This report analyzes the effectiveness of the PALS program (description below). It was found to have ” potentially positive effects on alphabetics, no discernible effectson fluency, and mixed effects on comprehension for beginning readers.”
Description of PALS program:
“Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies and a similar program known as Peer-Assisted Literacy Strategies are peer-tutoring programs that supplement the primary reading curriculum (Fuchs, Fuchs, Kazdan, & Allen, 1999; Mathes & Babyak, 2001). This review uses the acronym PALS to encompass both programs and their respective full names when referring to a specific program. Students in PALS classrooms work in pairs on reading activities intended to improve reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. Students in the pairs—who alternately take on the role of tutor and tutee—read aloud, listen to their partner read, and provide feedback during various structured activities. Teachers train students to use the following learning strategies: passage reading with partners, paragraph “shrinking” (or describing the main idea), and prediction relay (predicting what is likely to happen next in the passage). PALS includes separate versions for kindergarten and grade. Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies also includes versions for grades 2–3 (which are part of a larger set produced for grades 2–6).”
-Institute of Education Sciences
