I have been a mentor several times over the last 13 years. (as of 2020) I love when I mentor other teachers because there is so much more to teaching than what you learn in college.
My first year teaching was in a tiny town in Idaho teaching 4th grade. I was asked to start a class for the teacher I had student taught with because she had a stroke and needed time to heal. I was going to start the year for her and get the class in routine. She never got well enough to go back into teaching. I mention this because I didn’t have a mentor to help me. I had other teachers I could ask questions to, but really I was on my own fresh out of college.
I loved my first year teaching, but looking back I feel I could have been so much better of a teacher had I known and had guidance. (I do think my students were successful and we had a phenomenal year!)
My husband graduated and took a job in Utah. I started my search for a new job. I instantly found a brand new charter hiring and I felt completely comfortable with the new principal! He hired me as a 6th grade teacher. It was a grade jump I was a bit unsure of, but it was a job at a school I loved the philosophy for right from the start.
A couple weeks later, the principal called me again and asked me to be a TEAM LEADER in 5th grade instead. WHAT?! It was my 2nd year teaching and my first year in 5th grade and he asked ME to be TEAM LEADER! Plus I would be a MENTOR to 3 other teachers! I was honored and took that very seriously. (In my college job, I had been a supervisor and knew the importance of a mentor). I tried my very best to learn a new curriculum, help start a brand new charter and help the first year teachers all at the same time. I LOVED THE RESPONSIBILITY!
I developed these Mentor notes to be given to new teachers or new ones to a team to help them feel comfortable with me. Plus I knew I would hit ALL THINGS I wanted to guide them with because it was printed out and ready to go. It is so sad for me as a mentor when a teacher states, “I didn’t know that!” I take full responsibility in helping the teacher I mentor.
M&Ms = Make the Most notes
The download includes:
•18 notes that help them know how to make the most of various things. (print in color) • 6 blank notes (print in color) •Repeated 18 black/white notes to print on colored paper. •6 blank white/black notes (print on colored paper)
Purchase these at my store.
PRINTING: They were created as FULL SIZE, but you can print the slides in whatever size you want. If you want to laminate them and use them over and over again you could, but I always just print at a smaller size and then give to my teacher.
I always gave them a little snack pack of m&ms with each note because who doesn’t love a little bit of chocolate!
