Lopez said each week she picked books she thinks her reading buddy,Emily Gomez,would like.“We like to read together,”she said,adding that she has seen Emily's reading skills improve over the past few months.Emily said she likes reading with Noemi because “she makes me laugh by telling jokes.”
The idea to pair struggling readers from such different grade levels was developed by Cavalier and Quarles Principal Joanie Hovatter.“It's positive,”Hovatter said about the program.“It's peertopeer.It's all about reading.They're comfortable with each other.It's productive. They're involved,and they're learning.These kids are teaching.”