100 Things a Mentor Might Do – Assignment #8
December 1, 2009 by wojtera
Read 100 Things a Mentor Might Do in a Helping Relationship Model.
Elaborate on 3 tips to explain how to apply them in a mentoring situation.
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1. Listen to the mentee share a personal or professional frustration: I believe it is important to take time to build a relationship where the mentee can feel comfortable sharing successes and failures. They need to know that this a learning expereince, not one where they need to be perfect. Listening to their personal and professional concerns helps build that relationship.
2. Model professionalism for the mentee: I believe that the mentee needs to have demonstrated for them how to be porfessional in different situations. They will encouter many different situations from conflict with colleagues or parents to praises from colleagues and parents. How to act in these situations is important. Most of all we need to respect each other, both professionals in our own building to children and parents who may not have the same background as ourselves. Having someone discuss this with me as an intern, may have lessened my participation in activities which were not always uplifting or scholl strenghteners.
3. Parctice patience: Remember thsi is a learning experience. They are just beginning and do not usually have the set of skills needed to run my classroom like I would.
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I think the list is a great resource. It is one of those things that should be treated as a tool belt from which one can pull from as needed.
Basically, as a mentor we need to be sensitive to any and all of these problems/encouragements. If we are clear in our expectations, clear on responsibilities and use lots of communication things will go well. Being patient is huge. We can’t expect everyone to be at the same point we are on the journey. When we expect them to know everything we do then they begin to fail to meet OUR unspoken expectations and we build walls that will inhibit further growth.
Bottom line, treat everyone with dignity and respect, (sound familiar?) whether they deserve it or not. Easy to do with some and the ones who need it the most are also the ones that are the hardest.
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1. Listen to the mentee share a personal or professional frustration.
I think just listening to what they need to say is important. They need to be able to feel like they can talk to you so they can improve. You can also discuss things that didn’t work for you.
2. Be positive- This is so important. I remember my blocking experience and the teacher I was working with was very negative. She came to work saying, ” Another day back at the jail.” I ,on the other hand was so excited about starting the day. Needless to say it was not a pleasant experience. Your enthusiasm will create a better experience.
3. Model professionalism for the mentee. You cannot expect the mentee to be professional if you are not. We need to be positive role models.
I feel each one of these are important and it was hard to pick just 3. I agree with Blenna. Treat them with dignity and respect.
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Collaborating with the mentee in planning is very important because it gives you time to discuss things that are very important. It helps to set goals and time limits.
Laugh at oneself. What a way to break the ice. This lets the student teacher know that you are human too, everyone makes mistakes and, life is too short.
Praise the mentee specifically. I think this is very important. Everyone likes to get that pat on the back. In believe that you get more from someone when they feel good about what they are doing. Positive outweighs negative all the time.
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Be open and honest… I think that it is important not to give false praise, however give constructive criticism. This is impossible to achieve if you haven’t established a positive relationship (because it’s probably seen more as negativity without a good relationship).
Counsel the mentee on a personal problem… I am not sure I agree. If it is related to teaching, yes. If it is affecting their teaching, address what is happening in the classroom.
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4. Share instructional resources. Try to remember what it was like when you started out with very few materials. Share resources that you have used successfully and recommend things that might be helpful for them to purchase. It is easier to know if you like a resource if you have actually used it.
78. Share personal successes and failures. It makes you more human and helps your mentee relate.
86. Arrange for your mentee to observe a colleague. We all do things a little differently so it gives them more insight to see multiple ways to do the same activities or procedures.
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78. I think it is important to share your own successes and failures, especially failures, so that your mentee sees that experienced teachers also make mistakes.
31. Having high expectations for your mentee is as important as the high expectations you have for your students. If you are not challenged to aim for the top then you may never know what you can accomplish.
72. Encourage the mentee to attend a school athletic event or play. A lot of students only associate teachers with the school building and are amazed when they see you outside of that environment. Students see you more as a person and it gives you the opportunity to meet the student’s family.
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It was hard to pick 3 things because they were all good things to think about! I think #12 is important because this is something our faculty has been working on for awhile. Collaboration is important. Remember “2 heads can be better than one”!
