Transcript Document

Orientation and Training
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AGENDA
 Welcome and Introductions
 Overview of Program
 What is an Education Elevator?
 Commitments and Students Served
 Logistics and Program Guidelines
 Resources and Activity Ideas
 Discussion & Questions
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Elementary Students matched with Volunteers.
Enhance, Elevate and Enrich Student Success.
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Education Elevators Foundation
 Impetus – Recognition that in order for our communities to thrive,
public schools must succeed.
 Premise – For public education to succeed, more caring adults
must spend one-on-one time with more kids.
 Method - To provide mentors “Elevators” to work individual
students one-on-one for approximately 30 minutes each week.
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Mission Statement
The Mission of the Education Elevators Program is to
elevate the abilities and aspirations of students- to
uplift the students and make them more confident in
themselves and generally more receptive to learning.
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Mentoring Matters
"When students and workers who had been in poverty
(and successfully made it to the middle class) were asked
how they made it out of poverty, the answer nine times
out of ten had to do with a relationship - a teacher,
mentor, counselor or coach who made a suggestion
or took an interest in them."
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What is an Education Elevator?
 An Elevator (mentor) is an adult who provides a young
person with support, counsel, friendship,
reinforcement and constructive positive examples.
 Elevators (mentors) are there to help uplift students, to
inspire curiosity and motivation to learn, to instill a
love for learning.
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An Education Elevator is . . . .
 A friend, confidant and advisor
 A teacher, guide, coach and a role model
 Caring and supportive
 Patient and Encouraging
 Open and willing to share time, experience and
knowledge
 Non-judgmental
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An Education Elevator is not . . .
 A parent substitute
 A tutor
 A therapist or social worker
 A school guidance counselor
 A savior
. . . . . But an Elevator can supplement some of those relationships
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Benefits
Mentoring Impacts Children by:
 Improving their sense of self and future
 Improving relationships with parents teachers and peers
 Improving attitudes toward school and academic performance
 Improving overall academic performance
 Strengthening communication skills
 Improving attendance
 Helping kids avoid negative behavior
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Quote from a Mentor about a Student:
"Mary* blossomed throughout the year. She was one of the youngest in her class and was
developmentally behind some of her classmates. Her teachers worried they’d have to keep her
behind. By the end of the year, though, she finished in the top of her class. She came out of her
shell and was much more willing to participate in class activities and challenge herself
intellectually. I, and her teachers, have been so excited by her improvement. She left
kindergarten winning several awards for academic achievement.
Quote from a Mentor about the experience:
“I think I benefited as much as my student did from it - and I
definitely gained a tiny friend through the process!"
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Elevator’s Commitment
 Simply BE THERE FOR YOUR STUDENT
 Elevators (mentors) must commit to spending 20-30 minutes
per week with their student through the end of the school year.
(Though many Elevators choose to stay with their student until their
student graduates from elementary school).
 During your time with your student you can do anything that is
of interest to you or your student. (ie. arts and crafts, sports, puzzles,
model building, playing musical instruments).

Elevators (mentors) can be “incubators of innovation”!
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Elevators Commitment
 If you cannot make a scheduled meeting with your student, it is
imperative to let your student’s teacher/principal know.
 When possible, please let your student know in advance that you
won’t be able to make your scheduled meeting. (If you have time to plan
ahead, ask your student to read a book to discuss at your next session or write
down things they want to talk about in a journal).
 If for any reason you have to end your relationship with your student
before the end of the school year, you must let the point of contact and
principal know and explain to your student why you cannot continue.
(Consult the handbook for further direction on how to properly terminate the
relationship).
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Who we serve
About the Students you will be matched with:
 Kindergarten through Fifth Grade (early enough so you can still
reach them)
 Referred to program by their teacher/other educator because
they believe that particular student would really benefit from
having an Elevator
 Most likely are not receiving other educational services or do
not have an adult in their life to teach the value of education.
(parent is a dropout or being raised by other than a parent)
For most of the students in the program, time alone with an adult is a luxury
so the 20-30 minutes per week you spend with them really makes a difference!
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Becoming an Elevator
 Attend a training
 Fill out an Elevator Profile
 Read and Sign Mandated Reporters Acknowledgement
 Complete the Background Check
 MOU’s signed with business partner and school
 Paired with a Student
 Create a Notebook to use during your meetings
 First Student Meeting
 Student Agreement
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Teacher/Elevator Communication
 Once we have paired you with a student your school point of contact
will make arrangements for your first visit. Ask your student’s
teacher/principal or your point of contact the best way to contact them
(ie. email, cell) in the event you need to reschedule a session with your
student.
 We encourage you to talk to the teacher/principal to find out any
information they are willing to share about your student (ie. things the
teacher would like your help with, strategies for working with that particular
student, information on family issues/problems at home, student strengths or
weaknesses etc….discuss confidentiality)
 Communication between you and the teacher/principal should
continue throughout your mentoring relationship.
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Initial Meeting with Your Student
 Start by introducing yourself (your background, hobbies, job etc.)
 Fill out the “Getting to Know You” Form in your packet.
(Make sure to share your answers as well).
 Tell them that you have been assigned to be their Elevator
and talk a little bit about what that means.
 Fill out the “Student Agreement” in your folder and
discuss things the two of you would like to do together over
the next year.
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Mentoring Notebooks
 We encourage Elevators to start a folder/ notebook with their students
to help document the relationship.
 The Elevating notebook is meant to be a record of your time together.
 Ask your student to write or draw (depending on age and interests) about
him/herself on your first visit or at anytime during your relationship.
