Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Richard E. Lopez, Ed.S

The University of Southern

Mississippi

August 6, 2012

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Mentoring is defined as an one on one relationship between a youth and older person who is established, and built up over a period of time for the purposes of providing consistent support , guidance and concrete help as the younger person goes through challenging or difficult periods of life.

1983 Margaret Mahoney called for a “renaissance of mentoring.”

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Educational reform movement of the 1980s

Based on a 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education entitled A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform.

Mid-1980s, another wave of educational reform (needs of disadvantaged students were acknowledged)

Programs for students “at risk.”

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

The performance of American students remained flat in the 1990s.

Research has indicated that that children need positive relations with caring adults.

Educators within the school system must be a part of the group of positive adults who examine and deal with the inclusion of at risk students in the slogan, “success for all.”

Teacher as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Educators play a vital role in meeting the needs of students identified as most at risk for school failure.

Traditional schools by themselves are ill-equipped to deal with the underlying problems of cultural differences, poverty, lack of general health, and abuse.

Research has indicated that mentoring programs should be considered a valid option for addressing the diverse needs of at risk students.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Mentoring has been proven beneficial to improving achievement and retention rates for students’ at all educational levels.

Mentoring also provides sociological and emotional support.

Students must be given guaranteed opportunities to learn and be successful.

Providing opportunity and closing the achievement gap among students are among the most demanding issues facing schools.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Research has demonstrated that approximately one third of all students in the United States are labeled as at-risk for academic failure.

Mentoring programs have surfaced in arenas such as primary and secondary schools, colleges, local community centers, churches, neighborhoods, and various peer networks.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

The path of dropping out of school can start as early as kindergarten.

Students that drop out of high school were held back between the fifth and sixth grades.

One study indicated that not one student who was held back after the first grade graduated.

The younger a child is labeled at risk, the more likely they will experience a life-persistence of problematic behaviors.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

The higher the GPA of the student entering the mentoring program the greater the student’s chances were of completing the mentoring program and graduating from high school.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

NO GROUP IS IN GREATER NEED OF SUPPORT, NUTURING AND GUIDENCE THAN AT-RISK STUDENTS!!!

Defining At-Risk Students Disabling cultural or medical conditions Is denied, or has minimum equal

opportunities and resources in a variety of settings

In jeopardy of failing to become a successful and meaningful member of his or her community

Teachers as Mentors for Students“ At Risk”

Defining At-Risk Students Low economic status English Language Learners Disabilities and identified as special ed Moves frequently Poor reading skills Grade retention one or more years Multiple suspensions and expulsions

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Defining At-Risk Students Single parent households Home alone more than three hours a

day Pregnancy Drug use Bored with school Unlikely to succeed in traditional school

settings Involved in gangs

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Defining At Risk Students Feeling alienated from school,

administrators, classmates and teachers

Teacher as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Must meet students emotional and social needs first!

As self esteem and self confidence increased, at risk students are empowered to learn.

The school has become a vital refuge for a growing number of children.

School serves as a protective shield to help children withstand the multiple changes that at risk students can expect.

Teacher as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

The key to improving success in school for at risk students is modifying the means to achieve learning outcomes, not change the intended outcomes themselves.

School personnel need to set the same high academic standards and expectations for at risk students.

Teaching and learning are sociocultural processes that take place within social systems.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

The student must identify favorably with his/her teachers, or he/she will do very poorly in school.

Research has conclusively that a “properly” mentored student, over a short and continued period of time, out perform a “like” and unmentored student.

Mentoring can provide individuals with opportunities to enhance cultural awareness, aesthetic appreciation, and the potential to lead meaningful lives.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Monitoring of direct contact between the mentor and mentee is crucial in understanding the effectiveness of mentoring.

What children need most, is a stable relationship with a caring adult.

Results of mentoring programs showed improved achievement and retention rates, improved sociological and emotional support, enhanced skills and personal growth, and career advancement.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

A consistent and nurturing relationship with a mentor fosters a child’s ability to learn.

