Academic mentoring for a unified class takes a lot of patience but is definitely super rewarding! The main goal is to take some stress off the teacher and other paras in relation to the special education students. It's super important to be a role model since the class looks up to you as an upperclassman. It seems intimidating at first but after a little time, you create so many relationships within the class!
-Lucy Barbella
Building relatnioships is SO important! Get to class a few minutes early and ask how their day is going or how their weekend was. It made them more excited to see me and more willing to work with me. Also, if you see them in the hallway, say hi!
Getting the get kids to open up can be really difficult, but it's important to keep pushing for connections. It's really nice to do ice breakers with the class or just make sure that there is a time where both the mentor and mentee can focus on the connection and talk about other things other than the subject that you are mentoring. let them know that you are there because you want to be there and you want to help and that its not just for the credit.
This is the end of my second term of academic mentoring for an English and math class for students who need extra support in those areas. There have been some very difficult days where students would rather sit than do any work, but even with the hard days, I have loved the experience. It taught me the importance of patience while building relationships. I become close enough with the students that I will get stopped in the hallway and will catch up with them. It is extremely rewarding when you meet people who you not only connect with, but also who appreciate the help you're giving them.
-Izzy Jonkman
Academic mentoring for Unified P.E is a very fun experience, especially if you are very present during the class. Getting to know the students in the class is very important, it allows for a little community to be built in the class. It is important to be very inclusive as a mentor, try to find the students that seem isolated or are sitting alone. Being a helping hand for the teacher and paras is a key role in being a mentor for Unified P.E. The class can be stressful at times, and your role as a mentor is to ease that stress. Overall, I loved my experience as a mentor for Unified P.E.
-Katy Riviere