Resources for Mentor
« Previous EntriesTeaching Tolerance: A Great Magazine (and website) for Free
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, August 18th, 2008
I am just back from the Minority Affairs Conference where I had the chance to speak to two groups of educators about the importance of creating relationships - not only to keep kids in school, but to strengthen school, family and community bonds. I will be writing more about the conference later, but today, I want to share a great resource I discovered tucked into my bag of goodies.
Teaching Tolerance is a magazine “dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children.” The Teaching Tolerance website is another powerful resource. It features information for teachers, for parents, for teens and for kids.
Published twice a year, Teaching Tolerance magazine “showcases innovative tolerance initiatives in schools across the country. ” The Association of Educational Publishers has named it the 2007 Periodical of the Year, and it is FREE for educators.
The magazine, which is well designed and written, features articles, stories, interviews and more. But of special interest to teachers and mentors working with kids is the Activity Exchange - an array of excellent, easy to use curriculum ideas that work in the classroom or after school program - NOW.
In the latest issue, the theme is Anti Bias Activities. These ideas include Identity Posters - a simple and effective plan to “start the year off right and stop teasing” (about ‘different’ names) before it starts. This is perfect for grades K-6.
Riding With Rosa is another idea - this one allows kids (grades 3-6) to go back in time and sit on the bus with Rosa Parks and consider how they might have responded if they were on that bus too. These are just two of the great ideas that will help any educator explore challenging topics in interesting and engaging ways.
Also, Teaching Tolerance will publish YOUR good ideas. To find out how you can share your ideas in print, go to http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/getpublished.jsp
To learn more, to order your free subscription, and to explore the huge array of free and excellent resources available, visit the website - and, while you are there, take some time to discover the other free resources that can work with your kids.
Topics: RESOURCES, Resources for Teacher, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Oregonian Story: Xploregon helps youths discover another side of Oregon — and themselves
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, July 21st, 2008
Research shows that summer is a time when kids can really benefit from programs and activities that keep them engaged in learning and out of trouble. Last week we described some of the fun things available to kids in the David Douglas/IRCO Mentoring summer program.
For a look at another kind of mentoring program, this one for teens, check out this story in today’s Oregonian about the summer outings sponsored by Campfire USA’s Xploregon. The adventures “are a series of summer service-learning road trips for high school youth that combines the best aspects of a road-trip adventure, provides teens with volunteer experience, leadership development and opportunities to connect with peers in communities across Oregon.”
Whether kids are getting to know their city or their state, programs like these are helping kids see the world beyond their usual perspective, and, research shows, helping them stay in school when the summer is over.
For more information about the value of establishing and maintaining mentoring relationships during the summer, check out the Mentoring Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of Education.
Are you participating in a summer mentoring program or experience? Share what you are doing - share your stories.
Topics: Mentor Stories, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Making Connections: Now with even more RESOURCES
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, June 30th, 2008
Thanks to all of the course participants who have contributed ideas, connections and suggestions for resources to add to our online course, our resource list - information for teachers and mentors, helping organizations, in depth information on a wide array of topics related to each subject within the course, who to call, where to go, things to do, and much, much more, has doubled in size.
Please be sure to check it out the next time you are visiting the course. If you are not a course participant, you now have many more reasons to start Making Connections.
Topics: RESOURCES, Resources for Teacher, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Need Help Coming Up with Ideas for Things to Do? Brainstorm
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, June 23rd, 2008
“To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”
Thomas Edison (and he should know)
Mentors are frequently looking for ideas for things to do with kids. I recently came across an article on the website Connecting Generations http://www.cgi-de.org/index.html that had a good list of ideas for things to do such as:
- start a collection together
- play a game – such as hangman, jacks, monopoly
- make a photo album
- create a collage
- learn a new craft (origami is one that can keep you busy for awhile)
- learn some words or phrases in a new language
- etc …
By why let someone else tell you how to spend your time with a mentee? Why not use your time together to do something really fun, something that will stimulate creativity, open the door to lots of conversations, break through barriers, and help you get to know the kid you work with. Why don’t you and your mentee brainstorm your own list of ideas?
And, while you are at it – have fun doing it.
TRY THIS:
Brainstorming is easy once you learn a few very simple rules. It is a great way to stretch your imagination, build confidence in your ability to generate ideas, and allow you to discover new and creative ways to look at things. It is, of course, a powerful problem solving tool.
HERE”S A PROBLEM TO SOLVE: If we could do anything in the world, IMAGINE what would we do?
List as many ideas great ideas as you can.
Consider: Where would we go? What would we do when we got there? Who would be there? What would we eat? What would we wear? What is the weather, the season, the time? Remind your mentee that We don’t have to worry about money, or time, transportation or babysitters, what to wear, or what people will think. This perfect day can be anywhere, at any time - this is your imagination, your perfect day.
The rules: There is only one - all ideas are welcome. (This means we don’t say – oh that would cost too much, or, we’d never be able to get there in time.) Keep in mind that even ideas that may not work can stimulate more ideas.
