Mentor Tools
Mentors, this will be your page. It will be updated with tips on mentoring and ideas to enhance the mentoring experience. One very good resource is this website: www.mentoring.org Want to talk to other Mentors??? We have a "Mentor Forum" on our website Bulletin Board. Ask questions, get advice.....GIVE advice. Here are a few handy tips for good mentoring......
Checkout this mentoring website. Here is a great article on communicating with your mentee:
TRY TO . . .
Meet with your mentee regularly.
Building a relationship takes a lot of hard work and a lot of time. The
easiest way to help your mentee develop trust in you is by making and
keeping regular appointments.
Let the friendship develop at its own pace.
It will take time for your mentee to understand your role, develop trust
in you and open up. Mentors who try to speed things up by probing
and pressuring their mentees to talk about things they're not ready to
talk about yet (school, family problems, etc.), usually wind up slowing
things down.
Make decisions together with your mentee.
Some mentors and mentees take turns deciding on outings; others
choose together from a list made together; sometimes mentors present
the mentee with several options and allow the mentee to pick the final
choice. No matter how you plan outings, it is important to consider
your mentees input.
Appreciate the value of fun.
Sometimes mentors become concerned that they are not "helping"
their mentees because they are only "having fun". Many of our kids
do not get lots of opportunities to go out, try new things and have fun.
Also, learning how to slam dunk can give a young person more confidence.
Do different things with your mentee.
Varying your outings will help you and your mentee get to know each
other better. It will give you a chance to see each other in different
circumstances and discover each others' interests, skills, and strengths.
Set limits early on.
Your mentee may try to test you in the beginning by asking to see you
a lot, asking you to spend lots of money, or asking to bring a friend or
sibling along. You'll fare a lot better in your friendship if you let her/
him know early on that you have other responsibilities and time
constraints, a limited budget for outings, or that you are there to spend
one-on-one time together.
Participate in Group Activities!
When asked what advice they'd give to new mentors, veteran mentors
frequently recommend participation in group activities, especially early
on. It's a great way to meet people and save money.
Contact your Case Manager Regularly.
Your case manager is there to help and support you, troubleshoot
difficulties you are having and intervene when necessary. They can
also provide resources for you, your mentee, and your mentee's family.
Be Flexible.
Be prepared to change your plans and expectations as you get to know
your mentee or as things come up.
Be Non-judgmental.
This tip applies not only to your mentee, but also to her/his family and
their lifestyle. Don't let differences be a stumbling block to success with your mentee.
Mentor Facts
Did you know????
- Youth who were in matches that terminated within the first six months suffered larger drops in feelings of self-worth and perceived scholastic competence than youth who had never been matched with a mentor (controls).
On the other hand, youth who were in matches that lasted more than twelve months reported significantly higher levels of self-worth, social acceptance, and scholastic competence; they also reported that their relationship with their parents had improved, that school had become more rewarding, and that both their drug and alcohol use had declined!