Select Page

Supporting Group Learning: Study Together for Peer Teaching

Gabriel Wilensky

S

tudying with peers turns review time into a shared effort—one that builds understanding and confidence on all sides. When children explain a concept to others, they reinforce their own knowledge and learn to adjust based on others’ needs. This kind of peer teaching also develops flexibility, patience, and leadership. A question like, “Can you help someone else understand this?” moves them from passive review to active collaboration—an essential shift for school and beyond.

One afternoon, my daughter and her friends prepared for a science quiz but kept getting stuck. I suggested they each take a topic to explain. As soon as they started teaching one another, their confusion faded. Later, she used the same method to lead a history review group, summarizing notes and quizzing classmates. She began to see that teaching wasn’t just about knowing answers—it was about connecting with others and building clarity together.

To build this habit, set up regular peer study sessions, even informally. Let your child take the lead on teaching a small topic or creating a quiz. You can even be the learner they teach. Keep a shared notebook for tracking what they explain and how others respond. Over time, they’ll not only master the material—they’ll grow into someone who can guide and inspire others.

 

Supporting Group Learning

Table of contents

TIPS

  • Let them teach you or a sibling a concept—they’ll learn more deeply.
  • Record a short video of them explaining an idea.
  • Use games or flash cards to quiz each other in both directions.

ACTIVITIES

  • Teach Me Tuesday: Let them explain something they learned that week — 10 min
  • Mini Lesson: Give them a whiteboard and a word to teach — 15 min
  • Concept Swap: Pair siblings—each teaches the other a fact — 20 min

EXAMPLE

My daughter taught her brother how tides work. She now calls herself the “moon boss.”

Download “Primordial Soup for the Mind: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing Intellectual Growth”

Enter your information to get this article and hundreds more as part of the FREE book Primordial Soup for the Mind.

What do you think?

Share your thoughts with the Thought Academy community in the Comments section below.

Sharpen those skills!

Enter your information to get our FREE practice exercises so you can hone your critical thinking and reasoning skills!

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.