Roles and Responsibilities

Okay, so I tried to comment on Betsy's post, but Blogger wouldn't allow me to do it. Instead, I am creating a new post in response to her post about the roles and responsibilities of mentors! Maybe I need a mentor for blogging! Anyway, my mentor/mentee situation is a little non-traditional, as I am mentoring my inclusion teacher. She is in the room with me all day every day. Although she is new to the county, she is not new to teaching, so her questions and concerns seem to be more process-oriented. We do spend a lot of time talking about how to best meet the needs of our students with special needs, and we focus on how to make necessary accomodations to help them to be successful fourth graders. But as a "mentor", I am not really sure how I am doing in that role since I view us as equal partners in the classroom. It was important to me that she felt a sense of ownership of the class, so I don't feel that I am necessarily fuflilling the role of a "mentor" with her. Sure, we talk about the ins and outs of "The River Road Way" because every school has its own way of doing things, and I check in to make sure that deadlines are met, but overall, we work as a team. Maybe that's what mentoring is for us--we are a team, and we help each other when help is needed, we remind each other when reminding is needed, but mostly we are just in this together.

Roles and Responsibilities

When working with my mentee I will need to make sure that I create the time to sit down and talk as well as listen to her. We are all so busy with our own teaching responsibilities that it can be challenging to think of our fellow teachers. I also feel that it will be important to make sure that I encourage the new teacher that I am working with, frequently. As we discussed in our last meeting, new teachers just need to know that there is someone ther to listen to them and offer them some support. The new text we received will also be a great resource to shar with our new teachers. There is a section dedicated to the beginning of the school year that I think would be especially helpful. I look forward to working with my mentee as well as all the memebers of our TSS class this school year!

2010-11 Teacher Support Specialist Blog

I would make sure that my mentee feels comfortable enough to ASK QUESTIONS - and that I will do my best to answer the questions and/or to find the answer. I would share with my mentee my new teacher experiences in order to help her realize that everyone was a new teacher at one time or another - and that we all have gone through what she is going through now. Building that trust (and comfort level) is the foundation of an excellent mentor/mentee partnership. I would also share with my mentee that often the picture that was "painted" throughout college (about being in the classroom) often does not look like what is actually going on in your classroom -- and that you will be successful and that things do get better. I remember reading a quote - something along the line of "if you fail to plan - plan to fail" -- and with that in mind I would stress the importance of OVER PREPARING for lessons each day.

2010-11 Teacher Support Specialist Blog: Roles and Responsibilities of Mentoring

2010-11 Teacher Support Specialist Blog: Roles and Responsibilities of Mentoring: "After our first class and discussing roles and responsibilities of mentoring with your colleagues, think about your strengths as a mentor. A..."

I will discuss with my mentor that she is not alone and that she always makes a difference everyday she steps in that classroom. The students need her and she has many great things to offer them. I will let her know that even though the growth may seem very small and sometimes nonexistent, every child can learn something! I will assure her that it is o.k. to ask for help!!! Lastly, I will assure her that although in the world of special education things are always changing, be willing to work as a team and we will all get through this together!

Roles and Responsibilities of Mentoring

After our first class and discussing roles and responsibilities of mentoring with your colleagues, think about your strengths as a mentor. Also, think about things you need to do in order to improve in order to become the best mentor. Given what you have learned about new teachers, what is one thing that you can discuss with your new mentee?