By Sophie Overholt
When walking into the classroom your spirits immediately lift. It’s the sound of that familiar, excited voice calling your name and you already know it’s your favorite student.
This is why junior Izzy Riley-Vannatta enjoys being in the special education classroom.
“I just love having relationships with the kids, like Collin’s my kid, and he says my name like all the time. I just love it,” she said.
Her favorite memory of Collin Vance was from last summer when his mom invited her to hang out with him. Izzy said that was a big moment because she really realized how much she had impacted his life.
Research has shown that peer tutoring, a class that involves students supporting their peers with additional instruction, has many positive effects for students with disabilities such as increased academic performance, social skills development, and self-esteem.
The special education instruction is led by Mr. Tyler Harris, Mr. Shane Conley, and three instructional assistants: Mrs. Irene Burke, Mrs. Lisa Needham, and Mrs. Amy Overholt. The class has eight special education students and 20 peer tutors who rotate into the classroom throughout the day.
“We teach general classes like math, English, and science,” special education teacher, Mr. Conley said. “So we use our peer tutors for additional help. They will hear the lesson and then they’ll help the students.”
Mr. Conley has been teaching special education for eight years, including three years at the middle school and five years at the high school, so he has seen students at different levels of learning. His main goal is making sure that his students are in a good, supportive environment.
“So figuring out the peer tutors, whose personalities match well, who likes to work with who,” he said. “I think also teaching our peer tutors that all of our students are at different (learning) levels.”
Tracking student success is another concept that Mr. Conley teaches the peer tutors.
“The measurement isn’t necessarily taking a chapter test and getting an A or things like that, it’s functional skills like being able to add money together or being able to read one sentence without any help,” Conley said.
Students interested in peer tutoring next year should be aware that there is now a new application process. Applications are available in the front office, and the deadline to apply is the week before finals. Currently there are 12 submitted applications, and those numbers are expected to rise. The Special Education Department will use the applications to ensure that peer tutoring is the best fit for both the student and the class, determine how many peer tutors are in a class, and even help students develop an interest in working with people with disabilities later in life.
“One of the good and bad things is that we have a lot of students that want to do it,” Mr. Conley said. “It’s also not any more strict, it’s just that we are doing a better job of selecting who we have that’s best for them (the students).”
Some students might be intimidated by the challenges of peer tutoring, but junior Emma Miller sees it as more than just a class.
“I’ve grown up around special needs kids my entire life,” she said. “My little brother is also special needs. So I just love them.”
Emma, who has been a peer tutor since eighth grade, also loves the students’ personalities. She likes to joke around and gain friendships with the kids she tutors.
Similar to Izzy, she considers Collin Vance her “bestie” from all their time spent together bonding during unified track.
Senior Brylie Tuttle also finds the same happiness and sense of purpose while peer tutoring.
“I enjoy coming into the classroom every day and helping the students out with their work,” Brylie said.
She says that when you are helping the students get through their work, you need to be able to stay patient and to also be able to work through any stressful situation that is thrown at you.
Brylie has helped many students overcome something that may be a struggle for them.
“When I worked with Vilija Bradford, she transitioned from just learning her ABC and number puzzles,” Brylie said. “I worked with her through her math problems. I think that was a big transition for her, and she handled it well.”
Peer tutors continue to make a difference every day in the lives of their fellow students.
The future of the classroom looks bright as interest continues to grow and current peer tutors share their positive experiences about connecting and helping their fellow students.
