Here's what you can expect to do throughout a VMP program cycle! This is an overview of the program journey, but you can find more detailed information linked below and in subpages across this site.
📋 Complete the Capacity Survey: At several points in the year, MCP will email you a mentor survey to indicate your capacity, such as how many mentees you are available to support. This informs the next steps of your mentoring journey! You can always update this information by emailing us if your availability changes.
📩 Review Pairing Confirmations via Email: Ahead of the program start date, you'll receive an email from our team with confirmations of mentee pairings. Please only respond to this email if you cannot accept the pairings. Learn more about our pairing process.
👋 Mentee/Mentor Introductions: Our team will connect you with your mentee via email. Email mentees (and cc mentorship@modernclassrooms.org) to introduce yourself and schedule an introductory call. Learn more about what to discuss in the intro call.
A mentee might drop or change their enrollment after being paired. Life happens! If so, you'll be notified via email. If your mentee asks about changing or dropping sessions, please have your mentee contact us at mentorship@modernclassrooms.org.
📬 Submission Notification: As your mentee submits work, you will receive an email alert when you have a new submission to review. To access your mentee's submission, you can access their submission from their Course Companion (CC). The Course Companion is located in several places: directly in the email notification, the Moodle course platform right-hand menu under "Grade Me Block," or from your mentor activity hub.
📝 Provide Feedback and Enter a Grade in Moodle: Timely feedback is the backbone of our program. All mentors are expected to provide feedback on Submissions #1-4 within two business days. Please provide feedback within one week for the Culminating Submission (Submission #5). Share actionable and motivating feedback directly in the Course Companion. Then, enter a grade in Moodle (0 = Not Yet Mastered, 1 = Mastered). Learn more about detailed feedback, grading, and extenuating circumstances.
📧 Tag your mentee or email your mentee after you've completed feedback. Mentees will not receive a notification if you've requested a revision. Please tag them directly in the Course Companion, re-share the CC, or email the mentee directly especially if you returned the submission for revision. Mentees will get an automated alert if the submission was approved (only if approved).
💵 Submit Activity Completion Form to Get Paid: We want to ensure you are paid for your hard work, and so we can track the progress of your mentees. Please submit the activity completion form within 24 hours of completing a task.
☎️ Continue to Check In and Offer Support. Reach out to your mentees periodically if you haven't received submissions, continue to offer encouragement and support (email, text, phone, or video calls), and hold coaching calls as needed to discuss feedback on submissions. Leverage our coaching call agendas and email templates.
📝 Review the Culminating Submission: Submission #5, the Culminating Submission, is unique. It includes: 1) at least three original, teacher-created instructional videos, 2) a mastery check for each lesson, 3) a must-do element for the submission. Mentors have one week to provide feedback, request revisions, and enter a grade in Moodle.
⏳ Extension Requests: By design, the VMP provides mentees with ample opportunities to complete the program at their own pace. Mentees can request an extension to stay accountable to suggested deadlines. In the school year, mentees who request an extension will be automatically granted a two-week extension. In the summer, the extension is one week. Please review and offer feedback within the same timeframe of two business days or one week for the Culminating Submission. Let us know if you cannot continue supporting your mentee for any reason.
🥳 Close Out with Your Mentee: Some mentees may not be on track to complete the program, and that's okay and you can send them a motivating email to continue working even after the program closes.
If your mentee submits at least four submissions, you will receive a unique link to complete a mentee evaluation within one week. Mentee evaluations are an important part of the mentorship process and part of your duties as a mentor. If you indicate a mentee is a good candidate to become a mentor, we will encourage them to become a Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator (DMCE), and feel free to encourage them to do so as well!
After the Session and Extension:
📬 Continue Reviewing Submissions: Even after the extension and program ends, mentees can still work to complete the course. Mentors and mentees remain paired. You will still be notified via email to review submissions. If you cannot support the mentee at that time, please email mentorship@modernclassrooms.org.
If a mentee requests ongoing coaching calls after the program ends, we have community-oriented support that doesn't require your time. You can direct mentees to Educator Commons in Moodle, our Facebook group, or offer one or two calls (and log your time accordingly). However, if they require more formal ongoing support, please have them reach out to us.
