1.
After two months, what did Rafa say he was
getting from his mentoring relationship?
2.
What value would your mentees say they get from
your mentoring relationship?
3.
How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both
you and your mentee?
4.
What did Cynthia do or say that pushed Rafa out
of his comfort zone?
2. I hope one thing my mentee would say she gets from our meetings is someone to sound ideas off of and someone to vent to. I know in SPED sometimes just someone to talk to helps. In the book I see this as Rafa and Cynthia discuss things it is much easier for Rafa to understand something and learn something from it. I hope my mentee learns things from our conversations. I know this is a tow way street for me, I learn things from our conversations.
ReplyDelete4. I thinks Cynthia pushed Rafa out of his comfort zone when she asked him to talk to his boss about himself. I thought about walking up to my principal and asking him to give me feedback on the job I do, and I think that would be very intimidating. I think it is nice to have a mentor to discuss these things with first and work on shortcomings with first before it becomes a problem you have to deal with at your work.
2. I would say that my mentee gets a few things from our mentoring relationship. The main things that come to mind are someone to go to when they have a question or need some help with something where I hope they feel comfortable and confident they will be heard. Also I feel they get someone to listen to their concerns and maybe just be a listening ear but making sure that it is a positive environment not somewhere to just vent.
ReplyDelete3. Mentoring is providing value to me in many ways. It allows me to help others to feel knowledgable in the areas required in the work place it also helps me to work on being flexible in meeting the needs of my mentees. I am working with one who is brand new to teaching and another who has experience and this experience has helped me to increase my ability to help each person based on what they need from the mentoring experience.
In order to increase the value of this experience for myself and for my mentee I can work on making sure that I am communicating effectively and listening to and being open to the needs of my mentees.
2. What value would your mentees say they get from your mentoring relationship?
ReplyDeleteI feel like there are several things that I hope they would value from our mentor relationship. 1. I hope they feel comfortable in asking me questions about anything. I hope they know that I am a person in which I don't have all the answers but I will figure out the answers for them. I tell them no question is a dumb question, I would rather ask then to do something wrong. 2. I hope that they understand that we are growing in our profession together, I learn from them and they learn from me. I especially say this because I have never taught 5th-6th grade and so often times I have to do research to figure out the correct answer. I don't want to give a wrong answer.
3. How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both you and your mentee?
I feel like being a mentee is a great experience. It provides value in my teaching as I get questions that I really don't know the answers to or just have not had the same experience.I am able to research or search for the answers making me grow in my own profession. It has provided me with knowledge of different classroom settings and how things are done at a different level.
In order to increase the value of the experience I feel like having a good communication system with the mentees is important. I would also increase the value by reflecting on their ideas and thoughts of various situations with the kids we work with and to dig deep into why they had the idea or thoughts. Sometimes we automatically think that this is how we do it as teachers so that is how everyone should do it as well. So I feel like really taking their ideas and reflecting the situation. Not degrading their ideas but just taking their ideas and breaking it apart at a deeper level.This helps to understand their thinking process behind the ideas they have and possibly start a conversation of ideas that you may have to share with them. I also feel like if you take a moment to reflect then you are able to see things in a different perspective. This may allow you to reflect what worked great and what was a epic fail and think about how we could change it in order to make it successful. This makes better teachers if we are able to reflect our teaching and then change as needed.
1. At first, Rafa thought the mentoring would be more like coaching. Having Cynthia there to bounce feedback off, hear her thoughts, share his feelings and uncertainties has helped Rafa feel more comfortable and safe. Rafa had a tough assignment with "killer" questions. Having to address the questions by taking time to think and write about them also helped Rafa focus in on his skills, talents, confidence, competence, etc. Using that information as well as trying to change some things - baseball language, team language, using right or wrong - helped Rafa in his presentation.
ReplyDelete4. Cynthia asked Rafa about his performance review from his boss, and what feedback he received. Rafa stated that his boss was quite complimentary about most of his skills, but didn't share much feedback on being a team, leadership, or relationships. Cynthia stressed the importance of knowing where you stand with your boss, so she encouraged Rafa to tell his boss that he is working on some leadership skills in the company and would like some honest input in specific leadership areas that they could discuss. Rafa felt quite uncomfortable about requesting some constructive criticism from his boss, like anyone would. Going to your boss would be quite intimidating, especially if it wasn't your idea in the first place, but your mentor's. Good bosses would appreciate being asked to offer constructive criticism and probably think more of that person if it were sincere. It would be a good idea, but also uncomfortable!
ReplyDelete2. What value would your mentees say they get from your mentoring relationship?
