Roles and Responsibilites Roles and Responsibilites of the Mentor Teacherof the Mentor Teacher

Thank you for participating in our Mentor/Mentee Program!

Parkway School DistrictSummer 2010

UbD Unit Plan for Mentoring(click on above title for plan)

Key Features of Mentor Key Features of Mentor ProgramsPrograms Respond to the developmental needs of those they

serve Grounded in the research on teacher and adult

development Primarily supportive in nature and NOT linked to a

formal personnel evaluation Centered on enhancing the knowledge and skills of new

teachers in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment

Provide mentors with opportunities to serve as a collegial guide, seasoned teacher, consultant, and coach

Focused on collegial connections Designed as a learning system that examines and

refines practice as well as adding to the collaborative culture of a school community

… … as a resultas a result… mentor programs are more

likely to positively impact teacher retention, teacher renewal, teacher quality, and most importantly, student learning and achievement.

(Joyce and Showers, 2002)

Why Mentoring?Why Mentoring?

The growth and development of children is vitally linked to the growth and development of adults in and beyond schools.

A successful mentoring program can help teachers respond intentionally with effective strategies to the needs of a diverse population of learners.

The early years of teaching are a critical part of a continuum of learning – a link between pre-service preparation and ongoing professional development.

From: Mentoring New Teachers Through Collaborative Coaching, by Kathy Dunne and Susan Villani

Five Benefits of MentoringFive Benefits of MentoringSupport for new teachersReduce attritionMore effective instructional

strategies for new teachersMore effective classroom

managementIncrease in student achievement

Attributes of Effective Attributes of Effective MentorsMentors

Mentor RolesMentor RolesCollegial Guide – orient and acclimate and

respond to the new teacher’s immediate and evolving needs

Consultant – helps identify strategies for managing and resolving struggles

Seasoned Teacher – shed light through wisdom and experience while modeling professionalism, collegiality, and lifelong learning

Coach – leads through a process of collaborative inquiry

From: Mentoring New Teachers Through Collaborative Coaching by Kathy Dunne and Susan Villani

Mentor ResponsibilitiesMentor Responsibilities Offer Support

Emotional

Physical Setting

Technical

Informational

Create Challenge

Goal-driven

Data-focused

Thought Provoking

Facilitate Professional Vision

High expectations for self/students

Life-long learning

Professional identity

Offering SupportOffering Support

Emotional◦Sometimes humor, sometimes tears

Physical Setting◦Room arrangement, moving books

Technical◦Guidelines for applying procedures, or

advice on certain processesInformational

◦Content area resources, practical professional suggestions

How do I How do I offer supportoffer support??Maintain confidentialityCommunicate that you are not

evaluativeVisit regularly with your mentee

◦Your Lead Mentor has sample reflection guides too

Provide feedback

Creating ChallengeCreating ChallengeGoal-driven

◦Goal-driven conversations ensure productive use of time

◦Set goals for “next” meetingData-focused

◦Look at student work togetherThought-provoking

◦Encourage problem solving and decision making

◦Build connections between theory and classroom practice

How do I How do I create create challengechallenge??Encourage your mentee to use

the mentor/mentee release day. Plan this day together.

Invite your mentee into your classroom to observe something specific.

Observe your mentee when he/she is ready – encourage him/her to ask for specific feedback.

Facilitating Professional Facilitating Professional VisionVisionHigh expectations for self and

students◦Refer to Parkway Teaching

Standards◦Support the new teacher’s PGP

Lifelong learning◦“We don’t learn to teach, we learn

from our learning.”Professional identity

◦As mentors, we need to model this on a daily basis.

How do I How do I facilitate facilitate professional visionprofessional vision??Keep track of the Mentor/Mentee

Collaborative Assessment LogAssist mentee in writing PGP and

continual focus on PGP and Parkway Teaching Standards

Serve as a resource to foster professional growth (share articles, information about current research)

Mentoring StandardsMentoring Standards(New Teacher Center at USC)(New Teacher Center at USC)Engages, supports and advances the

professional learning of each teacherCreates and maintains collaborative

school and professional partnerships (for professional growth)

Designs and facilitates professional development for teachers

Utilizes knowledge of pedagogy, content, and standards to advance teacher and student development

Utilizes assessments to promote teacher learning and development

Develops as a professional leader to advance induction and school improvment

When working with our When working with our mentees, there are some mentees, there are some things to take into things to take into consideration…consideration…Characteristics of the Adult

Learner

CBAM Stages of Concern

Phases of New Teacher

What does this mean for me What does this mean for me as a Mentor…as a Mentor…Roles and Responsibilities

As a Mentor, what tools do I As a Mentor, what tools do I have available to make it have available to make it work?work?CONFIDENTIALITYNeeds survey to determine the

focus of Mentor/Mentee conversation

Mentor/Mentee Collaborative Assessment Log

(used for documentation of hours and action plans)

Mentor/Mentee Release Day FormCalendar/Checklist (nuts and bolts

of first 6-8 weeks of school)