Pay it Forward...A Blog Dedicated to Effective Mentoring
Critical questions at the heart of this conversation:
1. How do effective mentors operate in an effort to shape the next generation of effective teachers?
2. What are some of the most important areas of teaching and learning that a mentor can impart on a new teacher?
3. What can districts do to support an effective mentoring program?
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Purpose of the workshop:
1. inform participants about the possible impacts of effective mentors.
2. consider what steps or protocols might be included in district policies that work to the end of retaining effective mentors and new teachers.
Assessments (this is a P / F) workshop. To earn the P
1. Participate in the conversation (whole group & blog)
2. Complete final project
3. Attend all classes (4-Friday we have off!)
Final Project: Due one week after workshop is completed (July 30).
1. Write a letter to your superintendent or principal highlighting strengths and weaknesses of the existing mentor program. It will be up to you decide whether you wish to send it.
Letter will include:
A working knowledge of how the existing protocols operate.
Areas that highlight what works (this is not a bash your district exercise).
Areas that might be improved-informed by the literature and our experiences.
Ideas for how the areas might be improved-again, informed by the literature, context and our experiences.
Length-this is up to you. You need to write a compelling analysis using effective language under girded by convincing sources and experiences. Upon completion, you may either give me a hard copy or simply e-mail it.
Ziegler3025@gmail.com
Shirley Morgenthaler's article, My Mentor: Motivation Toward Excellence, offers some powerful tips to be a motivational mentor. A mentor is a person who empowers, guides, and challenges others to strive to be their best. Shirley believes that to be an effective mentor he/she must show respect, show interest, give support, provide suggestions, and continue ongoing relationships.
ReplyDeleteNot many people care how much you know until they know how much you care. I think one of the most important keys of an effective and motivational mentor is to first give respect. In return, you will be respected. That common force is the foundation that must be laid so ideas and opinions can be shared openly. A mentor needs to know what makes that person "tick". Besides school, what personal passions influence them on a daily basis. How can a mentor support a person if they don't know what other talents or interests they have. Many times mentors and mentees share a special relationship together. A relationship that has been developed through time, patience, and perseverance.
The article I read was: The Role of the Host Teacher in the Student Teacher Experience by Weasmer and Woods. By interviewing 28 cooperating teachers after completing a semester with a student teacher the authors were looking to determine the teacher’s roles as mentors. The three main roles that cooperating teachers stated were as models, mentors, and guides. Previous to this study the role of cooperating teachers was more expanded to include nurturing, sponsoring, encouraging, counseling, and befriending.
ReplyDeleteAs cooperating teachers model for the student teacher, they will find an added benefit of improving their own teaching by extra preparation and perhaps taking additional risks with what you try in the classroom in order to show the student teacher something new. Cooperating teachers should continue to model beyond the classroom such as speaking with custodians, colleagues, administrators and parents. They also model professional dress and the way they carry themselves.
The study determined that cooperating teachers were mostly using an intervention approach to mentoring. This involves observation, note taking, and discussing areas of strengths and areas where goals should be set. Along with the intervention technique, another important aspect of mentoring is to have frequent conferences with the student teacher.
Along with modeling and mentoring, the role of guiding the student teacher in unchartered territory such as knowing how to write exams, grade essays, conduct parental conferences, and writing up disciplinary actions is the final role of cooperating teachers. According to these three roles, it becomes apparent that the host teacher certainly is not a passive role. The “baptism under fire” by allowing them to sink or swim, and figure things out on their own does not seem like an effective technique.
Really nothing earth shattering in the study, but it is good to note the actual reduction in “duties” of the host teacher. We realize that being a cooperating teacher is a big responsibility.
Chapter 3: Lee and Marlene Canter's Assertive Discipline
ReplyDeleteThe Canter's main focus was to establish and maintain a classroom climate that meet students needs and manage behavior appropriately. Therefore, students learn what is intended. The Canters believe classroom management is a high priority, but they understand that it is a tool to accomplish educations true goal, which is student learning.
The Canters' Assertive Discipline model is the first to explain students' and teachers' needs and rights. In order for good discipline to occurr there must be; a solid foundation of trust and respect, model good behavior, establish a discipline plan and teach it, establish a discipline hierarchy, positive recognition, redirecting behavior, and the teacher must invoke consequences.
The Canters' understand that they have had some criticizm that Assertive Discipline is to harsh, but they fundamentally believe that students must be taught in an atmosphere of respect, trust, and support, how to behave responsibly.