Mentor – Mentee Activity for October

Helping Your Mentee(s) Discover

a Teaching and Learning Philosophy

" I cannot teach you; only help you to explore yourself." --- Bruce Lee

Sometimes in the daily grind of day-to-day survival, beginning staff don't take the time to explore the "why" of their work. It is important for mentors to help their mentees build a foundation for an ongoing and evolving educational philosophy. Like all good educators, beginning staff need to step back from the demands of their roles and responsibilities and ask themselves some fundamental questions:

  • Why do I work in education?
  • What is the significance of my work?
  • What values drive my work?
  • What belief structure guides me as a professional?

For the month of October

1) Take time to talk with your mentee using the questions below to support

your discussion and reflection.

2) Below are threeactivities to help mentors stimulate their mentee’s reflection

about what theybelieve about teaching and learning.

Ponder Questions

Ask mentees questions that require them to reflect and ruminate:

  • Why did you want to become a teacher/work in education?
  • What are key personality traits that facilitate your success as a staff person?
  • What motivates or energizes you at work?
  • To what extent does work define you as a person?
  • What do you want to get out of this experience/career?
  • How does my work in education enhance or fit with your core values?
  • How can my work serve as a vehicle for me to discover personal meaning?

1. Story Telling. Ask your mentees to tell you a story or incident that characterizes why they went into education. What does this story say about their approach to their work?

2. Philosophy Poster. Ask your mentees to create a simple philosophy poster that succinctly answers the question, "Why do I work in education?" Place this poster so the mentee can see it and use it as a marker of what they thought and believed about teaching and learning at the beginning of the school year.

3. Interviews. Have your mentees informally interview three to five experienced staff, asking them to relate their most poignant memories of their work in education. What do their memories say about the value and meaning of teaching and learning?

Resources:

To Know As We Are Known: Education As a Spiritual Journey by Parker Palmer.

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer

The Heart of Learning by Steven Glazer

Classroom Teaching As Sublime Vocation by Robert Inchausti