(ie. What do they want to be when they grown up? What are their dreams?
What makes them happy/mad/sad? How are they feeling on a particular day?)
 Keep projects or pictures of projects you work on or lists of things
you want to do together in the folder.
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We encourage you to write notes
in the folder/notebook
at the end of each session.
(it could be a compliment or comment about your activity, but it doesn’t need
to be elaborate and it isn’t meant to be burdensome).
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Mentoring Goals
 Establish a positive personal relationship
 Be a good role model
 Enhance social skills and emotional well being
 Help build self esteem
 Inspire curiosity and motivation to learn
Research shows that if students are reading at grade level by the end of
3rd grade they are more likely to graduate from high school.
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Five C’s of Positive Youth
Development
 Confidence: internal sense of overall positive self worth, identity and
belief in future
 Competence: positive view one’s skills and abilities, including
academic, social, cognitive and vocational
 Character: recognition of societal and cultural rules, a sense of
responsibility and accountability for one’s actions
 Caring: A sense of sympathy and empathy for others
 Connection: positive bonds with people and institutions, including
peers, family, school and community
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Establishing a Positive Relationship
Show up every week.
 Simply being there for your student is the most important thing
you can do as an Elevator.
 Many of the students in the program have never had an adult they
can depend on. To earn their trust, they must be able to depend on
you. (If you can’t make a scheduled visit you MUST let the student’s
teacher know in advance).
 Being consistent and dependable will help your student learn to
trust you.
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Establishing a Positive Relationship
Practice effective communication
 Be aware of both verbal and nonverbal body language
(including your own – if you are having a bad day, let your student know
that so they don’t think you are crossing your arms because you are mad at
them).
 Ask open ended questions (ie. Tell me the three best things/worst
things about your week)
 Use a full and rich vocabulary when talking to your student
(exposure to words is one of the best things you can do for your student’s
language skills).
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Establishing a Positive Relationship
 Be an active listener
 Ask permission before giving advice.
 Encourage your student to tell you more (ie. Can you tell me
more about that? How did that make you feel?)
 Bring up things your student told you before to show
you are listening
(ie. You mentioned that you were interested in
airplanes, have you ever thought about being a pilot?)
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Establishing a Positive Relationship
Be respectful and encouraging of your student’s
ideas.
 Decide together or take turns deciding what activity you
will engage in during your meetings.
Have fun and focus on friendship first!
 Studies show that the most successful mentoring
relationships are those where the focus is on friendship
rather than on a particular goal like tutoring.
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Ways to Help Build your Student’s
Self Esteem
 Always listen and acknowledge your student’s thoughts and feelings
 If they fail at something, point out and help them see their successes
 Teach them that mistakes can be a learning experience (share stories
about your own mistakes and failures)
 Help them identify their strengths and build on them
 Give your student compliments
 Most importantly – expect your student to succeed and share
your expectations!
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Role Modeling
 Remember that you are always role modeling.
 Teach your student the value of a firm handshake and good eye contact when
meeting someone new.
 Qualities that you can intentionally role model include: honesty, integrity,
compassion, dependability, high standards and values. (Simply seeing the way
you treat them and others can impact the way your student treats others.)
 Just talking about work and goals teaches children that they can have goals too.
"A positive role model can give us an example of our potential. They point out what is good about us-our strengths and abilities--and affirm our dreams for who we could be.”
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Note on Values Differences
 It is likely/possible that your student is living at or below the poverty
line, that he or she comes from a single parent family, and/or one or
both of your student’s parents did not graduate from high school.
(These are all “risk factors” that increase the likelihood that a student will not
graduate from high school).
 The way your student views certain things (like possessions, education,
and time) may be very different from the way you do.
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Logistics-Guidelines
 You must always sign in and out at the school office and
wear an ID when meeting with your student.
 Meetings with your student must only occur on school
grounds, during school time.
 Do not transport your student under any circumstance.
 Please do not bring food into the school.
 Buying gifts for your student in general is discouraged but
making crafts together is appropriate.
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Logistics-Guidelines cont.
 Do not allow your student to sit on your lap and do not
engage in tickling, wrestling or excessive hugging. (A side hug
or quick pat on the back is okay)
 If your student tells you something or does something that
makes you uncomfortable, contact the school guidance
counselor.
 If your student confides in you information regarding
abuse (substance or physical abuse), hurting himself or
herself or someone else, suicide or homicide or carrying
weapons, you MUST report it to the guidance counselor.
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CONFIDENTIALITY
 Your relationship with your student is intended to be a
confidential one. You should tell your student in the
beginning of your relationship that for the most part things
you discuss together or that your student shares with you,
you will keep confidential.
 However, let your student know that you are responsible
under the law for sharing certain information with the
guidance counselor if you feel that he or she may be in
danger.
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Tips for Difficult Situations
 Don’t panic- most important thing is just to listen
 Use common sense and the best available information
 Ask questions to get a better idea of the situation
 Always feel free to consult your student’s
teacher/principal or the guidance counselor for advice
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What Every Mentor Needs to Know
 Be patient– strong relationships and trust take time to develop.
 Don’t take things personally.
 Know that there will always be challenges and you won’t always
have the answer.
 Know that you are making a difference -the little things can and do
make a BIG difference!
Being an Elevator can be challenging,
but it is also incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!
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Resources and Activity Ideas
 Go to the Activities in your Notebooks
 Review Notebook Resources
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Questions
Success Stories
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“Never doubt that a small group of
committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
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