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?
_________________________________________
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
This article talks about having effective mentors for the preservice teachers. It talked about having the mentors go through training to be an effective mentor teacher for the student teachers. So not only do you need effective mentors for the new teacher but you should have an effective mentor teacher for the student teachers that enter the buildings. I know that there are some teachers that want student teachers all the time, however they are not always the most effective mentors for those student teachers. So having the district administrators look into who is effective in the areas of mentoring would be in the best interest of the district.
ReplyDeleteImportant areas of teaching and learning that a mentor can give a new teacher are organizing content knowledge for student learning, creating an environment for student learning, teaching for student learning and teacher professionalism. I know as a mentor teacher I did a good job on organizing knowledge and creating an environment. I know we talked about professionalism but that was about it. I felt that the teaching for student learning was put on the back burner to speak.
To support an effective mentoring program the district needs to really look at the people that are filling the mentor positions. They need to look at their own styles in the classroom. They should not be picked because no one else will fill the position. I feel that that happens way to often in Hanover. I know we are a small school and sometimes you need someone to step up and help out, but in the area of mentoring the adminstration really needs to look at who the mentors are going to be for the new teachers and also for the student teachers.