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PALS. Margaret McGlinchey. PALS www.peerassistedlearningstrategies.net. Developed by Drs. Doug and Lynn S. Fuchs and their colleagues at Peabody Box 328 230 Appleton Place Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37203 doug.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu , lynn.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu.
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PALS Margaret McGlinchey
PALSwww.peerassistedlearningstrategies.net Developed by Drs. Doug and Lynn S. Fuchs and their colleagues at Peabody Box 328 230 Appleton Place Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37203 doug.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu, lynn.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu
Overview of Session:PALS • What is PALS? • Why use PALS? • What is the research base for PALS? • How should PALS be implemented? • PALS Practice
What is PALS • A class-wide peer tutoring program to practice reading skills grade 2-6 • All students work in pairs several times each week for reading practice activities
Important Features of PALS • Reciprocal roles (Coaches and Readers) • Structured activities • Individualized • More time engaged on task • Includes all students • Opportunities for success for all students • Encourages positive peer interactions • Practical AND effective • Opportunities to monitor student progress
Why Use Peer Tutoring? • Increasing diversity in general classrooms • More children entering school unprepared for success • Broad range of achievement levels in classrooms
Background of PALS • Classwide Peer Tutoring (Greenwood et al., 1989) • Best Practice status by U.S. Department of Education
Class-wide Peer Tutoring Research • Has over 20 years of experimental research • Used in Title 1 and Non-Title 1 Schools • Implemented in urban and suburban schools • Includes high, average, and low achievers as well as students with disabilities
Teacher Monitoring • Teacher keeps time and gives directions to students for moving from activity to activity. • During activities, teacher walks around room, assists students, listens to students read, listens for fluency, gives feedback, and awards points for correct implementation and positive behaviors/cooperation.
Teams and Reward Structure • Pairs keep point sheets. • Teacher tallies points accumulated by pairs for each team weekly. • Teacher announces first- and second-place teams each week, and students clap for public recognition.
Pairs: Coaches and Readers • Higher performing readers are paired with lower performing readers • Coach -Provides prompts and helps Reader; takes turn reading • Reader -Reads and accepts help from Coach; takes turn helping • Partners remain the same for 4 weeks
Assigning Pairs • Rank students according to reading performance (such as DIBELS measure). • Split class in half. Pair top performer of upper half with top performer of lower half. Pair next-to-top student from upper half with next-to-top performer of lower half. • Adjust pairs according to social skills and individual needs.
Handling Absentees • When two students are absent, their partners may be paired with the stronger student serving as Coach. The pair can record points on point sheets from both folders. • Form a triad, but avoid using very low performers or students with disabilities. Two higher performers should take turns reading first, while lower performing student says, “What word?” • Have high-performing student serve as a “rover” to substitute for students when they are absent. Or, the rover may take turns with the Coach of a particularly low-performing student.
Red Team Pair A Pair D Pair E Pair H Blue Team Pair B Pair C Pair F Pair G Assigning Teams: Try to match the two teams by placing peers of near equal ability on opposite sides
PALS Seating/Moving Arrangement • Assign partners to adjacent seats for the 4 weeks they are paired. • If partners do not sit next to each other, assign a “mover” and a “stayer” for each pair for the weeks they are partners.
Training Lesson 1 • Moving rules • PALS jobs--Coach and Reader • Materials • Points • Reading • Making corrections
Moving Rules • Take your PALS materials with you. • Leave your chair when you move. • Move quickly and quietly. • Sit beside your partner.
PALS Rules • Talk only to your partner and talk only about PALS. • Keep your voice low. • Cooperate with your partner. • Try your best.
PALS Classroom Display • PALS Rules • Pairs and Teams Assignment Chart • Score Board