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Dr. Andrew Chang

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Five recommendations to implementing cross-age tutoring in reading

Chang, A., & Mauer, E. (2024). The Reading Teacher

Practitioner Article

Five recommendations to implementing cross-age tutoring in reading

Chang, A., & Mauer, E. (2024). The Reading Teacher.

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Main Idea

Cross-age tutoring can be a powerful way to support reading development, but simply pairing older and younger students is not enough. Effective tutoring depends on structure, tutor training, motivation, and ongoing support.

What is cross-age tutoring?

Teaching reading in elementary school is complex. Cross-age tutoring allows older students to support younger students through structured reading activities, benefiting both learners.

Why doesn’t it always work?

Many tutoring programs fail due to lack of structure, insufficient training, and limited monitoring.

Five key recommendations

1

Use one-on-one pairings

Maximizes focus and feedback.

2

Provide structured lessons

Use clear instructional routines.

3

Train the tutors

Provide explicit guidance.

4

Support motivation

Encourage engagement and persistence.

5

Monitor implementation

Ensure quality and consistency.

Takeaway

Cross-age tutoring is effective when it is structured, supported, and carefully implemented.