Do you have fond memories of your time at school? Could you honestly say that you had a good relationship with your teacher? Do you feel that dialogues were kept open and that it was easy to put your hand up if you had a problem or a question? The answer to these questions is most probably no. In fact, many education professionals are guilty of taking a rather one-sided approach to education, and this is that they prefer to preach and can sometimes find it hard to listen, as opposed to stopping and reviewing any issues with a pragmatic approach and a nonbiased pair of eyes.
No matter if you are looking to study a higher degree, a course as part of your job or are even worried about your kids’ future, education affects us all. So, this makes it vitally important that any experience you have of education remains a positive and open dialogue. Remember that when it comes to kids, in particular, their formative years take place while still at school. It means that any bad experiences they may have with a particular subject or teacher will be difficult to overcome in later life. Luckily though, times are changing when it comes to approaches towards education. Now, schools and establishments are much more aware of the importance of encouraging and promoting discussion, rather than shutting it down. Teachers have to change their approach, acting more as a mentor and educator rather than a cold-hearted school authority figure. In fact, this method of learning packs a lot more punch too.
The importance of mentoring
Across the US and beyond, institutes are increasingly opening up mentor programs to help support and promote this new way of thinking and learning. Education should be a journey that is enjoyable for both the teacher and the pupil, rather than feeling like every day is a chore and a punishment. There are numerous benefits to becoming a mentor and changing your approach. Firstly, and the most important, is that the potential and power to change a young person’s life is truly in your hands. It will be up to you to make sure that they remain engaged with any subjects that they find difficult, and attend lessons. You need to act as their role model and provide them with guidance when they need it, not to mention being there to wipe up the tears and witness their tantrums during their learning journey. Secondly, becoming a mentor rather than an educator will ultimately enable you to learn a lot about yourself. If you have a new mentee, then the center of your world will no longer be your own. It will be up to you to focus on their hopes, dreams, and fears and make sure that they overcome any anxieties or issues along the way. Becoming a mentor is also fast becoming a requirement for most educational professionals. Not only are you effectively giving back to society, but you may also be ensuring that kids remain in the classroom and do not end up on the streets involved in gangs or crime. So if that is not enough to convince you to become a mentor, then you are missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Reconsider your teaching philosophy
You might feel comfortable following the teaching philosophies of other educational professionals, or case studies that you have come across during your career, but remember that your teaching philosophy and style should remain as unique as you are. Changing your style from educator to mentor is bound to shake up some of these deep-rooted principles too, so it is important that you remain determined and patient as you may need to fight some serious inner battles along the way. Ultimately, your teaching philosophy will change during your entire teaching and mentoring career. You may start off with one school of thought, but have to change and reconsider this at a different point in your career. So, if you are unwilling to change your current style, then you need to think again. Becoming a mentor will push and pull you in a range of different directions; it will be up to you to choose the right one.
Management of criticism
As humans, we have a very black and white approach when it comes to criticism. If something is not right and we feel that it is wrong, or perhaps if we consider that someone else is wrong in their point of view, then we are not afraid to say so. Some individuals, in particular, younger children will find it very hard to accept and digest criticism. Often as human beings, we are upset or angered by criticism of our work or actions, rather than taking it as a positive from which to learn and grow on. As a mentor, it is up to you to view criticism as a means of communication rather than a one-sided dialogue. If you need to make a point which the other person may view as criticism of themselves, then it is important to make them feel safe and ready to exchange their views. Take a moment either before giving or receiving criticism to consider what this will mean for you. Perhaps it will provide valuable information from which you can learn and grow. Whereas if you need to give criticism, just consider for a moment if you would like to receive criticism in the manner that you are planning to interact and communicate. When it comes to delivering effective criticism, make sure that all channels of communication remain open and encourage an open discussion. Remember you are mentoring rather than dictating what should happen.
Learn new things
Becoming a mentor may even provide you with the opportunity to learn and discover new parts of the country, or even the world, depending on how far you want to take your capabilities. If you act as a mentor, then you will have to learn and adapt depending on your surroundings, and remain open and available to discourse and discussion at all times. From religion to nature and science, your own positions or stances on certain aspects of life may even be challenged too. Such as teaching kids about tricky subjects, about “good” and “bad,” or why death exists as part of the circle of life. In particular, scientific topics such as pest control and eradication of vermin can prove tricky topics to discuss, in particular, if the kids you teach come from a home with a very open mind. You may want to consult sites such as Go-Forth Pest Control of Greensboro to prepare for this in more detail. Becoming a mentor means that you no longer can shy away from topics that you find difficult to discuss. Instead, it will be up to you to lead difficult and tricky conversations and push the boundaries. So be prepared to rise to the challenge.
Break the rules
When you were at school, you may have had to follow a whole series of rules and regulations when you were in the classroom. However, as a mentor, you can challenge and break those boundaries – within reason of course! Make sure that you encourage your mentees to explore and experience different viewpoints or perspectives. You should also arrange trips and days out into your local community to help those less fortunate and the elderly, to provide your pupils with a different take and experience of modern day life. While you do not want your mentees to go off of the rails, it is important that you take them out of their usual comfort zone and make sure that they experience as much as they can. By doing this, it will provide them with a valuable lesson from which to learn for their future in college and even beyond.
If you are looking to change up your current teaching philosophy, or perhaps feel that your teaching style is outdated, then it is time to rethink your approach and become a mentor rather than an educator. By becoming a mentor, you can help hundreds of potential mentees, kids from around the US that may previously not have had such an opportunity to get ahead in their education – not to mention it is up to you to act as a decent role model and life coach. Becoming a mentor means that you will shift the barriers, and act as a teacher and friend, all in one role. Plus, you are bound to learn new techniques, such as how to deliver and manage criticism. Or even how, when and why you establish and break the rules in the first instance. So, if you are keen to make a difference, or maybe you are at the end of your career and long to give something back, then be sure to consider becoming a mentor. If you feel that you are up for the challenge, then the future of the US is quite literally in your hands.