Synopsis
Peer tutors have the ability to make a positive influence in the lives of their peers with disabilities. The Peer Tutor Student Handbook will provide the resources and training needed to make their time in the special education classroom mutually beneficial. Here’s what students had to say about their involvement as peer tutors in a special education classroom: “This experience helped me grow as a person. I wanted to do this so I could understand how to help others and learn different ways to communicate with different people. I started out being a peer tutor and teaching them, but I ended up being their friend.” Katy, Peer Tutor “My favorite part was just being able to interact with students in the special education classroom and have fun and get to see who they were. They’re people just like us. They’re a little bit different but they’re still someone.” Peter, Peer Tutor “I became a peer tutor because I want to be a special education teacher when I grow up. My favorite part of the job was getting to know the kids. Having this experience made me grow as a person.” Chrissy, Peer Tutor Together, Candice and Suzanne have over 40 years of teaching experience in special education and have developed peer tutor programs in every classroom they’ve worked in. Their peer tutoring model of reverse inclusion maximizes peer interaction in natural and appropriate ways. They were inspired to share their experiences recruiting and training peer tutors knowing the positive effects that these programs have on both special education students and the general education students who work as peer tutors. Used in conjunction with the Teacher’s Guide to Peer Tutoring (purchased separately), this manual sets the standard for students working as peer tutors. The Peer Tutor Student Handbook belongs to Styer-Fitzgerald Publishing's line of outstanding educational products, including the Styer-Fitzgerald Program for Functional Academics. Unique among special education curricula, the Styer-Fitzgerald Program provides a comprehensive approach to teaching functional skills to students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities, including autism. For more information about the entire line of Styer-Fitzgerald products, visit the website at www.styer-fitzgerald.com.
About the Author
Candice Styer, Ph.D. and Suzanne Fitzgerald, M.Ed.
Candice Styer has worked in special education for over 30 years. She received her teaching certification, M.Ed., and Ph.D. at the University of Oregon.
Dr. Styer has developed the content in The Styer-Fitzgerald Program for Functional Academics throughout her career with an emphasis on the vital mix of research-supported best practices and classroom practitioner experience-based wisdom. She developed the life skills assessment and curriculum over the last 30 years while teaching middle school and high school students with moderate and severe disabilities.
Suzanne Fitzgerald began collaborating with Candice on the Styer-Fitzgerald Program for Functional Academics as she entered the special education program at the University of Washington. Recognizing the unique value of the material, she worked with Candice to standardize and refine the content and structure and has added complementary material from her own work in the field.
Suzanne has worked with children and adults with developmental, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities in classroom, vocational, residential, and recreational settings for the past 21 years. She received her BA in Human Services from Western Washington University and her Teaching Certification and M.Ed. from the University of Washington. She was a middle and high school special education teacher for the Snohomish School District.
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