Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Roles and Responsibilities of Mentoring
After our first class and discussing roles and responsibilities of mentoring with your colleagues, think about your strengths as a mentor. Also, think about things you need to do in order to improve in order to become the best mentor. Given what you have learned about new teachers, what is one thing that you can discuss with your new mentee?
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I believe I would first want to know what he believes are his strengths and his weaknesses as a teacher. I would build on his strengths to work on his weaknesses with him. I would also reassure him that at times he will feel overwhelmed with everything that he has to do, but that everything will be fine. He just needs to take it one day at a time...one task at a time...and he will make it! I would also tell him that I was there for him anytime he had a question or needed something or even just to vent to me.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I will discuss with my new mentee is whether he/she needs any help with organization. This is probably my greatest strength. So, it is an area where I can be immediately helpful to my mentee. I remember being a first-year teacher and being overwhelmed with all there was to do. So, I quickly devised methods to organize myself, including methods to manage paperwork, color-coding, electronic calenders, etc. Even if my mentee is already pretty organized, I have yet to find someone who is as much of a Type-A personality as me. :) So, I probably can be of some help even if my mentee is already pretty organized.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I will discuss with a new, beginning of the year teacher is the first day of school. There are so many things to juggle that must be handled outside of academics and ice breakers. Registration, cumulative folders, transportation, medical issues, food restrictions, the myriad of seemingly identical sets of information written on different colored sheets of paper. Personally, I feel so much more together and focused on my students if all those side elements fall into place with sufficient forethought.
ReplyDeleteMy advice to a new teacher would be to not allow anyone or anything to steal his/her joy. I would encourage my mentee to continue to chase his/her passion no matter what may challenge him/her.
ReplyDeleteMy advice to a new teacher will be when in doubt ask and continue to ask until you recieve all of the important information that is need to complete any task. It is too easy to remain silent because you may not want to appear incompetent, but as the mentor teacher I know that the new teacher does not fully know all of the roles and responsibilities that are required in a school day or school year. By asking questions and receiving adequate answers the new teacher will not become isolated within the school or make unnecessary mistakes.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I remember my mentee offering continuous support throughout the year, she made herself accessible to me. Therefore, I would let my mentee know that my door is open even for the smallest of problems or situations.
After our discussion and lively demonstration, I was quickly reminded of how it felt to be a new teacher and why my mentor was so meaningful to me. As I reflected on both aspects, I believe the most important thing I needed as a new teacher and the most helpful thing she did was to be there any and every time I needed her.
ReplyDeleteMy goal as a mentor will be to provide an approachable setting, make myself available, and discuss whatever my mentee deems important.
I would have to say that my mentee needs to take one day at a time and breathe! She doesn't need to let the little things get to her and she needs to learn to be very flexible with everything!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that I am a very organized person. In my classroom everything has its own place. My mentee also has a very organized classroom. One thing I would like to share with her at this time is to go with the flow. I think she should take one day at a time and do the best that she can do at that time. Some days are going to be fabulous and other days are going to bomb; but it is important that she gives her all in all that she does and take one day at at time.
ReplyDeleteIn order to become a better mentor, I need to become a better listen. I listen, but then I tend to zone out on another topic or try to interject while the other person is still talking.
In learning about being a mentor and characteristics of new teachers, one of the things that I can discuss with my mentee is the importance of organization and time management. As I experienced the valuable lessons on the characteristics of a new teacher during our first mentor class, I realized if organization and time management are not in the forefront, then the best of lessons will not turn out well because of misplaced items or not enough time or too much time. Letting my mentee share her areas of need in organization and classroom management would be the first step, then I would share my organizational strategies that have worked as well as strategies that other teachers have shared with me.Being in the same grade level makes it wonderful because we can relate on so many things and the strategies that I share, she can apply directly without having to modify to fit her grade level.
ReplyDeleteClassroom management would be one area to discuss with a mentee. You can have the best lesson plans in the world and be extremely well organized, but if classroom control is not in place all is for naught. Do not let yourself fall into the trap of wanting to be the student's "friend." You can be a guide, a sounding board, tutor, etc., but you can't be their friend. Always be flexible! Those plans for the day may go by the wayside for the inclement weather plan. :)
ReplyDeleteI am in agreement that classroom management is one of the most important areas to discuss with a mentee. For a teacher to have a successful year, it is necessary for her to have a good, consistent classroom management plan in place. It is of the utmost importance that rules be modeled and role-played DAILY for several weeks so students clearly understand the expectations of the teacher. Rules must constantly be revisited and role-played throughout the year to keep a focus on the behaviors that are acceptable and necessary for a productive classroom community. It is helpful for primary teachers to color code the rules. This provides a quick and easy reference and makes it easy for younger children to understand. Rewards must be in place and attainable by all; not necessarily reached at the same time, but reachable by each child at some point and time. Consequences for rule infractions must also be clearly spelled out, consistent, and fair. A good classroom management plan benefits both the teacher and students.
ReplyDeleteTammy Durrance
Fox Elementary
I would definitely try to find out if there is anything that they need help with. I would want them to know that I am there for them to ask questions. I know just thinking back to be an overwhelmed new teacher. I would try to think of information so that their teaching experience would run smoothly.
ReplyDelete