On your first day of mentoring, make it your number one priority to not only build relationships with the students, but take initiative yourself rather than wait for them to ask you questions. This will ensure that they are willing to ask you for help. I would also recommend that you follow the golden rule and treat others how you want to be treated. If you were a student in that classroom and there was an academic mentor, how would you want the academic mentor to interact with you? This helped me feel more comfortable as a mentor, and helped the students feel comfortable around me too. And finally, don't stress about it. At first I thought I wouldn't be a very good academic mentor and I worried that the students wouldn't like me, but I realized that once you build relationships & take initiative, you gain more confidence to help students.
-Gabe Borken
Don't wait for the teacher to give you instruction. If you see a student that needs help, take initiative and go to them and ask them what they are stuck on. This way, the teacher can focus on helping other students and time is used more efficiently.
-Maitri Chandrashekar
Taking intitiative is something that I really struggled with at first, but I realized that there are many different ways to get involved and help students. During work time, I walk around the classroom checking in with people. This will often prompt students to ask questions and feel more comfortable asking for help. If everybody is working and has no questions, I would often walk up to a group and ask if I can listen. This allowed me to be involved, aware, helpful, and to observe their work without imposing myself.
- Annie Jaynes
In my classroom, I didn't really have much to do that was addressed by the teacher, so in order to get the most out of my experience, I tried my best to walk around asking if anyone needed help or even reaching out to my teacher. In order to get the most out of this experience try your best to take action for yourself and speak up!
-Lauren A
I thought I would be good at taking initiative when I first joined my class, but then I quickly realized that every student is so different in how they want help or if they want help. I had to understand how to approach different people to help them in the best way I can. Some people require very direct and constant help, even when they don't ask for it, while others willingly ask questions. I was able to help much more when I realized this.
-Braden G
When I first started, I didn't know what my teacher wanted me to help with. Students were already in their groups and seemed to be working on their tasks. I eventually learned to just walk up to a group and start having them explain the assignment to me; it helped them figure out where they were confused and where I can help. Eventually I knew who struggled with what in the class and was able to help accordingly.
-Ellie Hainlin
Taking initiative will be hard at first, but it will get easier the longer you are in your classroom. On my first day, the class was doing a lab, so I just sat down at a lab station and introduced myself and asked what everyone's name was. It takes a while to gain trust and build relationships. Communicate with your teacher to make sure they don’t need you to be working with anyone specific. If they don't, then start going up to students and asking them questions. Once the class and students start to trust you, they will come to you with questions and ask you for help.
-Ellie Lawrance
When working as an academic mentor, I would say that one of the most challenging parts is learning to take initiative in the classroom. Being comfortable enough to take action when not directed to definitely takes practice and can be really scary at first. Through my experience of working as an academic mentor, in an every other day English and math class, with many students who struggle with those topics, I have learned that taking initiative is very important. One of the steps I took to become better at this was to be very visually aware of the classroom. I made sure that even if I was working with a student I was still watching the rest of the classroom. If I noticed that a student might be struggling, or was not entirely focused on their work, I would grab a chair and sit next to them. By sitting next to them you are getting to their level and not towering over them, creating an overwhelming and stressful environment. It is also important to remember that not all students will want help, but the most important part is creating a relationship that allows them to feel comfortable enough for you to take initiative with them and help them grow.
- Izzy Jonkman
Initially, in the beginning of the term, I would sit in the class a lot and not contribute much. Oftentimes the teacher (if they are not used to having an academic mentor), is used to managing the class themselves, so they won’t ask for help. You need to be proactive in asking to help out. On the days where I asked the teacher what help they needed, I assisted more than days where I didn’t. Also, you can go around and interact with the students. They usually won’t approach you and directly ask for help, so you need to take the step. When I walked around the class and asked what they’re working on, the students became much more comfortable asking questions—you just have to take initiative to build that relationship first.
- Ria Mittal
I think it's important to just jump in and try to involve yourself in with the students even though it might seem weird or scary at first. If the students get to know you better and you chat with them a little, you'll come off as more approachable and more reserved students will find it easier to come to you for assistance. When I wasn't given specific instructions, I found it helpful to walk around the classroom and look around at what students were working on. Then, I would maybe check in with someone and ask them how everything was going and ask questions about their work if it looked like they were off task or seemed stuck.
- Mackenzie O'Meara
Work time is your time to shine as a mentor! As the class works independently on an assignment, you can walk around and see if anyone needs help. It may seem strange to wander around the classroom the first couple times, but you will quickly get used to it. Even if you aren't approached or asked for help immediately, do not be disheartened. Students need time to warm up to your presence, and you should not give up on helping before then.
-Nurain Jiwani
I think you just have to be brave at first and remind yourself that they're probably more afraid to approach you than you are to approach the students. You can go around and make sure students are on task and check in to see what they're working on and how they're doing.
- Mackenzie O'Meara