Mentor Basics
What is the time commitment for a mentor?
ISM: 1 hour per week
Traditional: 3-4 hours every 2 weeks
If your mentee confides in you about something serious, but asks you not to tell anyone, what should you do?
Report to your caseworker immediately – safety and well-being come first
What should you do if you feel uncomfortable with something your mentee shares?
Talk to your caseworker for guidance
Mentoring relationships should be fun and enjoyable.
True!
What does DYP stand for?
Director of Youth Protection
Who are the key people involved in a match?
ISM: Mentor, Mentee, Caseworker, School Liaison
Trad:
Mentor, Mentee, Caseworker, Parent
What’s the best way to handle mentee-mentor physical contact?
A high-five may be okay, but always respect the child's comfort level and personal space.
Avoid putting yourself in a compromising situation
If your mentee confides in you about something serious, but asks you not to tell anyone, what should you do?
Tell the child that you are unable to do so. Report to your caseworker immediately – safety and well-being come first.
Your role as a mentor is to act as a counselor or therapist.
False – you are a supportive mentor, not a therapist.
Name one famous mentor-mentee relationship from movies/books.
Yoda and Luke Skywalker - Star Wars
Robin Williams and Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting)
Dumbledore and Harry Potter (Harry Potter series)
Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid)
Gandalf and Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)
Morpheus and Neo (The Matrix)
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)
Alfred and Bruce Wayne (Batman series)
Professor X and Jean Grey (X-Men)
Master Shifu and Po (Kung Fu Panda)
Mufasa and Simba (The Lion King)
What is one trait of a great mentor?
What should you do if your mentee wants to give you a gift?
Politely thank them but remind them that gifts aren’t necessary.
Your mentee is acting out and disrupting the session. What do you do?
Calmly redirect their behavior, set boundaries, and engage them in a positive activity.
If behaviour is beyond this point and setting boundaries isn't working, end the activity for the day and remind them you will be back next week.
A mentor should encourage their mentee to express themselves.
True
What's the difference between a mentor and a coach?
Coach: A coach focuses more on specific goals, skill development, or performance improvement within a set timeframe.
Mentor: Offers guidance, advice, and support based on their personal knowledge and experience. They often build a long-term relationship with their mentee, focusing on overall personal or professional growth and development.
What are the four parts of a match?
Getting to Know Each Other, Spending Time Together, Honoring the Commitment, Ending the Match
What should you do if you're at the mall and you run into your mentee and their family?
Say hi, introduce yourself,
Be friendly, but follow their lead and respect privacy
The student's parent tells you that the mentee is not doing well in math and asks that you spend time each session working on math with the mentee.
Remind the parent of your role with the agency.
Not respecting the agency's boundaries is considered boundary-breaking behaviour.
Can tell them that you can let the agency know and the caseworker can look into tutoring services for the child if needed.
You should try to fix your mentee’s "problems".
False. You should help them come up with ideas to be able to fix their own "problems".
Name a celebrity who advocates for mentorship or youth development.
Oprah Winfrey – Oprah has been a strong advocate for mentorship, especially for young women, and has created programs like the "Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls" in South Africa.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson – Dwayne is passionate about mentoring young people and often speaks about the importance of positive role models, especially through his "The Rock Foundation."
Chance the Rapper – Chance is heavily involved in youth mentorship and has donated millions to support education and youth development, particularly in Chicago.
LeBron James – Through his "LeBron James Family Foundation," LeBron has mentored at-risk youth, providing them with educational resources and opportunities.
Michelle Obama – Michelle has been a powerful advocate for mentorship, particularly through her "Reach Higher" initiative, which encourages students to pursue higher education.
Jay-Z – Jay-Z is involved in several mentorship programs, particularly focusing on helping young people from underserved communities reach their full potential.
Name 5 ways to build a strong relationship with your mentee.
Why is confidentiality important in mentoring?
To protect the mentee’s privacy and build trust.
Your mentee starts to engage in negative self-talk. What should you do?
Gently challenge their negative thoughts and encourage positive affirmations, letting them know they are valued.
It’s okay to share personal struggles with your mentee.
False – keep the focus on them. You can talk about previous experiences that you overcame (keeping in mind that you don't want to invalidate them) but shouldn't be sharing your personal struggles.
Name a real life Mentor/mentee pairs.
(Think about notable figures in history or current events )
Former Apple Inc.CEO the late Steve Jobs served as a mentor to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Filmmaker JJ abrams was mentored by Steven Spielberg
Fashion designer Christian Dior mentored fellow haute coture designer Yves St. Laurent.
Musician Ray Charles mentored music industry legend Quincy Jones.
Actor and director Clint Eastwood was mentored by his grandmother
Oprah Winfrey was mentored by celebrated author and poet, the late Maya Angelou
Michelle Robinson (now Michelle Obama) was designated to mentor Barack Obama while working together at a law firm.