Mentoring FAQ
FAQ
Who can be a mentor?
You can be a mentor if you have a genuine interest in youth, good listening skills, and patience! Because our program is a long-term program, mentors must be community residents who expect to stay in the community for at least the next 2-3 years.
What do mentors do?
Mentors visit with their "mentee" for approximately one hour per week during the school day, on the school grounds, during the school year. Mentors and mentees usually spend their time together doing fun and creative activities: talking/listening, playing games, doing something physical like going for a walk on
school grounds or playing basketball, reading, exploring on the computer, doing experiments, doing art/craft projects and more. Mentors' goal is to build a relationship of trust with their mentee.
What kinds of students are selected to be mentees?
We like to talk about our students as being "on the brink of success." They are students who just need a little extra support and encouragement to thrive. They may be under-achieving, have poor peer relationships, have attendance issues, or exhibit in other ways the need for a caring adult in their lives. Students may be referred by a parent, teachers, counselor or they may request a mentor themself. Students selected are in late elementary (3rd-5th grade) or early middle school (6th or 7th grade).
What do students like about having a mentor?
The most frequent response students give to this question is: "Because we have fun!" Additionally, students say they like having someone who listens to them, who doesn't judge them and believes in them.
What do current mentors like about being a mentor?
Mentors report that it's fun! They enjoy the break in their day and the relationship that is formed with their mentee. In addition, mentors say that being a mentor helps them feel good about themselves for giving back to the community. Mentors who are parents report that it helps them be a better parent. Additionally, there are documented health benefits of this kind of volunteering. A Review of Recent Research has found a significant connection between volunteering and good health. The report shows that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.
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Suggestions for Zoom mentoring
It has been a long year of Zoom mentoring and we are heading into the final stretch. Need new ideas for Zoom mentoring activities?
* Play would you rather! Ask your mentee, would you rather ______________ or _______________?
Ask them to explain and then let them make up a question for you.
* Use the white board to play Tic Tac Toe, Guess the phrase, or scattegories.
* Have a scavenger hunt/show and tell day. Ask your student to find and show you their favorite toy, pet, pillow, school supply, etc. and ask about it.
* Play 20 questions. (If you are unfamiliar with 20 questions, Google 20 Questions for kids)
* Ask your mentee about someplace they would like to visit. Do some research and share pictures and facts with the student at your next mentoring session.
* Creative? Look up something you could do together. One pair made lip gloss together. The mentor purchased the supplies, dropped them off at the students house and at their next mentoring session they made blue lip gloss!
* Demonstrate a magic trick or simple science experiment and talk about it.
*Teach yourself and your mentee how to play chess at www.chess.com/play.