Being the role model is so important. If you are the professional and model this then hopefully this will encourage the mentee to follow and do the same.
Become a “friend” while still being the adult role model. Hopefully this will make the mentee feel more comfortable and feel more accepted and there will be open communication.
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1. Work with mentee to analyze a lesson plan that did not work.
After a mentee teaches a lesson, we often talk about what went really well and would you change anything about it. I emphasize the fact that as a veteran teacher, I am constantly critiquing lessons that I teach and noting ways that I could have improved the lesson. That is an on-going process of improvement. I emphasize that he/she should not feel unsuccessful just because there are ways of tweaking a lesson.
12. Collaborate with the mentee in planning/teaching a unit.
I always make available to my mentee any resources or files that I have for the particular unit/skill that is to be taught. We also sit down to look at the DOE curriculum framework to see exactly what needs to be targeted for future testing purposes (essential learning.) I often will share activities that I have found meaningful for the children in teaching a concept.
52. Encourage the mentee to try a new instructional strategy.
I love to see new techniques or strategies from my mentees. I’ve learned a lot from previous ones. I might make suggestions to tweak an idea based on my experiences with group management or organization to prevent unexpected chaos.
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1. When I first get a student teacher I have them observe for a week and then shadow my lesson… So they can see how things work and to give them a chance to systematically observe my teaching and to try out a lesson that I know will be appropriate for that class,.
2. I definitely agree that it’s important to laugh at yourself. We do a lot of laughing in P.E.
3. I hope that I show a personal enthusiasm for teaching by engaging in conversations with my students as they are entering and existing the gym.
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*Praise the mentee specifically. I agree with Susan, you attract more bees with honey….
I also think that when you praise specifically, it helps prevent false praise.
*Be positive, show you enjoy teaching; I think these two go hand in hand. If you are not happy with your career choice, Why are you still here?
*Demonstrate. I understand best when shown what to do. Have you ever tried to follow a recipe that didn’t work because something was left out of the directions? Bobby’s great aunt Gladys was notorious for this. I learned to cook more by watching her than simple trying to repeat her recipe.
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Working with a mentee to analyze a lesson plan that did not work is basic to what we do. I think it is important to be specific and honest about the good and bad points of a lesson, mine as well.
This goes hand in hand with sharing personal successes and failures. Students need to know what we consider a success and a failure as far as teaching is concerned.
Also, we must hear and value the mentee’s opinion on a prefessional idea if we want them to listen to our ideas.
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1. Go to lunch with a mentee to celebrate teaching success – What a great way to develop a relationship that includes trust and respect.
2. Introduce a mentee to staff members – One of the most important responsibilities mentors have. Mentees can not feel part of a team if they do not know the team.
3. Practice active listening – one of the best ways a mentee can learn is to share what they are feeling with their mentor.
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I think attending a workshop with a mentee would be a great relationship builder. I know it is hard to get away but when it is a good workshop I always come back excited and ready to try new things. I feel sharing this type of learning experience would be beneficial to both. I actually never thought of doing it but I like the idea. (It was a good list)
Alerting the mentee to a behavior that might be self defeating is important not only to the mentee but to our profession. It is a hard thing to do, grammar for instance, but I think you are letting a colleague down if you don’t give it a try. Just do it with kindness.
Practice active listening. Don’t you just hate it when you are trying to express something, a concern or an idea, and the “listener” doesn’t listen? Instead you get interrupted, or what you are saying is completely ignored and the “listener’s” idea or philosophy is inserted over yours. It kind of makes one feel their ideas aren’t quite as good. Listen completely and attentively. Another hard thing to do sometimes!
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1- Attend a workshop with the mentee. This not only allows professionalism to grow on both parts but it allows time to get to know each other on a more personal basis. Ride together, share a hotel room, etc gives you more time to become ‘real’ to your mentee. Being authentic is important.
2- Share personal success or failure. We are all people, some of us have it together and some of us don’t (HA). We have all had success and failure (let’s not count). Again presenting yourself as a teacher who learns from success and failures makes your more human. Being real to your mentee allows the relationship to build.
3- Don’t take yourself too seriously….laugh. I have to have fun, laugh, and be able to joke about things. Laughing does burn calories and that’s what we are all about in PE.
