Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal
•
2 likes•1,053 views
The document describes a mentoring journal that is designed to help build successful mentoring relationships through meaningful interactions and creative activities. The journal includes sections for documenting meetings, assessing the relationship, and completing developmental activities. Research shows that strong emotional connections formed through creative activities can improve outcomes for youth in mentoring programs. The mentoring journal is intended to help programs monitor relationships, align with their goals, and increase match success and longevity.
Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Similar to Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal
Similar to Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal (20)
More from Friends for Youth, Inc.
More from Friends for Youth, Inc. (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal
- 1. Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal Friends for Youth’s Mentoring Institute October 2010 Webinar Transforming lives through the power of mentoring
- 2. My Earliest Mentor - Esmé Read about Sarah’s mentor and Kristen’s mentor on our blog, http://friendsforyouth.blogspot.com/
- 3. “Mentoring” describes a relationship between an older, more experienced adult and an unrelated, younger protégé or mentee, characterized by ongoing guidance, instruction, and encouragement provided by the adult and aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. Rhodes, 2002 What is a mentor?
- 4. At the of positive mentoring effects is the development of a strong relationship between mentor and youth. Grossman and Johnson, 1999 The relationship is the intervention. Johnston, 2005
- 5. Mentoring Journal Overview Introduction Section 1st Quarter/Period 2nd Quarter/Period 3rd Quarter/Period 4th Quarter/Period Closing Section • Guidelines • Calendar • Activity Ideas • Pocket page • Scrapbook/photo page • Comic Strip page • Impressions page • 4 Specific Activities & 4 Related Activities • Weekly Entry pages • Pocket page • Scrapbook/photo page • Comic Strip page • Review
- 7. • Higher relationship satisfaction through strong emotional connection • “Positive relationships are seen as the primary way that mentoring leads to improved outcomes for youth who are mentored.” Nation, M., Keener, D., Wandersman, A., & DuBois, D. (2005) • Rhodes’ model of youth mentoring: “a close mentoring relationship characterized by mutuality, trust, and empathy is the catalyst for several intertwined developmental processes pertaining to the social- emotional, cognitive, and identity development of youth.” Rhodes, J. (2005) Theories: Relationship
- 8. Theories: Relationship • Mentoring research: Using relational processes & approaches – “The presence of a strong emotional connection has been found to be a distinguishing feature of those mentoring relationships that are associated with better outcomes such as improvements in perceptions of scholastic competence and feelings of self- worth.” – Relational processes underpinning successful mentoring relationships: Authenticity, Empathy, Collaboration, Companionship Spencer, R. (2006)
- 11. Mentoring Journal Robin & Karla (2000)
- 13. “I wish we had written down what we did together.” • Weekly Entry pages • Personal Impression pages • All Activity pages have space to record what was produced from outing, conversation, or project Mentoring Journal
- 21. Theories: Activities • Choosing developmental activities instead of instrumental activities – For mentees: “Academic discussion about kid’s behavior, attendance, dropping out, and importance of future; tutoring/homework lowered connectedness to teachers and parents. Discussion of relationships, casual conversation, playing sports, games, and creative activities increased connectedness to teachers and parents.” – For mentors: “Instrumental discussions were associated with lower levels of mentor satisfaction; whereas, developmental discussions and activities predicted higher satisfaction among mentors.” Karcher, M. (2006)
- 22. Theories: Activities • Choosing instrumental activities instead of developmental activities – For some mentees who are unable to form relationships, focusing on goals or projects may be successful approach to building the relationship – Expectations around instrumental activities only work with resources and structure to support them Nakkula, M. (2010)
- 23. Activity: Instrumental vs. Developmental Which activities are developmental? Which are instrumental?
