Saturday, January 25, 2014

MENTORING MAKES A DIFFERENCE-Electronic Village Online: 10 Ways to Be a Good Mentor: A Challenge by Fabiana Casella

After doing some research and reading the articles suggested by EVO Mentoring Team, I realized that most of the characteristics a good mentor must have do not differ much from the ones that make an excellent educator.


It is not easy to choose just two of all the attributes out of the ten, but I would like to say that the first one can be that a mentee needs her mentor to be a Role Modela mentee can learn a lot just by watching her mentor manage different situations, that is to say to lead by example.
The second characteristic can be to Be Genuinely Interested in The Mentee as an individual, to really care about the mentee, who is eager to listen to the comments and hang on to the mentor´s guide or thoughts.


Most of us in the group agreed on the fact that mentoring goes both ways: we teach others and we learn from them as well. Two more features I would like to add, are Commitment and Patience. Mentees as well as students, need their mentor to be there  watching them grow, and understand that sometimes they may stumble and fall, but, like in any learning process, one must take into consideration that there are ups and downs, too.


I do believe educators are natural mentors when they are:




When a person should be mentored is an interesting question. Honestly, I think one of the possible answers could be, whenever that person needs it: when he/she is new to a job, like teaching or even when he/she wants to move forward in her career.

We were asked for some suggestions for new Mentors and Mentees. Here is some addition to the rich bibliography given by the Mentoring Group: a compendium of the most relevant characteristics of a mentor, provided by the NEA Creating a Teacher Mentor Program:













10 comments:

  1. Dear Fabiana,
    Thank you so much for sharing such deep reflections on why mentoring and who should be mentored.
    I love how you come to this point when you describe that a good mentor has similar characteristics to a good educator, like both being role models and showing genuine commitment as well as patience, which will definitely be beneficial for both the mentor and the mentee.
    I also love EVO Mentoring, I think we learn better when we learn together, like right now after reading and reflecting on your notes I feel we are learning from you.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Debbie! I didn't know all these wonderful comments were here!!! I just discovered them!!

      Delete
  2. Dear Fabi,

    I'm speechless with such wonderful words! What a post! Youare a natural mentor who uses words with wisdom. I do agree it's hard to choose two among so many other but, wisely, you not only mentioned, but also gave reasons and shared with us some other skills a mentor should have.
    As mu sis Debbie, I also love mentoring and love EVO mentoring . And I'll never be tired to quote Gertrudes Moskowitz who said: " To really care means to dare to share! This is the way we learn: from each other , by caring and sharing. This is real mentoring! Thank you . dear! I've learned a lot from you today.
    Cheers!
    Roseli

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Fabiana,

    It's all there! I wish I'd had access to this very post when I decided to take the plunge into mentoring. Many mentors start from scratch and have very little coaching themselves and what they may experience is nothing short of daunting. Behind the 'being caring' concept, there's an array of feelings and professional attitudes, and it is definitely way more than meets the eyes when it comes to professional relationships --- human relationships in general can be hard for just anyone. In the case of mentoring, it's not a boss & employee relationship; it's a peer-relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and empathy. Just as Roseli put it, therapists also need therapy/coaching so that they can learn to deal with difficult issues that may arise and what you offer in your post is exactly that: a mentor for us mentors. The richness of your post rests on a combination of all the collaborative work you carried out with other mentors through discussions and your personal touch based on your own experiences and your valuable insight on such a broad area. It is a keeper and I'l make your words my goal for this term. Thanks!
    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Teresa: I am so sorry I didn't see this before!! Thanks so much for your words!

      Delete
  5. Thank you for sharing, Fabiana. The peer relationship portion especially resonates with me. Remembering that mentoring may be needed at various points in the teaching profession is important. We are always learning. We always have the ability to encourage someone else or be encouraged ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Diane! I just read all the comments! they feel my heart with joy!

      Delete
  6. Thank you so much dear Roseli! just read all these!! So happy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know! I never check the Notify me box!!

    ReplyDelete