What does a peer teacher do?
A peer teacher is a student teaching another student, typically at college or university level. It is a concept that can be traced back to ancient Greece as used by philosophers such as Aristotle. Peer teaching is often giving more knowledgeable advanced undergraduates or graduate students a faculty teaching responsibility for undergraduate students. It is also referred to as surrogate teaching or proctor program and can be tutoring one student or a small group.
Peer teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real peer teacher resumes:
- Lead professional development for colleagues on integrating graphing calculators into the curriculum.
- Design and implement lesson plans in drawing, collage, and printmaking for children and adults.
- Introduce campers to basic printmaking, oil and acrylic painting, as well as collage work and abstract art.
- Work closely with adapt sections and develop appropriate lesson activities for learning success by differentiating instruction according to student IEP.
- Head Jr. High football coach as well as assistant football, and basketball coach.
- Execute and plan community and school wide events, including working closely with the drama and music departments.
- Prepare student for the regent's exam in chemistry and biology.
- Incorporate creative drama, pantomime and improvisational exercises with middle school students.
- Create dynamic and engaging lessons align with the TEKS to ensure students understand necessary science concepts.
- Develop and prepare laboratory experiments for the regents' chemistry curriculum.
- Help students in learning fundamentals of algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
Peer teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Peer Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Professional Development, and Learning Environment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Critical-thinking skills, Interpersonal skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Peer Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Classroom Management, 14%
Developed classroom management techniques to help with discipline.
- Professional Development, 11%
Used instructional methods and materials to conduct transition and job assistance through professional development sessions
- Learning Environment, 7%
Assessed, disciplined, developed routines, and worked directly with teachers and parents to create an effective learning environment.
- Instructional Materials, 7%
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interest.
- K-12, 6%
teach PE classes K-12, oversee the athletic program, and coach Varsity boys basketball
- Learning Process, 6%
Established management, administrative and regulatory compliance processes to ensure students and supervisory assistants/adults were fully engaged in the learning process.
"classroom management," "professional development," and "learning environment" are among the most common skills that peer teachers use at work. You can find even more peer teacher responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a peer teacher to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what peer teachers relies on this skill, since "teachers must share ideas with their students, other teachers, and school administrators and staff." How this skill relates to peer teacher duties can be seen in an example from a peer teacher resume snippet: "maintained constant communication with parents and school administration in regards to student development and progress. "
The three companies that hire the most peer teachers are:
- Wayne RESA5 peer teachers jobs
- Catholic Diocese of Sacramento3 peer teachers jobs
- Durham Public Schools3 peer teachers jobs
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Compare different peer teachers
Peer teacher vs. Physical education teacher
A physical education teacher is responsible for devising lessons and strategies to educate the students about health and physical fitness through various sports and recreational activities. It is also their responsibility to facilitate such activities, ensuring the safety and camaraderie between students. It is essential to evaluate and monitor everyone's progress, record all activities, and prioritize every student's health and mental well-being by maintaining a safe and disciplined classroom environment. Furthermore, it is vital to implement school regulations, all while coordinating with faculty and staff.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between peer teachers and physical education teacher. For instance, peer teacher responsibilities require skills such as "instructional materials," "remainder," "social growth," and "social studies." Whereas a physical education teacher is skilled in "student learning," "public schools," "teach physical," and "curriculum development." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Physical education teachers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $50,712. Comparatively, peer teachers tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $48,974.The education levels that physical education teachers earn slightly differ from peer teachers. In particular, physical education teachers are 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a peer teacher. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Peer teacher vs. Teacher associate
A teacher associate is responsible for assisting the teacher in classroom operations and providing teaching support for the students. Teacher associates develop learning materials according to the instructions of the headteachers, helping them to track students' progress and observing class behaviors. They also take class responsibility if the teacher is away, ensuring to keep activity records and attendance for reference. A teacher associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling students' difficulties and working with the teacher to develop techniques to address those challenges.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that peer teacher responsibilities requires skills like "professional development," "k-12," "k-8," and "state standards." But a teacher associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "child care," "child development," "cleanliness," and "math."
Teacher associates earn a lower average salary than peer teachers. But teacher associates earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $32,745. Additionally, peer teachers earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $48,974 annually.teacher associates earn lower levels of education than peer teachers in general. They're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for peer teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Peer teacher vs. Special education teacher
A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence. A special education teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist the students with their learning areas. Special education teachers should be able to come up with engaging activities to support the students' behavioral and intellectual development.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from peer teacher resumes include skills like "learning process," "k-8," "iep," and "physical education curriculum," whereas a special education teacher is more likely to list skills in "autism," "behavior management," "ieps," and "student learning. "
Special education teachers make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $55,080. On the other hand, peer teachers are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $48,974.special education teachers typically earn higher educational levels compared to peer teachers. Specifically, they're 12.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Peer teacher vs. Long term substitute teacher
A long term substitute teacher is responsible for covering the duties of a teacher who is away for a long time. Long term substitute teachers proceed with the lesson plan outlines and the regular teacher's curriculum depending on their expertise. They monitor and assess the students' behavior, create an engaging learning environment, evaluate the students' learning progress by conducting a series of tests, create reports of the students' performance, and help students struggling with the subject.
Types of peer teacher
Updated January 8, 2025
