One such program we have established recently is mentoring. We are currently providing a mentoring program for the at risk children in our building. The mentors are Title 1 staff and specialist staff while the mentees are those children who have been targeted as high risk students based on our behavioral statistics from last year. These children are our repeat offenders. This last quote is incredibly significant as it reveals proof of the success of connectedness as in a mentoring program.
Mentors act as models and build significant connections to the mentees.
It is not about focusing on the student's past behavior, but helping to create a positive future path for that child. They truly need to be shown they can do it differently. Even the most volatile and misbehaved child deserves dignity and respect. The mentor's job is to model respect which in turn invites respect. When respect is shown regardless of behavior displayed, it invites cooperation, redirects misbehavior, encourages appropriate behavior, and let students know they are cared about and valued.