Peer tutors are seventh and eighth grade students who are enrolled in an elective class titled Peer Tutoring. They are assigned to a teacher or other educator at Kennedy, O’Loughlin, or Lincoln to assist the teacher or work with students individually or in small groups. We have tutors placed from preschool settings through middle school classes. They provide many different forms of assistance to the students of USD 489 ranging from hanging bulletin boards, organizing papers, tying shoes, being a big buddy at recess, listening to a student read, reading to a class, helping a group study for a test, and many, many more.

The peer tutors and their assigned students participate together in a wide variety of learning activities designed and guided by the classroom teacher.

Peer tutors have the opportunity to…

•  Provide assistance individually and/or in small groups
•  Execute learning activities
•  Be a role model in direct and indirect situations
•  Provide motivation in classroom, as well as other areas
•  Provide guidance in an age appropriate manner
•  Utilize management skills
•  Gain disabilities awareness

Program Objectives:

•  Students will have opportunities to openly and freely learn from each other with the support of the teaching staff.
•  Develop friendships, which will encourage students to become more self-confident academically and build self-esteem for the future.

Benefits of the Program:

The peer tutor will serve as a role model to all students within Kennedy Middle School and within the community of Hays. The tutors are to demonstrate how teamwork is essential for independent life skills. Peer tutors will better understand the strengths and concerns of students with educational needs, and how their thoughts, feelings, and ambitions are not different from those of their other friends.

Peer Tutors build a helping tree to help them identify what personality traits build a strong peer tutor. They come up with their ideas by thinking about the characteristics of helpers they have enjoyed having in their lifes, such as their parents, siblings, teachers, friends, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.