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!
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.
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ReplyDelete(Oops! Sorry - didn't mean to post my blog here as a comment) I do have a comment though---
I do agree with what you said about the students- they do and will need her and yes every child can learn something! What a great feeling a teacher has upon seeing a child understand the concept( when that little light turns on!).