Building a Relationship with your Student Teacher
1.5 hours
This Module includes the following:
A short quiz to determine your and your student teacher's conception of mentoring
3 video examples showing these conceptions of mentoring
Slides on the elements of "helping partnerships"
Mentoring Resources
Mentoring Conceptions
In a recent study of science teacher mentoring, conceptions of mentoring held by new science teachers and their mentors were investigated through interviews and intensive case studies (Koballa et al.). Their findings revealed three prominent conceptions of science teacher mentoring that highlight mentoring roles, processes, and outcomes:
1. Mentoring is personal support.
2. Mentoring is apprenticeship.
3. Mentoring is co-learning.
Activity:
1. Take the above short survey in the Mentoring Vignette to see your conception of mentoring.
2. Have your student teacher also take the survey to see their understanding of mentoring.
Vignette excerpt from:
Koballa, T., Bradbury L., Deaton C.M. (2008). Realize Your Mentoring Success https://eric.ed.gov/?q=source%3A%22Science+Teacher%22&ff1=souScience+Teacher&ff2=eduAdult+Education&id=EJ802046
Mentoring vignette.pdf3. Talk together about how your similar/different conceptions of mentoring might impact your conversations and relationship.
In each of the videos below, some of our MAT candidates have enacted these 3 mentoring roles. Compare the different responses of the mentors. Engage in a discussion with your student teacher about the benefits of the conception of mentoring demonstrated, and how the enactment of other conceptions of mentoring might impact the dialogue. (Special thank you to these candidates for doing these impromptu videos!)
Co - Learning
Focus
Working of partnership
Mentor contributes knowledge based on years of practice
New teacher provides knowledge of recent advances as a result of college coursework
Positive Outcomes
Mentor AND new teacher gain a deeper and broader understanding of teaching
Sense of inter and interpersonal empowerment
IMG_3867.MOVDrawbacks
Not all mentors and new teachers are able to assume a co-learning relationship because of differing conceptions of mentoring
Personal Support
Focus
Provides emotional and pedagogical support
Support centers on trying multiple instructional strategies to develop their own style.
Positive Outcomes
new teacher feels valued as a person with compelling dilemmas
A professional who aspires to the fullest possible development
IMG_3866.MOVDrawbacks
The new teacher may not develop understandings of teaching and learning that are reflective of the today's education reform.
Apprenticeship
Focus
Underscores mentor's experience-based knowledge
consider the logistics of teaching as separate from matters of instruction to promote student learning
Positive Outcomes
The new teacher gains confidence in teaching in the content area
Drawbacks
Because the new teacher is seen as having little contribution to the relationship, the mentor teacher may not have much opportunity to grow professionally.
IMG_3865.MOVHelping Partnerships
(adapted from Unmistakeable Impact: A Partnership Approach for Dramatically Improving Instruction, by Jim Knight)
Resources
Realizing Your Mentoring Success.pdfA website for Mentoring Skills for building relationships