Year 7 students struggling with reading and writing will now have a helping hand in a ‘big brother/sister’ style program.
A dedicated group of Year 10 students from Port Macquarie High have just completed training to qualify as Peer Literacy Tutors to help the Year 7s along with their studies.
The Peer Literacy Tutor course conducted by North Coast TAFE — Wauchope Campus encourages students to understand why some people need help with literacy and to learn practical strategies to provide assistance.
North Coast TAFE teacher, Alison Powell said many students enter high school and experience difficulty with basic reading and writing skills for a number of reasons. Extended absences from school, illness, undetected hearing or vision problems or frequent changes of schools can all result in a young person struggling to master basic skills.
Port Macquarie High’s English Head, Terry Mundy, was keen for his students to enrol in the program.
