Imagine if...
Imagine if your buddy tells you something personal. Should you talk about that with your friends?
No! Remember that confidentiality is extremely important!
True or false: The purpose of HWD mentoring is to build and foster one-on-one mentoring relationships with elementary students and high school students in the Homewood City School system.
TRUE!
What do we mean by confidentiality?
Keep information about your buddy private!
True or False: You can make a difference in the lives of your buddies.
TRUE!!! Research shows that just one caring relationship can positively impact a kid's life!
Imagine if your buddy says that they feel like they want to hurt themselves...What is the most important thing for you do?
Tell their counselor ASAP!
What could you say to that child?
True or false: If you are going to be absent on a mentoring day, you don't need to worry about telling anyone.
FALSE!
The buddies look forward to seeing you all week. Let someone know if you can't be at mentoring so that kid isn't sitting and waiting on you.
How will you know about the procedure for picking up and dropping of your buddy?
You will make a plan with your buddy at the match party.
True or false: If your buddy says he or she can make it back to class without you, you should just let them walk back to class by themselves when you leave.
FALSE!
Always pick them up and drop them according to the plan you make with them and their teacher.
Imagine if you know that your 's parents are going through a tough divorce. Your buddy's sibling is in your grade at HHS, but y'all have never been friends or really talked. Should you reach out to them and say you are sorry about the situation?
No! Even though this could be coming from a good place. Part of confidentiality means keeping certain information inside.
True or false: You should team up with other mentoring pairs to play games during mentoring time. More people = more fun!
FALSE!
Part of the benefit of mentoring is the one on one attention and relationship.
What's the rule about cell phone usage while with your buddy?
Don't use them! Cell phones should be put away while you are with your buddy...even if they ask!
Is it okay to bring your own activity to do with your buddy?
Yes!
If you know your buddy likes a specific game or toy, we would love for you to bring that activity to do during your time together.
Imagine if your buddy got upset when they lost at the board game you were playing together. Your buddy throws the pieces across the room and screams that he or she hates this game. What do you do?
Text the counselor!
After texting the counselor, focus on calming the child down (suggest a different activity, tell your buddy that this game makes you mad sometimes too, ask him or her to take a break and go on a walk with you).
True or false: Open-ended questions are better than yes or no questions.
TRUE!
Try to ask questions that will lead to more conversation. For example, instead of saying, "Did you have a good weekend?" Say "Tell me about your weekend" or "What did you do this weekend?"
Give an example of something you would need to let your buddy's school counselor know about.
Multiple answers!
If it gives you pause, tell the counselor. (ex. anything about hurting themselves or someone else, family changes, mature comments, etc)
List 5 questions that you could ask your buddy if he or she isn't talking much.
Multiple answers!
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How questions are good for opening up conversation. Starting with "Tell me..." is always good too!
Imagine if your buddy's parent sends a request to follow you on Instagram. What should you do?
Decline the request!
We want to keep professional boundaries with the kids and their families.
True or false: If a parent asks you to babysit your buddy over the weekend, you should do it. You already have built a relationship with that kid anyways!
False.
Each situation is different! You need to talk to your buddy's counselor, Mrs. Stoffregen, or Mrs. Drake before answering that parent.
What's the rule about grouping up with other mentoring pairs?
Don't do it! This should be one-on-one mentoring time.
Act it out! Show us an example of an HHS student engaging with his or her buddy.
BRAVO!
You can tell someone is actively listening by looking at their body language and noticing if the person comments on the specific things the person is telling them.