NEW HAVEN REACH:Mentor Training Session

ABOUT REACHWe won’t repeat the info session, but we want to make sure you know how the program works

SAFETY

Aren’t they grown?• High school students seem big

• Under 18: Minors• As mentor, YOU are responsible

Forms • Red tape – fun• Two forms that your student (parent if under 18) MUST sign:• Media release• Permission form

• Try to get signed before first meeting – if not do not meet again until they have it.

Where to Meet?

Saturday Session

• Preferred• Group – collaboration• Support network

Meet On My Own

• Common Sense!• Public place (not your

dorm room)• Some ideas: New Haven

Public Library, Coffee Shop (beware $ though), Bass Library (not first meeting), their school (only if you want to)

Check-In

Screenshot here of what the form looks like

• Weekly: fill out Google Form (left)

• Purpose: make sure we know you’re meeting

• 1-2 minutes only!

Code of Conduct• You should have read – if you didn’t take a look

• Hand in final page only (for our records)

APPLICATIONHow does it work, what’s my role, and what do I need to know?

Mentor’s Role• Guide, friend, advisor – not necessarily teacher• Break process into “bite-size chunks” (we’ll help)• Build relationship with student• Friend? Up to you

• Facebook, cell phone, etc – YOUR CALL• We encourage e-mail instead of Facebook, esp. at first

• Expert! You know the college application process• Adult – again you are the adult in this relationship and are

responsible for safety, professionalism, etc• Problem? We got your back

Timeline• Look at Syllabus• Fall: application process

• Where to Apply• Applying• Money?

• Winter: financial aid/scholarship focus• Spring: Mentally prepared for college!• Want to go off topic? No problem! It’s a GUIDE not a

REQUIREMENT for you, every student is different

Weekly• Sat. sessions: short presentation at first. Otherwise: brush

up on your info (we’ll send it to you) and explain topic to student. Keep it short

• Work on topic of day: essay/resume/list of colleges etc• Save 10+ minutes at end to talk big picture

• What will you do this week? Students have to put in time on their own as well

• Upcoming deadlines• Check-Ins• Stay on top of your e-mail!

• We might send out info about other sources of help, scholarships, SAT dates, etc. Please stay on top of e-mail

Resources• We got your back!• Every date in the syllabus has (or will have):

• Presentation and/or intro handout• Worksheet

• Sample essays/resumes• www.newhavenreach.com student resources!• We’re getting Current Volunteer page set up as well• Question? Ask each other! Ask us!

AN INTRODUCTION TO NAVIANCECreated by Yombe Fonkeu

What is Naviance?• Briefly and as explained by them, Naviance is “a college and

career readiness platform that helps connect academic achievements to post-secondary goals.”

• This is being implemented in New Haven high schools for the first time this year.

• The link to the website: http://www.naviance.com/

So what’s inside?• The key word from the last slide was “platform”. • Naviance acts like an all-in-one organizer, divided up into

tabs for:• Courses• Colleges• Careers• About Me• My Planner

• Students, families, and school officials can all access it• There’s an interface for individual students to communicate with

counselors• It’s really acting like a holistic system

An example of the tab platform Naviance usesThis is the student version. The counselor version includes information about college applications, at-risk students, and a tab of tasks and priorities.

More information soon!• Naviance is a brand new system.• As more students use if for the more of the year, we’ll be

able to identify specific benefits and draw-backs.• Tentatively, it looks good, especially for students and

families with constant internet access.

ESSAYS

Editing Tips

First Steps

• Who am I?• Why am I applying to

college?• What do I bring to

college?• Look past spelling,

grammar & help students develop these themes

Wait Till The End

• Writing style• Complete

paragraphs/sentences• Spelling• Tone• Metaphor• Wait until you think the

student has developed the themes – likely several drafts in

Strategies• DO NOT write the essay for the student

• Think comments, questions, and thoughts in the margin not writing the sentence

• Ask questions!• Keep student’s voice and writing style

• Look to the end for the main idea

• See sheet: essay editing tips

Group Essay• This is not a first draft – you will likely see something a lot

rougher than this• Small groups• What is author trying to say and how do they relate to key

themes of college essay?• Go through, edit, suggest mark-ups

THANKS FOR COMING!Fill out survey form (Google Docs), ask questions!