This blog will serve as a place to reflect on several topics covered in our Teacher Support Specialist course! We will be covering a multitude of topics including mentoring, induction teachers, differentiated instruction, coaching and conferencing, brain based learning, designing for engagement, building relationships and teamwork, and teacher reflection just to name a few topics! Feel free to post and reply to your colleagues as often as you would like!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Growing As A Mentor!
Throughout this process, what have you learned about yourself as a mentor?
What have I learned about myself as a mentor? I don't think I ever realized that I am a mentor to such a variety of people in such a variety of ways--a mentor to myself as well. My experiences with mentor teachers have always been the same--a veteran, and by veteran, I mean 30+years of teaching, burned out, on her way out the door, teacher was there to "support" me by providing me with outdated teaching materials and forcing me to conform to what she believed "good teaching" should be. I realize now that I became my own mentor in a sense because I had a vision of what good teaching should be, and I went after it on my own--despite the poor mentoring I received, I became the kind of teacher I would want my own child to have. What I learned about myself through out this process is that I could have mentored those veteran teachers as I was mentoring myself--that is what a true "mentor" would have done. If I had it to do all over again, I think I would have tried to guide them down the road I chose to travel. Instead, I wrote them off, thinking I could do it better. And while I am happy with the teacher I have become (and continue to develop), I could have made a difference in the lives of so many students had I took the time to mentor my mentors.
I am so grateful for having this opportunity to grow as teacher both personally and professionally. I have taken this time reflection more on my teaching practices and professional relationships at school. It is so exciting to watch my mentees finish their first year on a successful note. Watching them grow as teachers has made me think about my first year. I have learned many things from them not only new teaching ideas but classroom management strategies to try. I look forward in continuing to mentor my new teachers in my building next year.
This process has been a very educational one for me. I think that it has been as much a benefit to me as it has been to my mentee. I feel that I have been a great support for her but also, I have learned a great deal about myself as a professional. I know that instead of asking "do you need anything," that I need to be more specific about ways I can be a support. I think the most rewarding thing that I heard my mentee say was, "I am so glad that I am not the only one feeling lost and stressed." I know that it was so important for me to be able to show her that I am not there and I do not know it all, that this is a process and I just want to be able to be there to support her through this process. I am so looking forward to being an even better mentor next year.
This process has been beneficial for me as a mentor and for my mentee. The course has given me new light and motivation for my own teaching and ideas to share with my mentee. These ideas range from classroom management to motivating and engaging teaching practices. I have grown professionally and personally. Maintaining a positive attitude is important for myself, my students, and my mentee.
Throughout this process, what have I learned about myself... a lot! I have learned how to ask my mentee what he/she needs help in, how to advise my mentee about a lesson or behavior, and just ensure my mentee that things won't always be hard. This process has made me do a lot of self reflection and attitude check on a daily basis. I have really learned how to be a better person, teacher, leader, and friend.
I have learned that it is very important to take the time to develop a friendship with your mentee - that takes the mentor/mentee relationship to a comfortable level. With that in place it makes it much easier for your mentee to ask that question, or vent, or just talk with you without the fear of being looked down on for not knowing something he/she wants help with. Sharing with your mentee that yes - you have been there and that yes things will get better. My mentee was very young and although she came in with a wealth of knowledge there are just some things that are not taught in college and helping her find ways to solve certain situations letting her know that I was there to help her as well as cheering her on with her successes.
This course has really changed the way I think moving forward in being a successful mentor. This class is really a reminder that learning is a life-long process. I am looking forward to mentoring new teacher(s) and have found it to be quite rewarding. This experience has reinforced the importance of two co-workers working together as partners sharing information and knowledge. While going through this process with her, it has allowed me to reflect, learn, coach, and become a better teacher. I believe this process has created a lasting friendship. I feel that we definitely both learned from each other. Although this year of mentoring is over, I know we will cherish the memories of bad days, good days, successful lessons, and really bad ones. All of which were a learning experience for both of us along the way.
Throughout this year of mentor training I've learned that I have more to offer than I ever thought. Of course I don't have all the answers but I have a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a classroom of teaching and organizational ideas. It's easy to forget how far you come from your first year or two of teaching. Things that become second nature for experienced teachers can seem agonizing for a new teacher. I also learned a lot from my mentee and from helping to find answers to questions I didn't know. We brainstormed teaching ideas, classroom management and everything in between. It's been rewarding to share a year of ups and downs with someone I can call my friend as well as coworker.