The goal: Generate as many ideas as possible. Silly ideas, funny thoughts, wild imaginings are all welcome, the more the better.
When you are done, your list may be the jumping off point that will allow you and your mentee to discover themes, interests or activities that you share, and open the door the to an entirely new brainstorm – how might we spend our time learning more about …. Jazz, hockey, France, the moon, Cajun food, computer games, … you get the idea.
Variations on this activity can include a creative story, art work to illustrate this perfect day, what else? Share your ideas here. And, please share the visions for a perfect day that are generated by this idea.
Topics: How To's, Quality Time, Things to do, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Find items in libraries near you
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, June 16th, 2008
Summer is reading time, and for many of us, learning time. I want to let you know about another wonderful library related tool that will make your reading life simpler, richer and easier.
Welcome to WORLDCAT - the world’s largest network of library content and services. Worldcat connects you to the collections and services of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide.
There are more than 1.2 billion (!) items available, including books, dvds, cds, and articles. Establishing a free Worldcat account allows you to create list of items you’d like to keep track of and share. You can build a bibliography, and export it in different formats, and lots more.
An online tutorial makes it easy and clear.”WorldCat libraries are dedicated to providing access to their resources on the Web, where most people start their search for information.”
WorldCat.org lets you:
- • Search many libraries at once for an item and then locate it in a library nearby
- • Find books, music, articles and videos to check out
- • Find research articles and digital items (like audiobooks) that can be directly viewed or downloaded. (This is the perfect adjunct to the Library 2 Go feature mentioned in an earlier posting.)
• Link to “Ask a Librarian” and other services at your library
- • Post your review of an item, or contribute factual information about it
- NOTE: You may need to have an active offline membership with a WorldCat library to view/download content or check out materials through its Web site.
Topics: Resources for Teacher, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
CHECK IT OUT: Library 2 Go
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
I love to read. I love libraries, I love books, and almost as much, I love recorded books. Over the years I have listened to hundreds of them – first listening to tapes while commuting in my car, or on my Walkman while … walking (cooking, gardening … you get the idea. I am hooked). Then, I switched to books on CD – which are somewhat more convenient, but anyone who uses a CD Walkman knows that they skip and bounce when you do (like at the gym). So, my next approach was ripping CD’s into my computer and then dragging them into my Creative Media Player. This, it turns out is a long, slow process, and, unless you do technical stuff to the files, chapters often play out of order. What’s a reader to do?
The answer has arrived in a blaze of technical glory so wonderful I just have to tell you about it.
CHECK IT OUT: Library 2 Go (a feature of Oregon Digital Library Consortium) is “Now featuring downloadable videos as well as audiobooks for children and young adults!”
This is a huge collection, and it is certainly not only for kids, in fact, there is truly something for everyone. Offerings include a wide array of fiction, non-fiction, mystery, sci-fi, classics, current events, biographies, etc. There is also an extensive collection of videos – both for pleasure and education. I am currently watching a series of four videos (on my PC): Teach Me Different! with Sally L. Smith: Prizing Diversity. They are great for teachers and so easy to watch and access. You can find them (and so much more) on the site.
All you need to access this amazing resource is a library card. Once you log into Library 2 Go (with your card number and pin), you can “download digital audio books and video titles 24/7 to a PC at home, in the office or anywhere in the world. Transfer audio books to your MP3 or burn onto CD for listening on-the-go.”
Note: The website includes this information: At this time, OverDrive Media files cannot be used on iPods or Mac computers. Details about this are on the site too.
The site includes plenty of help and technical how-to information, and access to all the software you will need. Click here for help and more information. It was easy, trust me.
________________________________________________________________
Library 2 Go provides OverDrive Books and Videos.
What is an OverDrive Audio Book?
An OverDrive Audio Book title is a digitally-protected audiobook that has been optimized for download. OverDrive Audio Book titles are built using the Microsoft® Windows Media Audio format, which greatly enhances the sound quality for desktop listening, play of CD copies (when allowed by the publisher), and portable device use.
What is an OverDrive Video title?
An OverDrive Video title is a digitally-protected video file that has been optimized for download. OverDrive Video titles are built using the Microsoft® Windows Media Video format, which greatly enhances the sound quality for desktop viewing and portable device use. Note that OverDrive Video is a high speed Internet-only product.
Topics: Resources for Teacher, Things to do, Resources for Mentor | 2 Comments »
Paraeducator Resources
By Lisa Pfister | Sunday, June 1st, 2008
Here is a list of resources for the paraeducator:
*a checklist for Paraeducators, Teachers and Principals: a 64-page booklet to help educators understand their roles and responsibilities
in relation to each other. To order, call 800-229-4200 or go to www.nea.org/books.
*National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals- http://www.nrcpara.org
*Paraeducator.com http://www.paraeducator.com
*Working Together for Successful Paraeducator Services: A Guide for Paraeducators, Teachers and Principals.
http://www.nwrel.org/request/may2002/index.html
Topics: Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Multicultural Resources: When you need something to read
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Teachers, SMART volunteers, parents and mentors often ask me “what’s a good book to read with my kids?” Now, I not only have a great list of books to add to my recommendations, but a lovely magazine too.
