https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6 What will you take back to your school and implement from what you have learned in this course thus far? How might it impact your relationship with your mentee or others? Please be super reflective. en-us 2019-03-13 19:14:51 UTC 2019-10-01 01:53:00 UTC hello@padlet.com r_beaufeaux https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387355271 I know that although I may not feel ready, there is a need for teacher mentorship in our schools. It’s important to reach out, even if that means feeling a little bossy. Where is my level of comfortability and where can I push it? How do I engage with teachers who are older than myself, but may benefit from a different take on our working relationship? I hope to answer these questions and continue working toward a better understanding of student support and success. The video hit me in an interesting way that I wasn’t expecting. Augilar is known for being a coach- and even some of her mentees ended up quitting! The success or failure of me as a mentor is in how I TRY to help others. How I reach out, encourage, offer support, teach about resources, and further educate my fellow teachers in what I’ve mastered and know. Now that we’ve got a newer teacher in the music position at my ‘buddy’ school (grades 3-5) I feel like I’ve got someone who I can truly help. (Back to that island thing...) We’ve already discussed teaching methods specific to music education, changes that should/will take place with our concert/community outreach, and changes to the way we report grades in our system. I know that by developing and nurturing that relationship I’ll not only gain a great friend, but a colleague who supports our music education system as much as I do!

]]> 2019-09-20 17:53:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387355271 c_yohnk https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387858993 Some of my family members and friends have asked me why I am taking this class on mentoring since I am only a few years from retiring and I answer, "It is because I have a brand new teaching partner this year and I want to help her, if I can, get off to a good start. "  Which by the way, she is doing a fantastic job but I cannot take the credit.  
So far this course has been a real eye opener for me and what I need to do for myself to be more emotionally resilient.  This is something I can take with me and use long after I retire from the teaching profession.  

How will I use it back at school?  I do not feel it as strongly as some others do, but there is a little divide between the faculty in our building.  As one former colleague stated to another current colleague, "Didn't you know about the "young group and the old group?"   True, The young group" are all around the same age and many have children around the same age, so it may be easier to build a community between them.  But my hope is to build community as a school, too. Maybe not on a social level but on a professional level.  Again, it always seems to come down to the t-i-m-e factor.  Everyone is so busy.  Some like me, with school, and others with their personal life.   Or some like me, like to work at school until late and then arrive on time the next day. Others like to come to school early so they can leave early, so this also makes it hard to try to come together.

As I stated before, I am nervous that what I have to offer my mentee is old-fashioned and I will not be of much assistance, but taking this course is helping me to see that I may be able to help her see the rewards and joys of teaching ]]> 2019-09-22 21:23:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387858993 jaritc17 https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387887641 I have never realized how greatly my interpretations of situations affected my emotions.  By looking for the negative and not focusing on the positive, I have set myself up to experience unhappiness and sometimes failure in the classroom.  This week, I have learned that changing my mindset and focusing on the positive, will not only change my perspective and attitude, it has the potential to change the attitudes and perspectives of my students and my fellow colleagues.  One strategy that I plan to implement in order to shift my mindset is the use of affirmations and intention setting.  I am going to start envisioning myself being the kind of teacher that I have always wanted to be.

I have also realized this week that I can help to foster a more positive environment in my classroom and my school by being positive and sharing stories that emphasis the good that is occurring in our school.  I am going to try very hard to not be negative or allow myself to be caught up in the negativeness of some of my coworkers. As was mentioned in the book, we tend to feed off the negativity of others.  I also am planning on reaching out to some of the newer staff in our building to help them feel like there is someone that cares about them and wants to form a positive relationship with them.  I want to be a mentor that will help others overcome obstacles, create lasting relationships, find joy in their day, and belief in themselves.

]]> 2019-09-23 00:06:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/387887641 bxkrau17 https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/388760624 Mentoring is a key component in any school. My main take away so far is that it all starts with how we view ourselves and what our goals are. Then it dives into building relationships to help form a positive community. This year at my school we have a third kindergarten classroom which hasn't happened in a LONG time. The teacher in that classroom just graduated college, so this is her first year teaching. It is also her first year experiencing kindergarten. I am used to being on the "mentee" side of things, but this year I am get a taste of what it is like being a mentor. I am sharing the mentor role with my other teaching partner. I have loved working out the weekly scenarios in my head because that is a lot of what I see with my mentor. She has a lot of questions and asks for clarification which I don't blame her! I remember my first year teaching and I had oodles of questions. It makes me feel good to know that I am helping her, and she has expressed her gratitude a number of times. It's all about working as a team. I hope I can continue to take what I am learning in this class and apply it not only my classroom and our school as a whole, but at home and in public as well.]]> 2019-09-24 12:10:25 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/388760624 j_rubenzer https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/390911416 I learned that there were resources available that actually have standards for mentor teachers. This is valuable when setting up your own mentor teacher program. It also can be a resources to help a mentor remember what they have to do to be a good mentor teacher. As we become more mature teachers we may forget what it was like to be a new teacher. We also can help a new veteran teacher in our school system learn the culture of our school. Also, telling stories of what it was like for us when we started teaching can be valuable. When my mentee says to me, "" I was a complete failure today!" I tell her a story about when I was in the same situation and that I had to try something else. This can help a mentee see that this can happen to any new teacher. The most important thing a mentor teacher can do is listen. I like to ask questions like, how did this make you feel? What are you going to do now? How can I help? I always end the meeting with something positive. A new teacher has been through all of the training they need to teach. There is always a silver lining. We are all working as a team to make sure our school is meeting its mission and vision for our students.]]> 2019-09-28 20:07:10 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/390911416 b_canfield https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/391651451 One of the key takeaways I have had so far is that being a good mentor means being aware of yourself. Teachers need to be aware of their emotions, personalities, relationships, etc. to be able to mentor someone else. I have learned that there are some things that I will need to work on while I continue through my years of teaching. My emotions can get the best of me sometimes and I make irrational decisions based on how I am feeling. This is going to be something that will be challenging for me. I believe that being able to be aware of yourself will make you a better teacher. There is always room for improvement and learning new ways to cope with stress. Not only does this apply for school but also for everyday life. This is going to be my goal for the year so that I can be the best teacher, mom, and mentor I can be for the people who matter most to me.]]> 2019-10-01 01:49:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/tm60pcx492j6/wish/391651451