Mentoring

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring provides the early career teacher with both technical and emotional support needed to feel confident and effective in their new position.

Mentor facilitates professional growth through mutually beneficial relationships.

It is the primary phase in a continuum of professional development leading to the teachers full integration into a professional community of practice and continuing professional learning throughout their career. Hence the role of the mentor teacher (cooperating classroom teacher) is pivotal to the early career teacher's development.

Mentoring for Effective Teaching 

           Resource to support you in your mentor role

Click here to access PDF

Focus on the following areas:

• Building Relationship with the Beginning Teacher

• Key mentoring skills for classroom observations

• Reflective Conversations

• Giving and Receiving feedback

How some schools are coordinating the mentoring process.

School 1

The mentor and mentee meet each Friday afternoon. In the early weeks of teaching the focus was looking at the initial issues as they arose for the beginning teacher, namely classroom management and dealing with challenging behaviours.

As time moved on they became more structured as we nominated a focus for each week.

School 2

From the outset the mentor and mentee decided to focus their conversations around the standards.

So each week they would choose a standard to focus on, so that all conversations and feedback was addressed in relation to that particular standard. The mentor felt that this was a good way to become familiar with the standards to assist her with the accreditation process. Ongoing issues and concerns were also addressed in a more informal manner e.g. on the run, in the staffroom playground etc.

School 3

The mentoree use their PD days funding to facilitate opportunities to observe other teachers within their school and to have their mentor observe their lessons followed by structured feedback and conversations. Keep in mind it does not have to be your mentor that you observe - if you hear of someone who is doing something that you would like to observe speak with your principal about using your PD funding for your release to make this happen.

The Mentor has also videod the mentee on one occasion and used this footage as stimulus for their conversation, reflection and feedback.

The mentoree found this to be very useful- The focus is not so much on what occurred during the lesson but the conversation that follows.

Great Video - Demonstrating the importance of Mentors
This inspiring webisode about early career teachers demonstrates the great value of mentors, along with the power of collaboration, (with fellow early career teachers, mentors and leaders) as you navigate your way through your induction to the teaching profession.

Click here to access video

Top 10 Qualities of a Good Mentor

A good mentor possesses the following qualities:

1. Willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise.
   A good mentor is willing to teach what he/she knows and accept the mentee where they currently are in their professional development. Good mentors can remember what it was like just starting out in the field. The mentor does not take the mentoring relationship lightly and understands that good mentoring requires time and commitment and is willing to continually share information and their ongoing support with the mentee.
2. Demonstrates a positive attitude and acts as a positive role model.
   A good mentor exhibits the personal attributes it takes to be successful in the field. By showing the mentee what it takes to be productive and successful, they are demonstrating the specific behaviors and actions required to succeed in the field.
3. Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship.
   Good mentors do not take their responsibility as a mentor lightly. They feel invested in the success of the mentee. Usually this requires someone who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and possesses the attributes of a good teacher or trainer. Excellent communication skills are also required. A good mentor is committed to helping their mentees find success and gratification in their chosen profession. Overall good mentoring requires empowering the mentee to develop their own strengths, beliefs, and personal attributes.
4. Exhibits enthusiasm in the field.
   A mentor who does not exhibit enthusiasm about his/her job will ultimately not make a good mentor. Enthusiasm is catching and new employees want to feel as if their job has meaning and the potential to create a good life.
5. Values ongoing learning and growth in the field.
   Mentors are in a position to illustrate how the field is growing and changing and that even after many years there are still new things to learn. Anyone that feels stagnant in their current position will not make a good mentor. When starting out in a new career, people want to feel that the time and energy they spend learning will be rewarded and will ultimately provide them with career satisfaction. Good mentors are committed and are open to experimenting and learning practices that are new to the field. They continually read professional journals and may even write articles on subjects where they have developed some expertise. They are excited to share their knowledge with new people entering the field and take their role seriously in teaching their knowledge to others. They may choose to teach or attend classes to further develop their knowledge and skills. They enjoy taking workshops and attending professional conferences provided through their membership in professional associations.
6. Provides guidance and constructive feedback.
   One of the key responsibilities of a good mentor is to provide guidance and constructive feedback to their mentee. This is where the mentee will most likely grow the most by identifying their current strengths and weaknesses and learning how to use these to make themselves successful in the field. A good mentor possess excellent communication skills and is able to adjust their communication to the personality style of the mentee. A good mentor will also provide the mentee with challenges that will foster professional development and a feeling of accomplishment in learning the field.
7. Respected by colleagues and employees in all levels of the organization.Ideally mentees look up to their mentors and can see themselves filling the mentor's role in the future. Mentees want to follow someone who is well respected by colleagues and co-workers and whose contribution in the field is appreciated.
8. Sets and meets ongoing personal and professional goals.
   A good mentor continually sets a good example by showing how his/her personal habits are reflected by personal and professional goals and overall personal success.
9. Values the opinions and initiatives of others.
   A mentor who values others is also someone who works well in a team environment and is willing to share his/her success. A good mentor appreciates the ongoing effort of the mentee and empowers him/her through positive feedback and reinforcement.
   
10. Motivates others by setting a good example.