Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS)

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) is a 25- to 35- minute math or reading activity implemented two to four times a week and is designed to complement, not replace, existing reading and math curricula. PALS combines peer tutoring with instructional principles and practices. Teachers identify and pair children who require help with specific skills ("players") with children who are the most appropriate to help other children learn those skills ("coaches"). The pairs of students are changed regularly, and over a period of time students work on a variety of skills so that all students have the opportunity to be "coaches" and "players". Approximately 13 to 15 pairs of students are created in the classroom, and each of these pairs is geared to each individual student's needs (as opposed to a single, teacher-directed activity that may not address the specific problems that children face). The PALS peer-tutoring strategy enables teachers to circulate around the classroom and observe students, providing feedback and remedial lessons where necessary.

The goal of PALS is to ensure that all students succeed in reading and math.

The evaluations demonstrate that treatment-group students, in various versions of PALS, scored significantly higher than control-group students on tests of reading and mathematics skills.