- 30. Theories: Youth Development • Prepares young people to meet challenges of adolescence and adulthood through coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent • Broader developmental needs of youth vs. focusing on problems • Strengths-based vs. deficit-based • Youth are resources, not problems
- 31. Theories: Youth Development • Youth Development & 41 Assets – #17 Creative Activities (Constructive Use of Time) on Search Institute’s 41 Developmental Assets – “Sparks” as instrumental in Thriving • Passion for and action to grow a self-identified interest, skill, capacity • Creative arts ranked highest for girls and boys – Creative art activities are 21 out of 45 examples of how parents can ignite the hidden strengths of teenagers Benson, P. & Scales, P. (2007)
- 34. Theories: Arts Approach • Improve kids' overall academic performance • Show that kids actively engaged in arts education are likely to have higher test scores than those with little to no involvement • Develop skills needed by the 21st century workforce: critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication, teamwork and more • Teach kids to be more tolerant and open • Allow kids to express themselves creatively and bolster their self-confidence • Keep students engaged in school and less likely to drop out http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/default.asp
- 37. “I don’t know what to do with my mentee.” • 101 Simple Activities • Calendar of Events • Local Activity Resources • Activity Lists • 32 Separate Activities Mentoring Journal
- 41. Theories: Approach • Counseling techniques – Building rapport – Creating “holding environment” – Therapist as a “container” for painful feelings Kotin, J. (1995)
- 42. Theories: Approach • Creative arts therapies applications – Adolescence issues • Identity formation • Competence & autonomy tasks • Highly non-verbal – Trauma/adverse experiences • Safety in expression • Non-threatening interactions • Art is transitional object & reminder of experience • Art is container for overwhelming feelings – Positive risk-taking experiences Rubin (1984)
- 46. “I’m not sure how to approach this topic.” • A Day in the Life Photo/Video • Family Maps • Drawing on Your Heart • Friendship Poems • Friendship Review Mentoring Journal
- 54. Program Benefits • Monitor meetings with Weekly Entry pages • Assess relationship satisfaction with Quarterly Impression pages • Turn any Activities into group activities for multiple matches • Align program goals with review of entire Mentoring Journals throughout year Mentoring Journal
- 55. Program Benefits • Increased match success and longevity – Theoretical and anecdotal at this point • Publicity/Visibility – More opportunities for press releases, exhibition of work, use of art in materials • Connecting with new audiences – Already-established audience of collaborating artist or group are potential supporters (donors and/or volunteers) Mentoring Journal
- 56. Obstacles & • Adults intimidated to be creative/not willing to take risk to fail – Support adults in taking risks; use group activities to normalize experience • Youth unlikely to instigate any activities, even if interested – Support mentors to try select activities and then pay attention to youth’s responses for follow-up activities • Specific activities can become group activities, but may need to be facilitated by outside artists – Seek funding for art-focused workshops led by artists in community or ask them to donate services and materials Solutions
- 57. Obstacles & Solutions • May be viewed as childish, uninteresting, gender- specific – Support mentors to try select activities; encourage males to focus on “doing” parts, less on “talking” pieces • Program is SB or already have curriculum to follow – Integrate creativity in academic-based program without having to reinvent wheel • Program is not structured – Mentoring Journal supports building of relationship by stages, but not necessary to follow exactly • Not appropriate for all matches – Have sets on hand for those pairs who would really benefit from use
- 58. • Successful mentoring relationships are characterized by meaningful interactions that help build relationship – Trust-building – Maintaining boundaries – Good communication – Realistic expectations • Meaningful interactions come from meaningful activities Theories: Summary
- 60. Successful mentoring relationships are characterized by meaningful interactions, including engaging in creative activities, that help build relationship
- 61. Ordering Information Mentoring Journals sold in sets of two (2) 1 - 25 sets = $28 set 26 - 50 sets = $23 set 51 + sets = $20 set • Order online www.mentoringinstitute.org • Order by telephone 650-559-0200 • Order by mail 1741 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
- 62. Webinar Special Order Mentoring Journals online at www.mentoringinstitute.org and use promo code JOURNAL to receive 20% off!
- 63. Mentoring Institute Conference 12th Annual Mentoring Conference Share What You Know: Collaboration and Networking in Youth Mentoring January 27-28, 2011 Jean Rhodes, Ph.D. Keynote Speaker Oracle Conference Center
- 64. Thank you! Follow-up email • Quick survey of Webinar • Link to slides posted to SlideShare
- 65. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-for-Youth/105093182858863 http://twitter.com/friendsforyouth Check out our Blog http://www.friendsforyouth.blogspot.com/ www.mentoringinstitute.org 650-559-0200 • Products and resources for mentoring programs • Trainings for program staff, mentors, and mentees • Individual consultations