GUTS Youth Leadership Corps Introduction

Normal Mentoring Program Elementary School Middle School High School Adults GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Other Activities GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E

GUTS YLC Program Near Peer Mentoring Elementary School Middle School High School Adults GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Other Activities GUTS Clubs YLC Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E GUTS Clubs YLC Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E

What is a Mentor The word “mentor” comes from the Greek language and means “steadfast” or “enduring.” In Homer’s, The Odyssey, the hero Ulysses asks his friend Mentor to counsel and guide his son while he is away. In western thought, the term mentor has come to be synonymous with anyone who is a wise teacher, guide, and friend. Leader Knowledgeable and experienced guide Trusted ally and advocate Caring role model

Group Exercise What are the Qualities of a Good Mentor?

Important Qualities about Mentors Want to help people Committed Friendly and Approachable Knowledgeable Patient Good Teaching Skills – Good Listening Skills – Can explain concepts well – Can approach teaching from more than one path

You were chosen because You already have at least some of the characteristics of a good mentor – Knowledgeable – Friendly – Interested

Why Do Mentoring? Attracts students Helps teachers Helps students learn better/faster Good for the Mentors too! – Recognition – Learning – Help the GUTS program

Why is GUTS starting YLC ? Project GUTS wants to help increase peoples interest in computing and computational thinking and KEEP them interested. – We think it is Fun – Need more people who can do computer programming and computational thinking (declining numbers, more jobs than people, our country’s future…..) Mentoring is a proven way to help keep people interested. Kids like mentors closer to their own age – Understand them better – Can see themselves as becoming experts Our biggest asset is the people who have completed GUTS and the Challenge– YOU

Mentoring Misconceptions Mentors have to have gray hair. – The best mentors may be people close to the age of the students. They understand. Mentors have to know everything. – Mentors need to know some things but not everything. It is helpful if a mentor can think of ways to figure things out or know where to find answers Only the mentee benefits from mentoring – Both benefit (you can learn from your mentees)

Mentoring Misconceptions Calling yourself a “ Mentor” makes you one – Like everything else, being a good mentor requires some predisposition, training and experience. Becoming a mentor requires a lot of time and a lot of work. – Becoming a mentor requires a change in consciousness —how you think about yourself and how you think about others. Workshops and training sessions can help experienced students to develop this consciousness.

A Mentor Is: Knowledgeable and experienced guide – teaches and learns through the mentorship process. Trusted ally and advocate – work with the mentee to achieve the mentees interests and goals. Caring role model who demonstrates to the mentee what it is to be an ethical, responsible, and compassionate human being Thoughtful facilitator who helps the mentee get access to what they need to succeed.

You are acting as a mentor when: You help students achieve things they did not know they were capable of. You help a student understand concepts and ideas. You share stories with students about your experiences. You help students overcome their fears. You help students ask questions. You listen to a student describe their problems and explore answers. You know how each student is doing and where they might need help.

You are NOT acting as a mentor when: You act as a Authoritative Figure – you should not be telling them what to do – suggest You provide them with the answer right away – they need concepts You act as if you are perfect or infallible – no one is You act as if your way is the only way – teach them to think A playmate – you are the role model

GUTS YLC Expectations What may be expected of you? GUTS Clubs – Establish positive relationships with mentees – Help teacher/facilitator when they are teaching – roam through the class answering questions – Teach some things on your own – Run some activities – Help students with programming – Help students with projects Other Activities – Explain GUTS to people – Help with activities – Help run booths

The most important thing about GUTS YLC YOU ARE Without the mentors there is not GUTS YLC program This is a new program – we need feedback and suggestions.

Training Overview Leadership Skills – Understand yourself – Understand others – Understand interactions Teaching Skills – Multiple Intelligences – Steps of the teaching process GUTS Skills – Starlogo TNG Skills – Complex Adaptive Systems – Data – how to collect it, what to do with it – Mentoring specific to GUTS What is acceptable and not acceptable Mentoring Role playing