Peer Tutoring’s Potential to Boost IQ Intrigues Educators
Two Norwegian scientists published an important pair of studies in June showing that firstborn children have higher IQ scores than their younger siblings—and, more significantly, that those differences owed more to family dynamics than to biology.
The articles created a buzz in academic circles and the media, fueling speculation on the possible causes of that IQ gap. Of all the theories espoused, though, one is particularly relevant for educators. It suggests that firstborns are smarter because they spend more time tutoring younger siblings.
“Explaining something to a younger sibling solidifies your knowledge and allows you to grow more extensively,” Robert Zajonc, the Stanford University psychologist who puts forth that idea, told The New York Times ...
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