Spark Mentor Orientation

2013

Welcome: Agenda & Objectives

Agenda:Welcome ApprenticeshipsThe Student ExperienceClose

Objectives:Understand the Spark Program and mentor role and expectations Identify and discuss approaches to working with middle school students

Welcome: The Spark Program

Spark’s mission is to create life-changing apprenticeships for youth in under-served

communities across the United States.

Spark’s vision is that every young person should have a bridge to a working

professional, to demonstrate the value of education.

Welcome: Why Become a Mentor?

Introduce a student to your career and field

Rediscover your passion for your profession

Invest in your community

Connect with like-minded individuals in Spark’s network of professionals and partners

Engage in the conversation of education reform and attend exciting Spark events

Apprenticeships: The Mentor’s Experience

Apprenticeships:Goals & Expectations Apprenticeship goals:

To help your student learn about him or herself To connect with your student To introduce your student to your career and

career possibilities for them Every session should:

Include a hands-on activity related to your field Represent progress towards your Discovery

Project Address how what you’re doing relates to your

student’s education and social & emotional development

Apprenticeships: Session At-a-Glance

Week 1-2 Get to know each other Introduce student to office & various aspects of your

work Week 3-4

Brainstorm and plan for Discovery Night project Set goals & milestones for project

Week 5-8 Encourage student ownership of project Goal of each session should be related to milestone

Apprenticeships: A Day in the Life

4:00–4:15pm: Check-in

4:15–4:30pm: Review and goal-setting

4:30–5:15pm: Activity one – learning a new skill

5:15–5:45pm: Discovery Project work time

6:45–6:00pm: Reflection and next session planning

Apprenticeships:Spark Staff Support

Your Program Coordinator will connect with you weekly to provide support

Make sure you set aside 10-15 minutes each week for this important check-in

We will also ask for your feedback in a survey at the end of the session

Apprenticeships:Mentor Responsibilities

Mentors are responsible for facilitating a safe, engaging, educational

apprenticeship experience for students.

Apprenticeships: Mentor’s Responsibilities

Student Safety & Expectations Workplace site clearance Food/ Gifts Media Release/ Social Media

Communication with Spark Staff Rescheduling/ Student Attendance

Student Transportation Waiver SAP Support

The Spark Student Experience

The Student Experience:Engaging Middle School Youth

Middle School students have a desire for self-expression and self-determination

A preference for hands-on learning that is personally relevant

An expanding awareness of social, cultural, and environmental issues

A growing concern for peer approval

A sense of awkwardness and self-consciousness associated with the onset of puberty

www.in.gov/indot/files/TipSheetEMSS.pdf

Scenarios: Discussion Questions

What is your interpretation of this scenario?

How would you have reacted as a Mentor to this situation?

Scenario 1: Quiet Student

It is your first day meeting with your student. He comes into your office and

won’t look you in the eyes. When you show him new things about your job, he doesn’t

say anything. When you ask him about school he just says “it’s fine.” He seems

bored and unhappy.

What do you do?

Scenario 2: Expectations Mis-Match

You are a fashion designer and are very excited about an activity you have planned for the day. When your student arrives, you ask her to look

through the books and magazines in your office, choose five famous fashion designers, and write

a paragraph about what they like about each designer. As she starts to do the activity, it

becomes clear that she is having trouble reading the articles and her writing skills are very weak.

What do you do?

Scenario 3: Unclear Actions

On your sixth meeting, your student is working on her Discovery Project, and you get an important call. You leave the room for five minutes, and when you return she quickly hides something in her bag. She

seems flustered and embarrassed.

What do you do?

Scenario 4: Inappropriate Question

On your third meeting, your student asks if you have ever used illegal drugs. This

makes you uncomfortable.

How do you respond?

Scenario 5: Undocumented

When you tell your student about the trip you took to Europe last year, she responds by telling you that she can’t go to Europe

because she doesn’t have the right papers.

How do you respond?

Scenario 6:Student Safety

Your student tells you that if he is late for dinner his mom will hit him. It’s hard for you to tell if he is joking; his mom seems nice, but he also came to his apprenticeship one

day with a bruise on his face.

How do you respond?

Scenario 7:Travel Logistics

Part 1: You are expecting your student to arrive at 3pm today. At 3:30pm your student

has still not arrived. You try calling your student’s cell phone number, and it goes straight to voicemail. What do you do?

Part 2: Your student calls you at 5:30pm and says they’re sorry they couldn’t come today. When you ask why they didn’t attend, they say something came up. What do you do?

The Student Experience:Strategies for Engaging Middle School Youth

Ice Breakers!

Be Clear & Consistent

Be Open

LISTEN

Share

HAVE FUN!

Keep It Interactive

Be Safe

Authentic Learning

Student Voice & Choice

Relate Learning to Student’s Life

Welcome to the Spark Team!

Questions???