The magazine is Skipping Stones, an International Multicultural publication for youth that “encourages communication, cooperation, creativity and celebration of cultural and environmental richness.” Founded in 1988, Skipping Stones is award-winning resource in multicultural education, designed to provide “a playful forum for sharing ideas and experiences among youth from different countries and cultures.”
Each issue contains stories, articles and photos from all over the world, as well as book reviews, news, and a guide for parents and teachers. Non-English writings are accompanied by English translations to encourage the learning of other languages.
Skipping Stones publishes bimonthly during the school year. Click here for subscription information.
In addition, every year, Skipping Stones recognizes exceptional books and teaching resources that “encourage an understanding of the world’s diverse cultures, as well as nature and ecological richness. The selection promotes cooperation, nonviolence, respect for differing viewpoints, and close relationships in human societies.”
So, looking for something to read this summer? Start with the 2008 Skipping Stones Honor Awards – a list of 26 books for different ages, reading levels and interests. Click here for the 2008 winners list.
To view past lists of recommended books click here.
One more thing, Skipping Stones invites submissions from young writers. Click here to learn more about their entry guidelines for Youth Honor Awards.
WHAT ARE YOU READING WITH YOUR KIDS? Please share your recommendations for books and publications that you like. Tell us why?
Topics: Recommended reading, Resources for Teacher, Culturally Competent, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
National Mentoring Center Resources
By Michael Garringer | Monday, May 19th, 2008
Hello to everyone on the Making Connections blog… Tobi suggested that I take a minute to let all of you know about some of the great resources available to you from the National Mentoring Center, located in Portland, OR.
The NMC is a federally-funded project that provides training and technical assistance to youth mentoring programs across the country. Most of our materials are written for program coordinators and other staff members, but we do have some resources that are written for mentors and others working directly with youth.
We have a wealth of free downloadable publications on our site, everything from training guides and handbooks for new mentors to evaluation tools and sustainability planning workbooks. You can view these resources here:
http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring/nmc_pubs.php.
We also have a lending library of materials for those running programs or working directly with youth. Lots of great resources on youth development, program models, and training curriculum for volunteers. You can borrow materials via the interlibrary loan services of your local public library (or university library if you have access to one). You can search the collection online here:
http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring/library.php.
We also have a great selection of links to other mentoring resources and toolkits, so for any of you who are working in mentoring or tutoring programs, feel free to poke around the rest of the website at:
http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring/index.php
If you have any questions about our services or resources, you can contact me at the numbers/addresses below.
Michael Garringer
Resource Advisor/Web Designer
National Mentoring Center
101 S.W. Main Street, suite 500
Portland, OR 97204
503.275.9647
www.nwrel.org/mentoring
garringm@nwrel.org
Topics: Recommended reading, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
Things to Do: Three Activities to Build Self-Esteem
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Friday, May 16th, 2008
Here are three ideas for things to do that will make it easier to create an atmosphere where kids feel comfortable, cared about, noticed and free to be themselves. These ideas will not only foster self-esteem and strengthen relationships with peers; they will also encourage creativity, cooperation, and fun.
Note: These ideas are especially relevant to Lesson 8 in the course, which focuses on Peer relationships.
Create a Mural: Tape a long sheet of butcher (or other) paper to a wall. Provide a variety of art materials (crayons, pens, tempera, pens, pastels, magazines to cut apart, old photos, old cards, scissors, glue, fabrics etc.) Have kids create a mural that depicts things they have in common, and things they do which are uniquely their own. This can include hobbies, pets, sports, family activities, travel, adventures, work, etc.) This mural offers opportunities for kids to use their talents learn about each other’s interests, cultures and families, and encourage cooperation and conversation.
All the News that Fits, We Print: Creating a class or project wide newspaper or eNews is a great way to provide an opportunity for kids to see their names and accomplishments in print. It also provides kids with ways to use a spectrum of abilities and tools. The newspaper can include articles and stories. It can feature kids’ achievements, histories, adventures, lists of favorites, etc. It can also include recognition for services and helping, accomplishments, and activities. One of the best aspects of this project is that newspaper production involves so many jobs. Each one is an opportunity to use a talent, learn a skill, or discover a new interest.
As kids work together to choose a name for their paper, decide on article ideas, conduct interviews, write and edit stories, take photos, create illustrations (or ads, or comics), put the news together (whether on paper or a computer screen), and share their product, everyone has lots of chances to work cooperatively, make new friends, and see a real life application for skills they learn in school. TIP: This is also a great opportunity to invite community members who work in media, or photography, to visit your kids and share what they know and do.
Teaching: Ask each kid to list a skill that he or she feels confident enough to teach another person. This may be a sport, a hobby, a song, a dish to cook, a joke, a dance, etc. Also, create a student list of things they would like to learn if someone in their group or class had the skill to teach them.
Topics: Creating a Positive, Resources for Teacher, Things to do, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »
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