The Fourth "M"
I wholeheartedly agree that a great teacher is a Model, a Manager and a Motivator. To me, this combination of traits makes a teacher, ultimately,a Mentor.
Mentor is very profound and in my opinion is a important expansion to the "Modeling" because not only is the person being observed, but now there can be a two way communication to add to the success during school and after they enter their occupational field. Great Point Mrs. Callie Connor.
Hi Jessica,
Mentoring of students can take many forms. I would talk with the Student Services office in your college to see if they have a plan for creating a mentoring plan.
As an instructor you can try to find all that you can about each student and then when situations arise or they start to fade in the course you can step in and provide encouragement as needed. Also, a mentor can help with networking with so the students will have some connections as he/she completes their program leading to potential employment. Talking with students about their plans, making suggestions for career growth, or helping with interview skills are all ways of mentoring them toward career success.
Gary
Speaking of mentoring, it would be great to learn information on how to mentor students effectively, and how to build connections.
Hi Peter,
I wish you the best as you set up this new program. I think it is going to be very successful with your students. By involving both the upper level and lower level students are helping them to develop career connections that will be valuable for many years to come.
Gary
Having a mentor is so important for students. I am just starting out teaching, but I know when I was a student, finding a mentor that was similar to me was invaluable. Later, in my senior year, I started a program where seniors were matched with freshman in the program to act as mentors.
As an instructor, I don't know how I could possibly adequately serve as a mentor to all of the students, so I hope to institute this sort of program here as well.
I certainly can appreciate that fourth "M". Very good input, thanks.
I must agree with this fourth "M" as well. I have students who come to me for advice in their future professional careers, as well as in their chosen paths, so that they feel more confident in the way they are progressing.
My only question that I feel I must pose to the forum is this:
How do you maintain that fourth "M", when your morale in the work environment you are in is low, and you may not feel like encouraging anyone to pursue the same path you have gone down because of the way you feel?
I have to agree with the four "M". We need to be the first model for our students, they come to school to learn how to act in the field they have chosen and we are the person (mentor/model)who will inspire them.
Hi Charles,
You are right. I need to make it the 4th M of the model because we do so much of it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Gary
Mentor should be the fourth M. that is one of bigest thing done by instructors
I would have to agree. When I first saw the list of the three roles I was surprised to not see "Mentor" as one of them. After giving it some thought, though, I realized that as a mentor you are a model to your students of who/what they should be; a manager of their expectations, learning, and application of skills; and a motivator of their learning process - in other words, a mentor!
