Mentor Program
What are the Qualities of an Effective Mentor?
Be a friend.
Have realistic goals and expectations.
Have fun together.
Give your mentee voice and choice in deciding on activities.
Be positive.
Let your mentee have much of the control over what the two of you talk about—and how you talk about it.
Listen.
Respect the trust your mentee places in you.
Remember that you are responsible for building the relationship.
Here are a few activities that Mentors and Mentees can do together
Go with your mentee to the school's library or media center and check out the headlines of the latest newspapers from around the country.
Ask how they are doing in school.
Research and talk about famous people who used their abilities to get ahead.
Make greeting, get-well, or holiday cards to give to other people.
Bring a board game.
Look at a map and talk about places you would like to visit.
Set personal goals.
Play sports in the gymnasium. (If school allows)
Work on the computer or an iPad in the media center.
Write stories together.
Do a jigsaw puzzle.
Build a model.
Bring in a photo album, and share pictures of your family, house, and pets.
Discuss favorite hobbies.
Read the same book and talk about your favorite parts.
Write a letter to a former teacher, a cousin or relative in another community, an old friend, the editor of a local newspaper, etc.
Ask the questions for the driver's license test.
Listen, listen, listen.
Ask about a book they’re reading. “Is this book for school or pleasure reading?” . . . “Why did you choose it?” . . . “Would you recommend it?” . . . “What’s your favorite book?”
Tell them about something you’re reading, what you like about it, and what you don’t.
Read a good book together. Take a trip to the library, and pick out one to share. Maybe read every other chapter out loud to each other.
Ask to read a report or story they’ve recently written or a drawing they’ve done. Make positive comments, mention at least one thing you learned from it, and ask questions related to the material.
Find out when their birthdays are, and send birthday cards. Enclose a home-made coupon for a mentor lunch get-together.