Mentoring in the Class

You've gathered together all these great young men and young women . . . but now what?  You want to encourage them in their education, but how?  With so many unique individuals glowing with promise (or at least showing a spark!), helping them along their road can get a little intimidating.

We're going to talk about mentoring, 

from the earliest steps with your newest youth, 

to leading youth presidencies and youth mentors.

To Prepare for Class:

LEARN

Read chapters 12 and 13 in "Teach the Children" by Neil Flinders.  What principles do you find that are necessary for a mentoring relationship?  Underline and be prepared to share quotes to back them up.

UNDERSTAND (Choose at least one)

Think about your own experience of coming to this training.  What are your expectations?  Are you nervous?  Excited?  Do you know other people that will be there?  Are you normally quiet, or are you willing to ask questions and discuss?  Write down answers to those questions.  Then think about the youth you mentor.  How similar/different is their initial experience to yours?

When you think about a "safe environment," what does that mean to you?  Write down your answers, or if it helps to create or bring something to help us understand, do that.

APPLY  (Choose at least one)

Read "Help Them Aim High" by Henry B. Eyring.  Underline and jot your thoughts as you read.  How does this apply to mentoring in a classroom?  Take some time to think about 3 youth in your life (preferably some that aren't your children that will be attending Vanguard, but it's your choice) - think about where they are at in their education.  What are their strengths?  How can you help them climb even a little bit higher?

Think of at least one person (or more!) in your life who helped you become who you are today.  How were they a mentor to you?  What qualities do they have that made them effective mentors?  Take it a step further - write them a note thanking them for what they've given you.

1:45 Hour: One-On-One Mentoring: Empowering Effective Parent Mentoring (Genevieve Peterson and Mary Biesinger)

I don't know about you, but as my acquaintances learn that I educate my children at home, many of them respond by saying things like, "I could never do that."  "I don't have the patience!"  "My kids won't listen to me."  

What they don't realize is that we home school parents have the same doubts, fears and bad days, BUT we keep going.  WHY?  Do you know why you are home schooling?  Do you need a reminder? 

Your children need YOU.  God sent your children to you for a reason.  He will not leave you without help.   

In this class, we will discuss principles we can identify of how God mentors us: one-on-one. We will explore how we can apply those same principles in order to uniquely mentor our children for their individual missions. 

To prepare for class, please carefully study the following:

To simplify your readings, the first two are already included as suggested reading for the whole day of training.

• "Leadership Education" by the DeMilles pgs 40-56 (within chapter 2: The Seven Keys of Great Teaching, Applying the Seven Keys, The Eight Key, and Foundational Phases)
• Oliver DeMille's address from the TJEd 2007 Forum: "The Eighth Key and the Four Levels of Leadership"--I don't purchase many things, but this is a treasure...very central to the Vanguard vision.
  http://www.tjed.org/purchase/audio-downloads/eighth-key/
• Watch this TED talk by Benjamin Zander The Transformative Power of Classical Music
• Please consider ways in which God has taught you. 

1:45 Hour: Mentoring through Inspirements.

What is an Inspirement? Is that even a word?  

 

In Vanguard we use inspirements to, well, INSPIRE J!  Come and get some inspiration of your own:  why do we use inspirements, some ideas for writing inspirements and some ways to make inspirements meaningful for your youth.

To prepare to be inspired, completing all of the following:

Watch the following video:  NED talk...How youth learn   Write down the Great 8’s.   Which ones do you do well?   Which ones do you need to work on?  What inspires you from this video?

Write a definition or word study on the word : Inspire

Bring your favorite classic with you to this class.  (Yes, I do want you to actually physically bring the book)

AND come to class prepared to Inspire us by doing one (or more) of the following:

Make a list of things that inspire you.   Do something from your list, bring something from your list to share or bring one of the following:  an inspiring quote, an inspiring piece of art, an inspiring piece of music, inspiring item from nature,  something you physically do to inspire yourself, anything else that inspires you.

Howard Gardner said, "It's very important that a teacher take individual differences among kids very seriously The bottom line is a deep interest in children and how their minds are different from one another, and in helping them use their minds well."   Read some of Howard Gardner’s articles about Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner's site link) or take a multiple intelligence test online.  Make a list of his 7 (8) intelligences.   Which one (or more) do you think are a part of your intelligence?   Which ones do you think your own children prefer?   Which ones do the youth you will be mentoring demonstrate?

Read through a boy scout merit badge book, or a LDS young women’s personal progress book.  Is there anything inspiring there?  Make a note of how they try to inspire youth to learn, do and become more.

Try out one of the Great 8’s on your own children.  Share with us what you learn and how it inspires!

If you are a visual learner you might enjoy this funny TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson   How did he inspire you?