Tips for Mentors
September 2024
Renew, Refresh, Remind
Dear Mentors,
Welcome back to school! Here are a few prompts to consider as you step into mentoring for the new year. Taking a few moments to reground yourself in a mentoring mindset will reconnect you to previous learning and knowledge.
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How are you building relationships with those whom you mentor?
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What skills and tools are you using in your mentoring work?
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Thinking back to your mentor training and knowledge, what do you want to remember and put into practice?
Sending you all the best from BEST for a wonderful start to the year.
Mentor Reflections
Have you met with your mentees yet? Whether you have or haven't had your first meeting, consider these prompts as helpful starting points:
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Think about your first meeting with your mentee(s). When they go home and tell a friend or loved one that they're going to be working with a mentor, what do you want them to say about how they experienced you in your first meeting?
Do you have the book, The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar? Read through the questions, pp. 80-81. Identify 4 questions to carry forward with your mentees.
Write those down and keep them to use the next time you meet your mentee.
Don't have the book? We've identified 4 questions for you:
- Background: Outside work, what are your interests and passions?
- Relationships: How would you describe your relationship with your students/parents/colleagues/principal?
- Professional Development and Coaching Experience: How do you feel that you learn best? Can you tell me about a powerful learning experience you've had over your time as an educator?
- Additional Questions for Administrators: What surprised you about being a leader?
Upcoming
BEST Mentor Academies:
September & October
View the entire year of events on our BEST website.
Foundational Learning
NAKIA Academy kicks off on at the end of September!
- Cohort A starts October 10, 4-7pm.
- Cohort B starts October 12, 9-12pm.
- Cohort C starts October 5, 9-12pm
- Cohort D, School Counselors, starts September 28, 9-12pm.
Applications for NAKIA Academy are now closed. Cohort A and D are at capacity. If you are interested in cohort B or C, please reach out to us: best@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about NAKIA Academy in this 5 minute video. You can also visit the BEST website for more information.
Mentor Academy 101
Mentor Academy 201
Observation & Feedback: Using Instructional Frameworks in Mentoring
Extended Learning
Academy event registration will close 48 hours prior to the academy. Please plan ahead and register prior to 48 hours to the event. If registration has closed and you want to get in, please contact us: best@k12.wa.us. We can help! Thank you.
Registration is open for Mentor Roundtables!
After attending NAKIA Academy and/or Mentor Academy 101, mentors can choose an on-going learning community (Mentor Roundtable) to engage with other mentors throughout the school year.
This year, we have 15 different Mentor Roundtables to choose from offered on various days and times to accommodate all types of schedules, roles, and interests.
Mentors can sign up for one Roundtable or mix and match sessions.
Andrea's Roundtable: SPED, Mondays, 4-6pm
Ashley's Roundtable: NAKIA/BIPOC, Wednesdays, 10-12pm
Alicia's Roundtable: SPED ESAs, Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30pm
Annie's Roundtable: Burnout/Wellness Focus, Wednesdays, 3:45-5:45pm
Hilari's Roundtable: Inspired by the book, Thanks for the Feedback, Wednesdays, 10-12pm
Julie's Roundtable: Full Release Mentors, Tuesdays, 10-12pm
Katie's Roundtable: School Nurses, Wednesdays, 2-4pm
Kathy's Roundtable: Colleague Mentors, Tuesdays, 4-6pm
Kjell's Roundtable: General/Open to All, Mondays, 10-12pm
Linda's Roundtable: General/Open to All, Mondays, 4-6pm
Melissa's Roundtable: ESAs, Tuesdays, 3:45-5:45pm
Mary's Roundtable: General/Open to All, Tuesdays, 9-11am
Patricia's Roundtable: NAKIA/BIPOC, Thursdays, 4-6pm
Tanisha's Roundtable: NAKIA/BIPOC, Wednesdays, 4:15-6:15pm
Tara's Roundtable: Smalll/Rural Districts, Thursdays, 10-12pm
Mentor Roundtables are Intentional Learning in Community
Roundtables offer mentors a small group, cohorted learning environment to grow trust in community with other mentors, build mentoring skills together, and practice mentoring moves with the guidance of an expert facilitator (BEST Mentor Faculty).
There are Mentor Roundtables for School Nurses, Special Educators, Small and Rural School Districts, Colleague Mentors, Full-Release Mentors, NAKIA/BIPOC, educators wanting to learn through a lens of wellness, feedback, and open/general Roundtables. Sign up today!
The full schedule and registration links are posted on the BEST website.
Learning Focused Conversations
How might you engage in learning focused conversations that promote reflective practices with your mentees to improve student learning?
Choose from the following list of tools to support your practice:
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Tools and Guides from Elena Aguilar: Downloadable Tools | Bright Morning (brightmorningteam.com)
Induction and Mentoring Resources
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