Senior school mentors

*zippy*

DD 15 brought a letter home tonight saying she has been chosen to be mentored next year by a member of staff. She mentioned that all the other children chosen had difficulties such as English being their second language or the kids that are absent alot etc. She has dyslexia and we complained recently as one of her teachers was very negative and knocked her confidence just before her exams, i'm presuming this is why she has been chosen, she seems ok and likes her mentor, but they haven't told here whats involved.

My concern is that its a positive thing for her.

Does anyone have any experience of it or know what might be involved?

Thanks x

Sharifa_2

One of my family members is a teacher, and this past couple of years he's done mentoring in place of some of his ordinary teaching. He tends to work with those with English as a second language or who have behavioural or other linguistic difficulties. He sits with them in their normal classes and basically helps explain things, helps them write etc. It's not seen as a negative thing at all; he really likes doing it, there's no bullying from other kids because it's so much an accepted part of the school, it's a fantastic opportunity to help their confidence and abilities, the kids benefit from the special adult attention and their results do improve. Some of the things they write in Christmas cards to him are really moving; these are kids who really struggle to express themselves, who've often gone through immensely traumatic things if they're refugees/asylum seekers, and he can see how much of a difference it makes. I think this could be a really positive thing for your daughter; it's great that she likes her mentor. It's not a 'punishment' in any way; it's the school being pro-active to try and help her achieve her best in a way that just isn't possible in ordinary lessons with classroom sizes.

Savvy_Sue

DS3 has a staff mentor because he's not really achieving his full potential - failing to do homework or coursework, denying he has any etc. He seems really keen on it, despite the fact that he seems to have every single member of staff breathing down his neck these days!

linzz_2

My son had a mentor in year 9, she worked in the school but I don't think she was a teacher. This was because his attendance was a bit patchy as was his homework and effort! He used to meet her once a week and they'd go through his 'planner' and chat about how the week had gone. She would put a sticker in his book if he'd had a good week and always a positve comment. When he got so many stickers he got a giant Snickers! She sounded really nice and I think he benefitted from someone who was always optomistic and praised him even if he hadn't done that much.

This is definately a positve thing, kids always like some extra attention.

*zippy*

Thanks for the replies.

She went to see her mentor today for a chat to explain she wanted to know more about it and has come home really positive about it

I think I was a bit concerned it would be negative as she doesn't really tick the boxes of what we thought mentoring was for, she has just had a fairly good report, is quiet in class if anything and we have checked with her teachers and her homework is always done and in on time. We only have a problem with her English teacher who told her on several occasions that she is lazy not Dyslexic, and seems to knock her confidence at every opportunity, hence the complaint to the school.

Her teacher explained today that a list of names go forward of children who are not achieving their full potential and the teachers then pick who they would like to mentor. She also found out a friend has had one this year who she considers to very bright so realises it is done for different reasons.

I still have to sort the English teacher problem out, but other than that hopefully it will build her confidence up.

Thanks again x

Savvy_Sue

*zippy* wrote: »

I still have to sort the English teacher problem out, but other than that hopefully it will build her confidence up.

Hope she gets a new one next year? Honestly, you could cheerfully throttle some teachers, couldn't you! Although I do wish that more of DS3's teachers would stop telling him how bright he is, and start telling him to get off his backside and Do Some Work to demonstrate it!

*zippy*

Thanks Savvy, yes I would happily throttle the woman, she told her a week before her exams that she was going to fail, DD came home and announced she wasn't sitting any of her exams as she knew she was going to fail them all :mad:

It took a few days talking to her, luckily the head of year was excellent and got all her other teachers together who gave her glowing written reports to get some confidence back and yes she has her next year unless I can get her moved. She has made more effort since, but I think she would be better with another teacher.

Mrs_Supersaver_1

Hi, my daughter never settled in at year 7. Altho, she is/was enthuseastic at school etc.

I made myself known to her class teacher via her planner, and had no qualms about meeting her blond bombshell (I love me) year head.

I was absolutely horrified to be told face to face by her year head he 'was gunning for her'! I made it quite clear as a parent, school governor and member of 'staff' at a secondary school his attitude was barbaric!

I got home and phoned LEA, the year head had to leave by summer break.:)

Just to let you know, I have also mentored students' for different reasons: under achieving, keep them on task for course work, SEN-special educational needs, gifted and talented, in student support centre and also for emotional, social, behavioural and communicational difficulities.

Trust me 'any' kind of mentoring is a bonus for our youngsters, and it is no easy job!! But very rewarding:)

djtonyb

I was one (many years ago) in school.

I helped mentor dyslexic children with their reading and writing during lessons and exams.

It was a positive experience for me and I'm now a mentor for Girlguiding UK adult leadership scheme