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#39 Time Management
I think it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed in this profession! Helping your mentee stay on top of things and just destress is very important.
#25 Parent Conferencing
I can still remember my first year as a beginning teacher and the anxiety I felt right before conferences. This is something you do not really get to experience on your own as a student. My own mentor was so helpful. She reminded me to “be organized, be positive, have documentation if dealing with a weakness to address, and just believe in yourself!!”
#35 Laugh at Oneself
You have to have a little humor in this wonderful job! You can’t take yourself too seriously…no one’s perfect, and it’s important for the mentor and the mentee to realize this. Laughing makes everyone relax!
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51. Be honest and open. I think this is hard sometimes if you’ve been burned in the past, but it is so important to put yourself out there and say what you are thinking, in a nice way.
67. Express the belief that all children can learn. I know we all believe this, but we need to remember to show the mentees how to act on this belief.
82. Encourage mentee to collect and analyze student feedback. I think this is the hardest thing to learn how to do when you are on the university campus — and new teachers/student teachers are so focused on implementing their plans that they may forget to watch what the students do . .
I’m going to quote you, Kay, I hope you don’t mind — “A lesson plan is what you do when you can’t think of something better.” In other words, you follow your lesson plan unless the children present you with a better way to achieve the same objective.
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Practice active listening – Some of us don’t have the ability to listen like others. One needs to listen to the whole conversation before interupting or “tuning out” one of the best ways a mentee can learn is to share what they are feeling with their mentor.
Model professionalism for the mentee: Many will encounter difficult situations, and will watch to see how their mentor acts as well. Always be on your “best” and model how to be professional in different situations. . Show respect to each other, both professionals in our own building to children and parents who may not have the same background as ourselves.
Share instructional resources. Share, share, share, what I said at the very beginning. I would have never made it without help from others. Share resources that you have used successfully and recommend things that might be helpful for them to purchase.
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Take a tour of the community- this is so eye-opening even if you have lived in the community for many years.
Be positive- positive attitudes beget positive attitudes- this is a fun job- share that
model professionalism- We are professionals and should show our mentees what that means.
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Donita
no.1 Work with mentee to analyze a lesson plan that did not work. This is the most important thing to do in order to become a better teacher. I also make sure the mentee understands that even after 20 years you must keep analyzing your lessons. I still have lessons that flop, and you have to figure out why it happened.
no. 61 Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Teaching requires a sense of humor.
no. 62 Believe in the meaningfulness of your work. Many people believe “It’s just kindergarten” I know that kindergarten is most important. It’s the foundation for the next 12 years of their lives.
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Katy Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Donita, I was going to say the same thing about #1! Reflection is the best way to get better at everything in life. Having someone to talk to while thinking back on what has already happened just takes the thinking and reflection to the next level.
#36 and #41 go together in my opinion (Model professionalism for the mentee. Be congruent in mentoring beliefs and actions.) I think this is so important. If you tell a child to do one thing and they see you do the opposite, your words are no longer valid. So it is with adults as well. It is so important that you are a good professional model. People may forget what they heard but will likely remember those unspoken cues that they received from you!
#11: Demonstrate an instructional technique. It is many times more meaningful to see something in action. Observation is powerful and helpful for people who can not visualize a technique they have only read about.
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-Go to lunch with a mentee to celebrate a teaching success- I feel it is very important to develop a positive relationship with a mentee both inside and outside of the classroom. The mentee will be much more willing to learn from you if the relationship is there, and they see you going that extra mile.
-Avoid taking responsibility for the mentee’s failures.
The mentee should, from the beginning, take responsibilty for their own actions. This, to me, is very important.
-Advise the mentee on how to better manage time.
As a teacher, I feel it’s very, very important to manage your time well. This will help you greatly in becoming successful.
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Attend a workshop with the mentee – what a great way to develop a personal relationship and collaborate professionally at the same time.
Introduce the mentee to staff members – this can be very difficult when you are new. This is important in making the mentee feel a part of the team. This also gives the mentee a group of others to feel comftorable going to for help.
Remind the mentee of an important school policy – these are things that are easy to overlook or be forgotten by the mentee who is overwhelmed with her first year. This could be an easy way to prevent mistakes on her part.
