Mentoring Newsletter
A guide to working with mentees at your school site
Mentor Focus: February 16th - 29th:
Hello, Mentors!
Thank you, as always, for being there for our new teachers. I hear it all the time while in schools from your mentees that the impact of your support is truly immeasurable. We have had a few really great teacher leadership events within the past month or two. The teacher leaders in our county ROCK and there is nothing better than learning from people who are actually in the trenches! Thank you for sharing your strengths with not just our new teachers but with everyone.
In this newsletter you will find the link for the Rookie and Emerging Teacher of the Year application. As the lead mentor, you may need to assist your principal in identifying strong candidates to recommend. The application will also be in this week's LTP.
As always, if you would like to share how you are growing your school's mentoring program, please let me know. I love showcasing what you are doing to support teachers - YOU are the Heart of Brevard!
1. Personal: This stretch of time between now and spring break can feel like an eternity to all teachers – especially new teachers. Keep encouraging your mentees to stay strong!
2. Professional: Notice and comment on appropriate professional dress. As the days get a bit warmer, some of our younger teachers may feel comfortable with wearing clothing that may be too casual. This can be a “hard” conversation but can be discussed in more general terms so no one feels targeted. This is definitely a gender-specific discussion, though. As a mentor, this type of discussion is appropriate and within your realm.
3. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Discuss how bell work, openers, and anchoring activities provide opportunities to revisit concepts and information as well as provide opportunities for needed standardized test prep practice.
4. Organizational Systems: Explore ways to better use technology to manage professional, instructional, and student information.
5. Students: Have the new teachers preview standardized testing procedures and processes with students.
6. Colleagues: Bring principal up to date on how the mentoring process is working.
7. School Systems: Continue with making sure the new teachers are well informed and have accurate information about scheduling and teaching assignments for the upcoming school year as soon as it is available. Again, this is usually the time when rumors are circulating about possible changes!
8. Parents and Community: Continue with ensuring that the new teachers remind parents of the upcoming standardized testing. Help them develop a plan for letting parents know what they can do to help create a positive and productive testing environment.
*Special Educators: Remind these new teachers to review the standardized testing schedule and procedures as they apply to students in the special education programs.
Breakdown and several suggestions taken from Paula Rutherford's Just Ask Publications
-Bridget Reed
Teaching, Leading, and Caring for the iGen Students Event
Pics from New Teacher Academy
FTCE Subject Area Preparation through BEESS
In case you have a teacher looking for some way to study for any of these subject area tests have them check out this site. Classes through BEESS are free and these are independent, not facilitated, so they can start them anytime.
New Teacher Induction Program
Email: stanley.lisa@brevardschools.org
Website: https://www.brevardschools.org/Page/7999
Location: 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne, FL, USA
Phone: 321-633-1000