Provides a student with a personal connection and buy-in
Helps student to feel like someone “has their back”
Increases student morale
Improves student motivation
Source of accountability, encouragement, support, and advocacy
Helps student to perceive school, teachers, work in a more positive light
When should I do it:
When students are unsuccessful academically or behaviorally
When other intervention seem to fail
When a student is having significant issues getting along with others
When students exhibit very little motivation and effort or just do not seem to care about work and/or behavior
When students seem to have little guidance and/or support in the home
When a student seems suspicious of the school and staff
For those kids that always seem to get a bad bream and are perpetually in trouble and/or failing
When a student is frequently suspended and/or is in danger of expulsion
When a student does not seem to respond to anything else
When a student does not seem to have any significant connections to learning, academics, behaviors, etc
How do I do it:
Mentors should be voluntary
Keep the student with one mentor, don’t switch around
Mentors should not set out to “fix” the student and all the student’s issues
Mentors should be supportive, encouraging, and engaged
The student/mentor relationship is all about connecting and establishing a rapport and trusting relationship
Mentors should try to do something fun or engaging with the student, like shooting a basketball, playing cards, or talking about a common topic of interest
Mentors should listen, listen, listen! Use active listening with students
Mentors should help students to set goals, plans, and solutions
Mentors only need meet with a student once a week for 15 or so minutes