Through this process I have learned the importance of listening to my mentee and giving her the support she needs to discover her own teaching style and methods. My mentee was straight out of college and had a wonderful ideas and energy for the classroom. She was not prepared for the massive amount of paperwork that comes with special education. In the future, I will provide more training and support at the school level to help a new teacher deal with IEPs, GAAs, data collection, and deadlines. I learned a lot from my mentee and look forward to doing it all again next year.
I have really enjoyed all my TSS training classes this year. Throughout this training, I have had the opportunity to learn how to become a good mentor to a new teacher and to reevaluate my teaching while reflecting on myself as a person. As a mentor, I have learned that it is very important to establish a good relationship with your mentee. The mentee needs to know you are someone that has also been a first time teacher in the past and understand the challenges and frustrations. A mentee also needs to know that the mentor is trustworthy, there to listen and give advice when needed. A mentor is a guide. I have enjoyed mentoring my first mentee this year. She told me that every time she enters my classroom to ask a question or borrow something she always walks back to her classroom with an idea. A mentee is always watching and observing their mentor. Even in those "minute moments" when the mentee visits my classroom, she is observing. She hears what I'm saying, observes my interactions with the students, notices my teaching techniques, or gains an idea for her next lesson. As a mentor, I am there to support the new teacher in any way that I can so the first three years can be successful to her and the students. I want my mentee to enjoy teaching and feel confident so that one day she will want to be a mentor herself!
Looking back on this year, I can say I've learned a lot. Not only have I learned a lot about my mentee, but myself. I've always been someone that anyone can come talk to, so that aspect of being a mentor is not new. However, I have learned to listen a lot better before giving advice. A lot of times that's all someone needs before they can see what they need help with. I have also learned that everything I do is setting an example for my mentee, so staying positive is so very important. I remember how overwhelming my first year or two were. If I saw my mentor at the time completely overwhelmed, I would have freaked out! I know things are overwhelming at times, but staying positive really helps. I appreciate the chance to learn how to be a great mentor, but also the chance to learn about myself. Oh yeah, the video I taped of myself was a real eye-opener!!!
I have learned alot this year! I have always known that I love to help people, but I don't think that I knew how my profession would fit into my gift. I have loved getting to know my mentee and seeing myself in her as a first year teacher. It's been great to go back to those days and truly offer advice and real life stories to support all of her uneasy feelings! I think that I can definitely work on boldness with my mentee. She is a great teacher, but there are ways that she could become stronger. I really need to speak up and understand that it will help her sanity and her students' experience. This year has been great and I look forward to many more!
What have I learned about myself as a mentor? I don't think I ever realized that I am a mentor to such a variety of people in such a variety of ways--a mentor to myself as well. My experiences with mentor teachers have always been the same--a veteran, and by veteran, I mean 30+years of teaching, burned out, on her way out the door, teacher was there to "support" me by providing me with outdated teaching materials and forcing me to conform to what she believed "good teaching" should be. I realize now that I became my own mentor in a sense because I had a vision of what good teaching should be, and I went after it on my own--despite the poor mentoring I received, I became the kind of teacher I would want my own child to have. What I learned about myself through out this process is that I could have mentored those veteran teachers as I was mentoring myself--that is what a true "mentor" would have done. If I had it to do all over again, I think I would have tried to guide them down the road I chose to travel. Instead, I wrote them off, thinking I could do it better. And while I am happy with the teacher I have become (and continue to develop), I could have made a difference in the lives of so many students had I took the time to mentor my mentors.
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful for having this opportunity to grow as teacher both personally and professionally. I have taken this time reflection more on my teaching practices and professional relationships at school. It is so exciting to watch my mentees finish their first year on a successful note. Watching them grow as teachers has made me think about my first year. I have learned many things from them not only new teaching ideas but classroom management strategies to try. I look forward in continuing to mentor my new teachers in my building next year.
ReplyDeleteThis process has been a very educational one for me. I think that it has been as much a benefit to me as it has been to my mentee. I feel that I have been a great support for her but also, I have learned a great deal about myself as a professional. I know that instead of asking "do you need anything," that I need to be more specific about ways I can be a support. I think the most rewarding thing that I heard my mentee say was, "I am so glad that I am not the only one feeling lost and stressed." I know that it was so important for me to be able to show her that I am not there and I do not know it all, that this is a process and I just want to be able to be there to support her through this process. I am so looking forward to being an even better mentor next year.
