Mentors Make A Difference Sue Taylor-Foley South Shore Regional School Board Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Canada

Mentoring

Mentoring Hats Confidante Colleague Counselor Facilitator Coach Teacher Role Model Advisor

Purposes of Mentoring Support Challenge Vision

Workshop Outcomes for Mentors Make A Difference Understanding of what mentoring is and is not How initiatives can be linked through mentoring How one Board developed a Literacy/Technology Mentor program from K-12 Effective supports for Mentors Mentors Matter- making a difference in teaching and student achievement

What is mentoring? P.D. strategy designed to improve teaching and learning through a close professional relationship between or among teachers By engaging in thoughtful dialogues, teachers are able to reflect on their own practices and become more independent and self-directed practitioners

Four C’s of Mentoring Consulting Collaborating Coaching Confidentiality

What is Mentoring? Is… A confidential collegial relationship. An opportunity to give/receive feedback and problem solve to help improve professional practices. A way to guide and support a learning partner with their educational journey. Beneficial for both the mentor and the teacher Is Not….. Judgmental Part of a performance review A fix it strategy A supervisory model A substitute

Why mentoring? Studies of success rates of various teacher in-servicing components support the potential effectiveness of mentoring as a means of improving instructional practice.* *NSELCNSELC

A comparison – Joyce & Showers PD Component Skills AttainedTransfer to Classroom Presentation of Theory 10-20%5-10% Demonstration30-35%5-10% Practice60-70%5-10% Feedback70-80%10-20% Mentoring80-90%

Mentoring Affects school culture by promoting stronger collegial relationships Supports significant educational change Promotes reflection and decision making by providing time, space and encouragement Leads to increase student achievement Toll, 2005

Initiatives RCH PEBS IEIE AYR AR WIA PPT PATHS O2 A4L SIP HPS CGP PLC NLC PSP Accreditation NSE

Natural Links Cuts across all subject areas and grade levels Constructivist tools Writing Reading Authentic publishing Product creation Accomplishment of outcomes using current methodology

Building Better Instruction* Thematic Instruction Identifying Similarities and Differences Summarizing and Note Taking Reinforcing Effort Homework and Practice Non-linguistic Representation Cooperative Grouping Setting Objectives Providing Feedback Generating and Testing Hypotheses Simulations and Games Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers

The Development of Literacy/Technology Mentoring Build on prior success Formalized training Formalized expectations Provided each school with dedicated mentor staffing allocation More support within the school and therefore less pull out time away from school More directed focus on teacher identified need

Mentor Qualifications Strong curriculum background knowledge Successful teaching experience Practical application in the classroom Training NSELC Module 12 Interpersonal skills Credibility and respect of staff

Supports for Mentors Technology- laptop, webcam, headset, software Moodle Portal Video conferencing platform Print materials Dedicated time Release days Consultant – Meta Mentor

Things to consider How might a Mentor support teachers in your school(s)? How will we train our mentors? How to introduce mentoring to staff members? How can an administrator support mentoring? How to effectively schedule a mentor? Stable funding to support the program Respecting the role of the mentor

Website –Resources –Sample Materials –This presentation