How to Establish Your Role as a Mentee
Instructions for preservice teacher field placements in 300 or 400 level courses
Standards Connections
You know we want to model what we teach and practice what we preach! Standards drive so many of our decisions, and our work with you is no different. This mentee preparation module is connected to the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession (OSTPs), a set of standards by which you'll be evaluated as a professional educator in Ohio (yes, even after you graduate!). Your preservice field placements are a great place to practice these skills, especially those connected to Standards 6 and 7.
Standard 6: Teachers collaborate and communicate with students, parents, other educators, administrators, and the community to support student learning.
OSTP 6.1 Teachers communicate clearly and effectively.
OSTP 6.3 Teachers collaborate effectively with other teachers, administrators and school and district staff.
Standard 7: Teachers assume responsibility for professional growth, performance, and involvement as an individual and as a member of a learning community.
OSTP 7.1 Teachers understand, uphold and follow professional ethics, policies and legal codes of professional conduct.
OSTP 7.2 Teachers take responsibility for engaging in continuous, purposeful professional development.
Directions
Below are video responses to five questions asked of Cooperating Teachers about their experiences with preservice teacher candidates like yourself. Please read through and follow these steps BEFORE you start the videos:
1. On the template/handout provided below, first write a short response predicting how you think a Cooperating Teacher might answer each question.
2. Second, watch each video and summarize each respondent's thoughts on the template provided.
3. Finally, write a brief response on the template provided (no more than 250 words) reflecting on what you learned. Were there any differences between how you expected each Cooperating Teacher to answer the questions and their actual answers? Did any of their answers surprise you or expand your thinking? What will you take away from this exercise?
Project WITT Mentee Response Template[1].docxHow do your most successful mentees communicate with you? Consider frequency and form (email, text, in-person).
Brad Olinger
Aimee Noel
Heidi Franko
2. How can mentees achieve a balance of asking questions while also demonstrating initiative, flexibility, and problem-solving?
Follow-up: What's your preference? Would you rather have a mentee who asks LOTS of questions, or a mentee who is willing to take initiative to solve problems independently?
Brad Olinger
Aimee Noel
Heidi Franko
3. How and when should mentees communicate with you and your colleagues to identify and meet students' needs?
Brad Olinger
Aimee Noel
Heidi Franko
4. How can students make the most of their field placement to learn how to function as a collaborative member of the school and classroom community?
Brad Olinger
Aimee Noel
Heidi Franko
5. What are the most common mistakes you see mentees making in the classroom, and what is the most important attribute you think helps mentees succeed in the classroom?