ReplyDeleteThis process has been beneficial for me as a mentor and for my mentee. The course has given me new light and motivation for my own teaching and ideas to share with my mentee. These ideas range from classroom management to motivating and engaging teaching practices. I have grown professionally and personally. Maintaining a positive attitude is important for myself, my students, and my mentee.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this process, what have I learned about myself... a lot! I have learned how to ask my mentee what he/she needs help in, how to advise my mentee about a lesson or behavior, and just ensure my mentee that things won't always be hard. This process has made me do a lot of self reflection and attitude check on a daily basis. I have really learned how to be a better person, teacher, leader, and friend.
ReplyDeletePJ
I have learned that it is very important to take the time to develop a friendship with your mentee - that takes the mentor/mentee relationship to a comfortable level. With that in place it makes it much easier for your mentee to ask that question, or vent, or just talk with you without the fear of being looked down on for not knowing something he/she wants help with. Sharing with your mentee that yes - you have been there and that yes things will get better. My mentee was very young and although she came in with a wealth of knowledge there are just some things that are not taught in college and helping her find ways to solve certain situations letting her know that I was there to help her as well as cheering her on with her successes.
ReplyDeleteThis course has really changed the way I think moving forward in being a successful mentor. This class is really a reminder that learning is a life-long process. I am looking forward to mentoring new teacher(s) and have found it to be quite rewarding. This experience has reinforced the importance of two co-workers working together as partners sharing information and knowledge. While going through this process with her, it has allowed me to reflect, learn, coach, and become a better teacher. I believe this process has created a lasting friendship. I feel that we definitely both learned from each other. Although this year of mentoring is over, I know we will cherish the memories of bad days, good days, successful lessons, and really bad ones. All of which were a learning experience for both of us along the way.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this year of mentor training I've learned that I have more to offer than I ever thought. Of course I don't have all the answers but I have a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a classroom of teaching and organizational ideas. It's easy to forget how far you come from your first year or two of teaching. Things that become second nature for experienced teachers can seem agonizing for a new teacher. I also learned a lot from my mentee and from helping to find answers to questions I didn't know. We brainstormed teaching ideas, classroom management and everything in between. It's been rewarding to share a year of ups and downs with someone I can call my friend as well as coworker.
ReplyDeleteThrough this process I have learned the importance of listening to my mentee and giving her the support she needs to discover her own teaching style and methods. My mentee was straight out of college and had a wonderful ideas and energy for the classroom. She was not prepared for the massive amount of paperwork that comes with special education. In the future, I will provide more training and support at the school level to help a new teacher deal with IEPs, GAAs, data collection, and deadlines. I learned a lot from my mentee and look forward to doing it all again next year.
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed all my TSS training classes this year. Throughout this training, I have had the opportunity to learn how to become a good mentor to a new teacher and to reevaluate my teaching while reflecting on myself as a person. As a mentor, I have learned that it is very important to establish a good relationship with your mentee. The mentee needs to know you are someone that has also been a first time teacher in the past and understand the challenges and frustrations. A mentee also needs to know that the mentor is trustworthy, there to listen and give advice when needed. A mentor is a guide. I have enjoyed mentoring my first mentee this year. She told me that every time she enters my classroom to ask a question or borrow something she always walks back to her classroom with an idea. A mentee is always watching and observing their mentor. Even in those "minute moments" when the mentee visits my classroom, she is observing. She hears what I'm saying, observes my interactions with the students, notices my teaching techniques, or gains an idea for her next lesson. As a mentor, I am there to support the new teacher in any way that I can so the first three years can be successful to her and the students. I want my mentee to enjoy teaching and feel confident so that one day she will want to be a mentor herself!
ReplyDeleteShannon Sorrell
Looking back on this year, I can say I've learned a lot. Not only have I learned a lot about my mentee, but myself. I've always been someone that anyone can come talk to, so that aspect of being a mentor is not new. However, I have learned to listen a lot better before giving advice. A lot of times that's all someone needs before they can see what they need help with. I have also learned that everything I do is setting an example for my mentee, so staying positive is so very important. I remember how overwhelming my first year or two were. If I saw my mentor at the time completely overwhelmed, I would have freaked out! I know things are overwhelming at times, but staying positive really helps. I appreciate the chance to learn how to be a great mentor, but also the chance to learn about myself. Oh yeah, the video I taped of myself was a real eye-opener!!!
ReplyDeleteI have learned alot this year! I have always known that I love to help people, but I don't think that I knew how my profession would fit into my gift. I have loved getting to know my mentee and seeing myself in her as a first year teacher. It's been great to go back to those days and truly offer advice and real life stories to support all of her uneasy feelings! I think that I can definitely work on boldness with my mentee. She is a great teacher, but there are ways that she could become stronger. I really need to speak up and understand that it will help her sanity and her students' experience. This year has been great and I look forward to many more!
ReplyDelete