MENTOR TRAINING SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

Transcription

1 MENTOR TRAINING SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

2 What is SSV? SSV is a non-profit organization that has been connecting the resources of the local community to the Springfield Public Schools since Annually, SSV brings more than 2,000 volunteers from the local community into the Springfield Public Schools. SSV has four core programs: the Citywide Read Aloud Program; the School-Based Mentoring Program; the Early Literacy Program and the Academic Support (Tutoring) Program. SSV also screens volunteers who serve in a variety of other support roles. SSV s School-Based Mentoring Program is currently the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2

3 What are people saying? "SSV is quite supportive in providing information, identifying appropriate opportunities given your skills and coordinating activities." - Doug Jangraw, tutor, Springfield Central High School "Believe it or not, an hour a week can be the difference for some of these students and I ve seen it firsthand." - Robert Brown, mentor, Springfield Central High School 3

4 Mission of Mentoring We aspire to match 100 % of students in the Springfield Public Schools needing a mentor with caring adult volunteers who are prepared to serve as: role models, promote academic achievement, promote consistent attendance at school, and positively impact social emotional development. 4

5 Studies Show Students who meet regularly with their mentors are: 52 % less likely than their peers to skip a day of school. 37% less likely than their peers to skip a class. 36 % more likely to aspire to enroll in and graduate from college 55 % more likely to later be enrolled in college 63% more likely to reduce high risk behaviors like violence, drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. And yet, less than 10% of youth mentoring needs are being met. (The Mentor Effect/Mass Mentoring 2015) 5

6 Mentor Program Basics SSV s Mentoring Program is a School-Based Program. Mentors meet only in school, during the school day. Mentors do not meet on the weekends, during vacations or over the summer. Our program focuses on middle & high school students. We do receive requests for mentors for elementary school students and you are able to mentor an elementary school student if you desire, but our focus is on middle and high school students. It has been shown that that our mentoring program is most impactful with middle and high school students. 6

7 Recognizable Mentoring Relationships Pictured here are Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. This is an example of a direct mentoring relationship. Warren Buffet is a great example of a resource broker. 7

8 Recognizable Mentoring Relationships If a mentoring relationship is going to work then both parties need to be committed to the process with a clear idea of what they can expect from each other. A mentor should reinforce the basics (wax on, wax off) so they become second nature. A good mentor will be able to judge when a student is ready to be pushed further towards their goals and when they are not. 8

9 Recognizable Mentoring Relationships A mentor shares knowledge and wisdom with a less experienced companion. 900-year-old Jedi Master Yoda trained Luke to find the talent within himself, encouraged him to continue on his journey, and famously told him, Pass on what you have learned. 9

10 A Mentor Is: A caring, responsible adult A trusted guide or friend A positive role model A resource broker What does this mean? A resource broker by definition is a person that acts as an agent of resources. The broker makes sure that the resources required to meet a goal are attainable and shows how they can be obtained. As a mentor you will act as an intermediary between mentees and the resources they need to achieve their goals/dreams. 10

11 Characteristics of a Good Mentor Reliable Be there Trusted guide Model positive character traits Insightful Look deeper; be understanding Committed Model stick-to-it-iveness Respectful Define and commit to rules of engagement Empathetic Model empathy (Put yourself in another s shoes) Resourceful If you don t have it, discuss ways to get it Supportive Sometimes just listening is enough Sense of Humor If you can t tell a joke, at least laugh at one 11

12 Things you will need to know: Your mentee s teachers names and contact information Your mentee s guidance counselor s name and contact information Who to call when you are not able to make it Who to call if there is an issue with the match Once you are matched with your student this information will be given to you! 12

13 The 3 stages of mentoring The Beginning- In this stage you and the student will be developing your relationship. This is the getting to know you stage. (It can be easy to try and rush this stage but remember building trust takes time). Make sure to establish how you would like to be addressed and find out how your mentee would like be addressed or how to pronounce their name correctly. The Middle- In this stage you have developed a comfort with each other and the student may be opening up more. You have built a trusting relationship in this stage. The End- Mentoring is truly never ending but if you are no longer going to be meeting with your mentee this is the stage when you say good bye. Once you have reached this stage saying good bye can be difficult, its important to be honest with you mentee. You and your mentee can decide whether or not to keep in contact. 13

