Wisdom of the (Multi) Ages: Students Learn by Teaching

Jackel, M. (2008, June 5). Wisdom of the (multi) ages: students learn by teaching. Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/multiage-classroom-looping-peer-mentoring
Summary
The article discusses the benefits of multi-age classrooms.  "Older students model good behavior and, through continual peer mentoring, stretch their teaching muscles and solidify their own knowledge. And the younger students learn that teachers aren't the only ones who know a thing or two."  The author references a study that older siblings have higher IQs due to the fact that "Explaining something to a younger sibling solidifies your knowledge and allows you to grow more extensively," he added. "The younger one is asking questions and challenging meanings and explanations, and that will contribute to the intellectual maturity of the older one." stated Robert Zajonc, a psychologist at Stanford University. 


Reflection
I stumbled upon this article on Edutopia, hoping to find a specific study where ELs and EOs were paired as I plan to do in my action research project.  I was pleased to read that the idea of working with a peer mentor to solidify knowledge has been documented in multi-age classrooms.  This gives me another resource as I continue my research. 


Resources
New York Times article, Robert Zajonc, a psychologist at Stanford University