The purpose of the mentor mentee relationship is to provide a supportive adult role model who will encourage student social and emotional development; help improve student academic achievement; career motivation; expand student life experiences; redirect students from at risk behaviors; and foster an improved self esteem.

Teaches as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Mentoring has emerged as one of the most effective ways to reach at risk youth and to help them succeed at school.

There is a growing body of research indicating how mentoring can positively impact youth and target many at risk behaviors.

Equally effective in rural and nonrural, as well as urban and nonurban settings, and with boys as well as girls.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Positive effects of mentoring programs Improved academic performance Improved relationships with others Reduction in drug and alcohol abuse Increase the likelihood of students

staying in school Decrease teen pregnancy Lessen the probability of gang

membership

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Positive effects of mentoring programs More likely to trust teachers Achieve a more positive attitude toward

school Maintain better attendance Posses higher self-confidence Express feelings Fewer incidences of hitting and violence

towards others Improved relationships with parents

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Positive effects of mentoring programs Negotiate problems more effectively Engage in more appropriate tasks Promote a healthier lifestyle Provide a sense of community Show students that others face similar

problems Curriculum modifications for students Remedial instruction for students Increased socially appropriate behavior

Teacher as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Positive effects of mentoring programs Reduced delinquent behavior Increased self esteem Children care about learning Students think of themselves as

classroom contributors Decrease in adolescent depression Greater sense of educational self

efficacy

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Positive effects of mentoring programs Provides students with one on one

attention based on their specific needs Address needs that must be met before

successful education can take place Closes learning gaps Better school bonding and commitment Increased standardized test scores

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Individual student plans to determine

strengths and weaknesses/Looking at data Behavior contracts/Behavior intervention plans Differentiated instruction based on the student

needs Use of Saturday School, After School Programs

and other testing data to meet at risks student’s needs

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Early intervention programs Assign students to selected teachers

that are able to work with at risk students

Assign students to the stronger teacher as far as discipline and instruction

Motivation High expectations

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Positive role models Responsibility Administrators must support the

program, students and teachers Educators that work with at risk students

unconditionally every day Caring educators

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Educators must demonstrate love for

their students Understanding of the whole child Address the right students in the

mentoring program Correct mentoring program Right staff members

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Discipline Attendance Time on task Extended learning periods Transition programs Tutoring Diversity training

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Understand that some students will not

be successful Everyone on the same page….alignment Change in educators attitudes Celebrating small student achievements Recognizing accomplishments Establishing smaller class sizes

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Students must know what’s required to

be successful Social work interventions Exposed students to outside or real life

experiences Meaningful to student Relaxed and non-threatening

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Factors associated with successful mentoring programs Caring and compassionate librarians Weak mentoring components show no

positive effects. Cross-race matches are nearly as likely

as same-race matches to form positive relationships

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Characteristics of teachers who work well with at risk students Understand and relate to the at risk student Flexibility Caring Fun Hold high expectations Good classroom management Able to build rapport with students and

parents

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Characteristics of teachers who work well with at risk students Patient Listen and communicate Consistent Be there for the student Do what they say they are going to do Affirmation, contribution, purpose,

power, and challenge to learn

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Characteristics of teachers who work well with at risk students Ability to develop trust and become

friends Are not overly goal-oriented and do not

try to immediately change or reform their mentees

Recognize the relationship may be one sided and take responsibility for keeping relationships alive.

Respect the youth’s viewpoint Seek and utilize the help and advice

from others

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Characteristics of teachers who work well with at risk students Are well trained

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Educators play a vital role in the success of at risk students.

Mentoring programs are viewed as a valid option for at risk students.

Administrators should recognize that they must develop and evaluate innovative programs that specifically target the needs of at risk students.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

Experts in the field tend to agree that mentoring activities, such as those that take place in schools, can be useful tool in reaching at risk students.

Research supports the implementation of mentoring programs as potentially successful approaches to meeting the individuals needs of at risk students.

Teachers as Mentors for Students“At Risk”

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