14 What Do I Do For An Hour? Develop new ways to learn and practice good character Discuss things that unite different people Read the same book and discuss it Discuss alternative scenarios Collaborate on a short story Learn the lyrics to a pop song Complete an activity packet Invent a new word and meaning Talk Listen Give praise Keep a journal Research something new Make a collage For younger students, collaborate on a coloring project. 14

15 Boundaries Boundaries refer to the rules, guidelines, limits and standards that are expected. In mentoring, boundaries help youth and mentors understand the expectations each party brings to the match. It is important to have your own boundaries and be aware of the mentee s boundaries in the following three areas: Physical: No contact should feel uncomfortable to any party involved. Be aware of physical boundaries and seek to maintain them. Emotional: Personal limits we set in relationships that make it possible for us to separate our thoughts and feelings from those of others. Cultural: Language, behaviors, customs or beliefs that are acceptable to some, but not to others. It is important to set cultural boundaries without judging. For example, instead of labeling certain language as bad, mentors can express discomfort with the language and ask that mentees not use it during their time together. Depending on the relationship, a mentor may help the mentee understand why the language may not be appropriate in certain settings. 15

16 What to say and to whom: Mandatory reporting in the United States. In many parts of the world, mandated reporters are people who have regular contact with vulnerable people such as children, disabled persons and senior citizens, and who are therefore legally required to ensure a report is made when abuse is observed or suspected. Your mentee s teacher, guidance counselor and other SPS staff members in his/her school are mandated reporters. However, staff members do not always have the opportunity to spend time one-on-one with students the way a mentor does and you may hear or observe something they have not. Therefore, it is important that you share anything of concern you have heard or observed with a school staff member. 16

17 Be Attentive Look: Take note of any problems with hygiene or grooming. Look for clear eyes and attentiveness. Do you notice any signs of physical abuse? Is the student wearing flip-flops in the winter or heavy clothes in the summer. Listen: Has your mentee said he is hungry Does your mentee talk about feeling afraid. Communicate: Know what to say and to whom 17

18 Communication: Verbal and non-verbal What is meant by these two terms? Verbal is what we speak and non-verbal is all other forms of communication for example body language. Nonverbal makes up about 2/3 of communication verbal is 1/3 What are some negative nonverbal signals? Some negative non-verbal signs are head down, looking around, facing the person with your back, or having arms crossed. What are some positive nonverbal signals? Some positive non-verbal signs are head up, nodding, arms relaxed, good posture, looking at person who you are conversing with. 18

19 TED Talk Mentoring is one of the most powerful ways to transform struggling communities. In this TED Talk, Brit Fitzpatrick, founder of a cloudbased platform that facilitates more effective mentoring programs, explains how and why mentoring works. Click link to play video The video will open in a new window. Use your browser s back button to go back to the training slides when the video is complete. You may have to scroll down to slide 20 to continue. 19

20 Springfield s Demographics 2016 District Student Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity ( ) Race % of District % of State African American Asian Hispanic Native American White Hispanic and African American students made up 84.3% of the total student enrollment in the Springfield Public Schools during the school year Why is this important? To open the dialog about cultural sensitivity and diversity. Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic

21 Gender Comparison Mentor Gender 29% Female Males 71% Mentee Gender 37% Female 63% Male During the academic year, 71% of our mentors were females as opposed to 29% who were males. Why is this important? Mentors drive matches. If we have ten students who want a mentor but only one volunteer who meets those requests, we can only make one match. The Problem: We have more requests for male mentors than we have and are therefore in need of increasing our Male Mentor Pool. 21

22 Ethnicity Comparison Mentor Ethnicity Mentee Ethnicity 7% 3%4% 11% 3% African American Asian Caucasian Hispanic Multi Racial 58% 4% 24% 12% 2% African American Asian Caucasian Latino Multi Racial 72% Other/Unknown 22

23 Resources List of 52 activities for you and your mentee Topics of Discussion for mentors and high school age youth Mentoring Tips 80 questions mentors can ask their mentee 23

24 Contact / Quiz Facebook: facebook.com/springfieldschoolvolunteers Website: springfieldschoolvolunteers.org Phone: Thank you for completing our mandatory mentor training, please click the link below to complete and submit the mandatory quiz! QUIZ 24