What’s Right With Our Schools: Peach County High School adopts peer tutoring program
FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Students at Peach County High school are sticking together to get better grades.
Students can be hesitant to ask questions in class, but a peer tutoring program is helping the teens learn the material.
“We do know kids learn from kids and better than they do from adults many times,” says Dr. Al Pollard, principal of Peach County High.
Pollard and his staff started a peer tutoring program to give students extra help in math. Juniors and seniors tutor ninth and tenth graders for 30 minutes a day, Monday through Thursday.
“Most of everybody in the state has some problems in math to a point. At least the greater majority do. And test scores do show it. Our test scores showed that we needed it,” he continues.
“I absolutely love it, honestly. And I think it helps them be able to relate to us a lot more and they don’t feel quite as scared asking us questions than maybe they would a teacher,” says senior Shelby Garrett.
This is the first year the school has been using the program. Some tutors say creating a learning resource like this helps students understand the material better.
“I wish we would’ve had this in my ninth grade year, because I feel like they learn better from the peers, they tend listen more,” says Teiraleka Haynes, who is also a senior at Peach County High School.
Ninth grader Cedric Hillsman says, “The tutors that we have, they actually guide us step by step on what we have to do, and how to do it. And, like what’s the was easiest way to do it.”
On Fridays, peer tutors review math problems with math specialists to prepare them for tutoring sessions.
“Some of the math, the ninth grade math, they haven’t seen in a couple of years, so we refresh the topics, make sure they don’t have any questions. They know what they’re going to be doing the next week so they feel comfortable and confident in helping the students they’re going to be working with,” Math Instructional Facilitator, Jessica Funderburk adds.
“It’s amazing. I love investing in kids, especially the youth of our country. They need guidance especially with teachers nowadays being stressed and low paying jobs. So, I enjoy helping them and showing different ways that the teachers can’t show them in class,” says senior Tyler Messer.
Figuring out math problems can be difficult for students, but having peer tutors like Tyler is helping students improve their math skills.
“Tyler, he knows how to break it down better than the teacher can. Like he said, you with them being stressed and stuff, it really helps me. Anytime I have a question, I can ask him, he can help,” says ninth grader Alexis Ward.
There are about 30 junior and senior tutors. Students were selected based on their math skills and passion for teaching.
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