10 Tips to Great Mentoring LeAnn Johnson, Ph.D . Shepherd University - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

10 Tips to Great Mentoring

LeAnn Johnson, Ph.D.

Shepherd University

• 1. Make Time

Ø Build a regular mee6ng 6me with your mentee into your schedule. Ø Don’t let other things bump it. Ø Stay focused.

• 2. Rapport

Think back to your own experiences as a student or new teacher. Who was there for you? What characteris6cs/behaviors did they exhibit that made you feel supported? What if the mentee is just plain difficult?

• 3. InstrucAonal Support

Ø Begin at the mentee’s skill level – zone of proximal development Ø Create shared experiences

• Team planning
• Team teaching
• Observing mentee
• Being Observed (model)
• Video Tape

Ini6ate and maintain con6nual collegial dialogue based on shared experience

• 4. Encourage ReflecAon

While holding a wri6ng conference, your mentee has difficulty maintaining awareness of the rest of the class. What ques*ons might you use to encourage reflec*on and problem solving in this area?

It is not what you say. It is the ques6ons you ask that are important.

Vikrant Parsai

• 5. Feedback

Ø Confirm appropriate outcomes of mentee reflec6on mirroring specific points for reinforcement. “I agree that xxxx.” Ø Extend mentee conclusions with specific ques6ons that push thinking to the next level. “Given what you think, what would happen if you xxx?” Ø Reserve ‘telling’ for those areas where the mentee does not have the knowledge needed to move to the next level. Ø Record main points in wri6ng.

• 6. Support Goal SeMng

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Specific Measurable Rewarding AYainable Timebound Ø Focus Ø Priori6ze Ø Make them SMART

• 7. Model Personal Learning

Be transparent about your own search for beYer answers and more effec6ve ways to meet student needs.

No one appreciates a ‘know-it-all’

Anonymous

• 8. Be Flexible/Responsive

Just as you adjust your ques6oning of students to meet their learning needs, adjust your communica6on and support according to mentees needs.

Mentoring is an art form, not a recipe. There is no single approach to providing the best type of support

• 9. Face Hard ConversaAons

Ø Don’t wait! Ø Plan the main points of the conversa6on Ø Leave unproduc6ve emo6ons at the door Ø Be objec6ve Ø End with a wriYen statement

• f the problem and what

is required to fix it.

• 10. MoAvate

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direc6on.

John C. Cosby

• 1. Make 6me
• 2. Develop Rapport
• 3. Give Instruc6onal Support
• 4. Encourage Reflec6on
• 5. Provide Feedback
• 6. Support Goal Seing
• 7. Model Personal Learning
• 8. Be Flexible/Responsive
• 9. Face Hard Conversa6ons
• 10. Mo6vate

10 Tips to Great Mentoring

LeAnn A. Johnson, Ph.D.

Shepherd University