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Definitley hard to pick just three. Great list!
4.Share an instructional resource with the mentee.
I find resources to be a very valuable asset even as an experienced teacher. Renee and others are often sharing good resources with me. Think about the ones we have learned about through T.A.L.K. or while diving into Balanced Literacy. I too remember my first years Debbie of starting out with nothing and begging, bumming, borrowing, and buying (some of these were not always as useful as I thought). How wonderful to be able to start out with some great resources under your belt especially ones which have been proven to be very helpful/useful.
5. Go to lunch with the mentee ….
14. Attend a workshop ….
15. Go to breakfast….
21. Invite the mentee to a TGIG ….
I think all of these go hand in hand! It comes down to building relationships. What better way is there than taking advantage of opportunities for some good communication and collaboration.
35. Laugh at oneself.
Susan-I also agree with your take on “laugh at oneself.” Even experienced teachers make mistakes. It helps all of us over achievers take a little pressure off of ourselves when we see others make mistakes. It gives us a little room to be human, a little room for error in a profession where the demands are so great.
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#12: I love working on a lesson or unit with student teachers. They often have exciting, new, enriching ideas that I haven’t thought of or seen. They are always welcome to go through my folders and use what they want but I also expect to see some of their ideas infused into their lesson.
#25: Greatest advice for parent conferences…ALWAYS start conference with positive comments about their child! Then move on to concerns.
#35: Laugh at myself…I am ALWAYS the first to laugh and admit “oh…I forgot my RIF time or sing along duty or to turn in lunch count, etc. I always fess up when I mess up! It’s ok-what’s not ok is to sit back and let someone else take blame for something you did.
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#13 Make a videotape of mentee for self-analysis. I think this is a wonderful way for a beginning teacher to see what they are doing well and what they need to improve on. When I was student teaching my cooperating teacher taped me reading a book. When I watched the video I notcied that I did read loud enough, I wasn’t showing the pictures to all of the children, and I was read too fast. This was a great way for me to improve the way I read aloud!
#100 Believe that you can make a difference! This is the reason that we teach! It is so easy to get caught up in the negative things we deal with as teachers (angry parents, standardized tests, not enough time, etc), and forget that we are very important to our students. It is important as a mentor to emphasize to the mentee that they will make a difference in the lives of the children they teach!
#35 Laugh at oneself. Perhaps the reason I think this one is so important is the fact that I teach kindergarten! I am a VERY, VERY bad actress (but I think that is what makes my classroom fun and exciting). I know that I am going to make mistakes, but the only thing that matters is how I handle those mistakes. Laughter is the best medicine!
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36. I think modeling professionalism for the mentee is important. If you are professional, hopefully they will be too.
40. I think that it is good to share personal success and failure stories with your mentee. It just lets them know we are all human. Some lessons work better than others.
56. Displaying a personal enthusiasm for teaching should be always. I love teaching! I want my mentee to believe it is the best career choice too. Teaching is rewarding in so many ways.
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Collaborate with mentee in planning a unit.
Attend a workshop with mentee.
These two are great ways to foster a relationship with your mentee. The idea is to support and help when needed. One way to ensure this will happen in a risk free enviornment is to establish a relationship with the mentee. Getting to know him or her better may help you better understand them professionally and personally.
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be open to new ideas from your mentee.
I think I can sometimes become a bit too comfortable in my role and I need to learn from someone fresh out of school. There are always new ideas, strategies, and “disfunctions” that I need to hear about.
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1. Introduce the mentee to other staff members.
Anyone in a new place needs a friend. Take it upon yourself to be their friend and introduce them to others in the building. Sometimes at the beginning of a school year, we are all so busy, we don’t take the time to make new staff members feel welcome and this is so important.
2. Be self disclosing with the mentee.
I think more of student teachers when I read this. If you are willing to share some of your teaching mistakes, it will put the student teacher at ease and help them to realize they don’t have to be perfect. That first year of teaching, is full of mistakes and valuable learning experiences for the beginning teacher.
3. Be positive.
Everyone wants and needs positive comments about their work and workplace…..As we do with parents…if negative comments are necessary, there should always be positive ones to balance the scale.
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