#RuralEdChat Archive
#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tuesday March 8, 2016
I've got a bit of a Star Wars theme tonight so I hope y'all can channel the Force!
Ready at the keyboard, I am.
https://t.co/H8pMR3vXQh
I've got a bit of a Star Wars theme tonight so I hope y'all can channel the Force!
On behalf of my fellow moderators & , welcome home!
Hi, Bill! How's it going?
So far I see & ... Who else is coming to learn our Jedi mindtricks?
Hey , I'm not a Star Wars nerd but I'll join in for a bit! I'm Teri from Spearfish, SD & I teach STEM & EdTech grades 6-8
good to see you guys again! This is becoming one of my favorite weekly chats
You don't need your nerd card tonight, just an inquisitive soul!
Hi and Glad you're here with us!
Hi! Good to see you here. :-)
Thanks! Hope all is well with you.
Good evening, How are you tonight?
A1 Listens and observes well and patiently.
A1: A good mentor is authentic, a good listener, passionate, observant, prepared, organized and kind.
A1 I agree w/ - it has to start with listening and include patience. Helping mentee set, work for, meet own goals.
A1 Doesn't have all the answers; helps others explore their solutions
: nailed it A1: A good mentor is authentic, a good listener, passionate, observant, prepared, organized and kind.
I agree, helps mentee develop good problem solving skills too, instead of relying on others for answers https://t.co/kZgbEIC4zn
A1 Doesn't have all the answers; helps others explore their solutions
So sorry I'm late. Tammy from Rural North Florida.
A1 Good mentoring is like good teaching - facilitating learning while seeking ultimate autonomy for mentees.
Patience is definitely important and goal setting. https://t.co/ysHyFz3NsL
A1 I agree w/ - it has to start with listening and include patience. Helping mentee set, work for, meet own goals.
A1 Good mentors really get to know their mentees and help them clarify goals.
A good mentor listens more than they speak. Provides more than a check list of to dos.
Well, hi! I'm in rural southside Virginia tonight - about 630 miles closer to you than usual! Hope all is well.
. So near and yet so far. I knew the force seemed stronger tonight.
A1: provides both positive/negative feedback & follows it up with solutions
Very true. It's hard to reach goals if you're not sure what they are.
Very important. A good mentor can provide constructive critizism with understanding and support. https://t.co/sU86y2ZX0i
A1: provides both positive/negative feedback & follows it up with solutions
A2 Focus on the kids and bettering practice. Willingness to acknowledge strengths, explore honestly & seek to meet challenges.
A2: A good mentee should be respectful, inquisitive, honest, and appreciative.
A2: A good mentee is willing to take advice and try new methods. Also, a good mentee is honest with the mentor about needs.
A2 I also think a willingness to understand the importance of cultural competence & full diversity of students helps all of us.
A2 Good mentee is a risk taker. Trying new things is not comfortable
A2: A good mentee is patient, knowing that change takes time, but is still hungry to improve themselves for self & for others.
Agreed. And realizing - a good mentee is really just a good teacher, only inexperienced and with a mentor. :-)
Yes. I think that mentors must have these understandings as well.
Q3: As mentors, how do we measure growth in our mentees? As mentees, how do we measure our own? https://t.co/EDoXouX5q6
A3: Great mentors want to be needed less and less. Independence is a great measurement.
A3 I think the key lies in a mentee's goals. Different goals lead to different indicators & methods to check how you're doing.
A3 I think the growth metric is best set by mentor and mentee together, as part of the goal formulation
That's true. Learning results in more independence. It can also add more collegiality
Hi! Liz from North Carolina! Teacher ninja!
Honesty&Appreciation essential! It doesn't work if mentee claims to already know it all and have all the skills.
Working on a wind turbine research project.
agree, mentee needs to be a sponge for all advice and info
Did we specify at start whether the mentoring was a formal school thing or informal teacher-teacher? Wonder if it matters
A4a First, face to face. Helps us adjust what we say on the fly. Second, asking questions. Third, focusing on mentee goals.
. Ooh, you read our mind... check out the next Q coming up for that one!
A4: need to provide actionable solutions instead of just broad advice, getting your hands a little dirty cant hurt
A4b Feedback can also deliberately be focused on behaviors, results, actionable steps. And not too much of it.
Right. reason some need mentoring is to help translate from theory to action
great point, that is a major struggle when developing a new concept/program
A5 Offering 1 or 2 potential solutions for mentee to try would transfer
Q5 touches on the fact that sometimes formal mentorships can fall short for both mentees & mentors
A5 Are you maybe suggesting that, even in a formal program, mentors and mentees should choose each other? It would make sense.
A5 It's hard to tell another teacher what to do: personalities affect success. Better to offer couple "you could try"
A6 To infinity... and beyond!
A5 I think choice might help. Also relaxing paperwork requirements!
Thanks for indulging my StarWars theme tonight friends!
A6 by "teacher leader" you mean???? I've heard that term used in so many ways
A6 I think teacher-leaders need to network heavily within each school, each district, each... interconnected world.
. I think of it simply as a teacher empowered and choosing to lead, whether formally or informally.
Thanks Loved the Star Wars theme. :)
