Calling all mentors… And a giveaway!
By Alex on December 5th, 2011
Every Monday since November 7th we have hosted a series of “Family and Community Engagement” (FACE) giveaways. Today marks our last giveaway of that series, so be sure to leave your comments for a chance to win!
As single parent households and adults working longer hours become increasingly common it is not unusual for many children to go home from school to an empty house. In fact, more than 12 million children go back to an empty household after school on any given day. As this issue continues many communities have turned to mentoring programs to provide children with the support they need. Mentors demonstrate the value of education, literacy and give children someone to admire.
It is proven that young people who participate in mentoring programs are more likely to pursue higher education than those who did not participate. Furthermore, research has shown that teachers are looking for parents and mentors in the community to be their partners in learning. By becoming partners in learning teachers, parents and mentors can spread the importance of education, share life experience, and simply talk to students about their careers to inspire them to think about their futures.
Anyone can be a mentor—it’s not just limited adults in the world of education. Children need to be exposed to all walks of life and be able to relate with someone similar to them. Mentoring programs are an outlet where diversity and differences are celebrated and welcomed.
Since having mentors for children is such an important tool for their success we thought you should meet our friend and FACE advisory board member, Liza McFadden the President of Volunteer USA.
One example of a mentoring program is Read, Excel, Achieve, Lead (R.E.A.L.) Men Read. Real Men Read is a program in Atlanta which was designed to deepen literacy and the love of reading in students through mentoring. The male mentors in the program are selected because of their positive attitudes and desire to help children grow academically.
GIVEAWAY: Tell us how you have been a mentor and why you think mentoring and partnerships are important by 11:59 PM (ET) on Sunday, December 11 , 2011 and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one Muhammad Ali Library choose from grades (3/4, 5/6, 7/8)–one winner receives the full Muhammad Ali Presents: Go The Distance! Library for the grade of their choice . One winner will be randomly selected from eligible entries. Read giveaway rules here (Giveaway open to U.S. residents only; must be 18 or older to enter.)
Image via Official U.S. Navy Imagery
Posted: December 5th, 2011 under Education, More News. Tags: education, giveaways, parenting.
10 comments
Comments
Your date is pre-dated, did you mean December? In the past I have worked in the schools as a business leader/mentor but for the past few years my primary mentoring has been with our own children.
Comment on December 5, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Hi Heather, thanks for the catch! And great mentoring examples.
Comment on December 5, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I serve as a teacher librarian in an elementary school of 598 students in PreK-5. I mentor many of our chapter book readers as I take my lunch time breaks to host book lunch bunch readers. It is rewarding to see the spark for life long learning develop through these mentoring relationships.
Comment on December 5, 2011 at 6:04 pm
I have been a mentor by reading with students at school who are having difficulties with reading on their level. It is so important for kids to see adults in a positive way interacting with them. So many kids do not have trusting relationships with adults and they need it so much!
Comment on December 8, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Has a book review blogger I’ve found that not only am I mentoring. I’m mentoring and I didn’t even know it.
I occassionaly receive emails from teens who are looking for information on starting a blog. Many are just like me when I started out: not sure what the heck they’re doing! Once I received a Tweet from a new blogger that had written a blog post stating that I was their inspiration for starting a book review blog too. How awesome was that to hear!
It goes to show that not only can you be a “real life” mentor helping children read, write and play but you can take a few minutes to post on a blog about the books you love to read as a teen or adult and have readers of all ages love you for it, and some times you may receive feedback that is worth so much more than the time you spend making your blog what it is. It is the ultimate currency: appreciation.
Comment on December 9, 2011 at 9:49 am
I have found as a blogger I was mentoring teens to read. I see their comments and ideas showing up in my blog and it excites me to mentor more.
I have begun to mentor the teens in our churches youth group. Not only about religion but reading and school work. I have recently seen dramatic changes in the reading habits of more than one teen. It excites me that the more we talk books and reading the more who come to me asking to borrow books. YEAH!
I also feel that I heave mentored my kids since my oldest has asked if he can do some book reviews on my blog. What a better motivator to keep going!
Comment on December 9, 2011 at 11:28 am
As a parent, new grandparent, aunt, former teacher, book blogger and avid reader I have plenty of ways I’ve been an informal mentor. I’ve always shared my love of reading with adults and children and also enjoy passing on books through giveaways on my blog and giving my own copies to family and friends. I especially enjoyed substitute teaching at my former tiny private school for grades K & 1 when I would take in my favorite books to share at story time.
I am also blessed to have a beautiful public library in my town that I have used since I was a child. Since I discover so many amazing books and ideas through blogging I have shared ideas with the librarians there, especially in the children’s section. Sometimes I hear of new books before they do!
Of course my favorite time of all is when I read piles of books to my own children and now my grandchildren. Any way that you can pass on the love of reading is a good thing! Thanks for an amazing giveaway!
Comment on December 9, 2011 at 12:46 pm
We have books everywhere and read all the time. It is never too early to read to children. I love it when I’m awakened by a 4 year old pushing a pile of books into the bedroom and says SHE is going to read to me! I have an endless amount of books available–very lucky in that area.
Comment on December 9, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters for a time during college. I also mentored two children through our local Children’s Advocacy Center in areas such as social interaction, life skills, mathematics and reading, budgeting, and proper behavior in public.
As a teacher I am also blessed to mentor an entire classroom of students every year, which gives me the opportunity to impact many future generations.
Mentoring is important because young people need positive role models in their lives. They need to have a dedicated, caring person who can help teach them vital skills… and just “be there” whenever they need them.
Comment on December 10, 2011 at 9:52 pm
To be a mentor is to build a relationship with a person in order for that person to grow and prosper… from being a teacher, friend, youth leader, soccer mom, to just being there for kids – wearing any and every hat needed…
Mentoring is well… a way of life. Being a Special Needs teacher, I find myself on a daily basis giving kids my heart building a relationship that is built with trust and at times help heal emotional scars that have been dealt to them during their life…
You have to tend to social/emotional needs before educational needs can begin… such is the life of a mentor/role model / teacher…
Comment on December 11, 2011 at 12:35 am
