Mentoring Strategies

The goal of mentoring is to help protégées develop the skills and knowledge they need to be effective teachers AND to improve job satisfaction. People who build skills, receive positive feedback and feel valued are more likely to experience job satisfication and stick with it, rather than heading for the hills!

Though quick fixes and perfect solutions are often fleeting in the field of education, the following mentoring strategies have proven effective:

Build a Climate of Trust

• Show active interest in teachers' concerns
• Ask open ended questions
• Listen carefully for understanding
• Find common ground
• Remain open-minded
• Maintain a non-judgemental attitude
• Accept teachers (no matter what)
• Remain objective
• Follow through
• Maintain confidentiality