ReplyDeleteI feel that my mentee would say that she is getting to know more about her job. She has also made the comment that she is glad to see that I am open to admitting to making mistakes because then she feels she won't be judges when she makes them. My mentee has also expressed relief knowing that she can still call and ask questions after this school year; that she does not have to learn everything this first year.
3. How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both you and your mentee?
Mentoring helps me to review my job and to work on areas that are not my strength. It also lets me see another point of view to what we do. We are taught to be intentional in our working with children. I think that I could provide more value in mentoring by being more intentional in what we discuss. In addition, I think active listening is a skill to be promoted. It is easy to get caught up in what we are going to say instead of actually listening to what the other is saying.
2. What value would your mentees say they get from your mentoring relationship?
ReplyDeleteI hope that my mentee would say that she is gaining valuable information and getting to know her job better. My mentee feels that we are accessible to her despite being in different locations. I feel she understands that even though I may be her mentor we are still on a learning journey together and that she can also provide me with valuable information along the way as well. Plus it nice we can share a laugh now and then.
3.) How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both you and your mentee?
Mentoring helps me step outside my comfort zone and take on more of a leadership role. It also allows me to review my job and brings me to areas that I need to work on as well. I think doing more self-reflecting could help both of us grow.
1. One thing he Rafa has learned is mentoring isn’t just coaching and taken to heart things like how often he tells other they are wrong or things are not right. He admitted he caught himself saying it a lot and if he were in those other peoples shoes he wouldn’t want to be told that so he has worked on how he addresses things. He is trying to be more thoughtful about how he communicates his position. He has learned how to work as a team instead of an outsider. Rafa has also learned that having a mentor is someone you can talk to that you are comfortable with and be able to bounce ideas off of and hear criticism and take it.
ReplyDelete2. I pray that my mentee sees the value of our open conversations and friendship we have built. There are many days we don’t even cross paths then there are days that just a simple text or email turns into an hour long phone conversation in the evening of venting, problem solving, or high fiving great things that have worked out.
2. What value would my mentee say she gets from my mentoring? I feel my mentee would say that she is learning about her job and information she needs to help her do her job correctly. I think she would feel like I have been very accessible when she has had questions, concerns or just the need to vent. It helps that our buildings are connected and it is easy for her to stop by my room when she has the need. I hope she has always felt like I have the time for her no matter how small the need is and have been a good listening ear. It can be hard just starting in a school not knowing anyone so I hope I have helped to provide someone that she knows she can trust and confide in knowing it will stay confidential.
ReplyDelete3. How has the mentoring provided value to me? Mentoring has been a wonderful experience. It has been fun seeing the excitement and ideas of a new teacher. It has helped me sit back and see our job through a different pair of eyes, I have been learning to keep some of my opinions to myself and not think I have all the answers and it is ok to do things differently than me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my mentee and have loved our conversations, laughs and friendship that has resulted in our mentoring relationship. It has been nice having someone to work through the "figuring out process" of the new IEP's and there have been times I have turned to her to help me on the computer. The learning process has been a two way street. I think I could increase it's value by asking her what she feels she needs from me and making sure I am actively listening to what she is telling me.
Nice response Diane:) I felt the same way when I mentored. By this point most mentees are able to stand on their own, but it is always nice to know that someone is there for you.
Delete2. What value would your mentees say they get from your mentoring relationship?
ReplyDeleteI think my mentee finds value in having someone to go to for help with small things like finding correct forms for leave, timesheets, etc. and also someone to help with the IEP paperwork which can be over whelming. She doesn't feel like she was just tossed into a job and told "good luck, see you in May." She feels like she has support and someone to go to for help or venting or whatever.
3. How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both you and your mentee?
I find value in being a mentor because it forces me to reflect more on what my practices are and how I better help to my mentee. I have to look back on what items I struggle with and how I can help my mentee get through the same struggles. I find I am paying more attention to the detail I put into my paperwork because if my mentee cannot read or understand the paperwork I've done on my kids it probably means I'm not communicating effectively in the IEP. I think being a mentor has made me a better teacher and helped me be more thorough in my work.
2. What value would your mentees say they get from your mentoring relationship?
ReplyDeleteI would hope that my mentee is getting more than just how to write IEPs and do paperwork. We have had to work closely to develop behavior plans for students. I think she feels that she can come to me with any question. That I don't make her feel bad about not knowing things. I would want her to look at me as a resource for her career not only for this year but in the future as well.
3. How is mentoring providing value to you? What can you do to increase its value to both you and your mentee?
I like working with new teachers. I think it helps those of us that have been in education for a while a fresh perspective on what we do. It is easy to get stuck in the rut of our world. I think mentees bring new ideas that we all can use. A mentee also helps me to maybe not be too jaded about situations that arise. It can be difficult working with some families and students. Sometimes we need a reminder to look at situations with fresh eyes.