This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.
Building a Better Friendship Using a Structured Mentoring Journal
1. Building a Better
Friendship
Using a Structured
Mentoring Journal
Friends for Youth’s
Mentoring Institute
October 2010 Webinar
Transforming lives through
the power of mentoring
2. My Earliest Mentor - Esmé
Read about Sarah’s mentor and Kristen’s mentor on our blog, http://friendsforyouth.blogspot.com/
3. “Mentoring” describes a relationship
between an older, more experienced adult
and an unrelated, younger protégé or mentee, characterized by
ongoing guidance, instruction,
and encouragement provided by the adult
and aimed at developing the competence
and character of the mentee.
Rhodes, 2002
What is a mentor?
4. At the of
positive mentoring effects is the
development of a strong relationship
between mentor and youth.
Grossman and Johnson, 1999
The relationship
is
the intervention.
Johnston, 2005
7. • Higher relationship satisfaction through strong
emotional connection
• “Positive relationships are seen as the primary way that
mentoring leads to improved outcomes for youth who are
mentored.” Nation, M., Keener, D., Wandersman, A., & DuBois, D. (2005)
• Rhodes’ model of youth mentoring: “a close mentoring
relationship characterized by mutuality, trust, and
empathy is the catalyst for several intertwined
developmental processes pertaining to the social-
emotional, cognitive, and identity development of youth.”
Rhodes, J. (2005)
Theories: Relationship
8. Theories: Relationship
• Mentoring research: Using
relational processes &
approaches
– “The presence of a strong
emotional connection has been
found to be a distinguishing feature
of those mentoring relationships
that are associated with better
outcomes such as improvements in
perceptions of scholastic
competence and feelings of self-
worth.”
– Relational processes underpinning
successful mentoring relationships:
Authenticity, Empathy,
Collaboration, Companionship
Spencer, R. (2006)
13. “I wish we had written down
what we did together.”
• Weekly Entry pages
• Personal Impression pages
• All Activity pages have
space to record what was
produced from outing,
conversation, or project
Mentoring
Journal
21. Theories: Activities
• Choosing developmental activities
instead of instrumental activities
– For mentees: “Academic discussion about kid’s behavior,
attendance, dropping out, and importance of future;
tutoring/homework lowered connectedness to teachers and
parents. Discussion of relationships, casual conversation,
playing sports, games, and creative activities increased
connectedness to teachers and parents.”
– For mentors: “Instrumental discussions were associated with
lower levels of mentor satisfaction; whereas, developmental
discussions and activities predicted higher satisfaction
among mentors.” Karcher, M. (2006)
22. Theories: Activities
• Choosing instrumental activities instead
of developmental activities
– For some mentees who are unable to form
relationships, focusing on goals or projects may be
successful approach to building the relationship
– Expectations around instrumental activities only
work with resources and structure to support them
Nakkula, M. (2010)
30. Theories: Youth Development
• Prepares young people to meet
challenges of adolescence and
adulthood through coordinated,
progressive series of activities and
experiences which help them to
become socially, morally,
emotionally, physically, and
cognitively competent
• Broader developmental needs of
youth vs. focusing on problems
• Strengths-based vs. deficit-based
• Youth are resources, not problems
31. Theories: Youth Development
• Youth Development & 41 Assets
– #17 Creative Activities
(Constructive Use of Time) on
Search Institute’s 41 Developmental
Assets
– “Sparks” as instrumental in Thriving
• Passion for and action to grow a
self-identified interest, skill, capacity
• Creative arts ranked highest
for girls and boys
– Creative art activities are 21 out of
45 examples of how parents can
ignite the hidden strengths of
teenagers
Benson, P. & Scales, P. (2007)
34. Theories: Arts Approach
• Improve kids' overall academic
performance
• Show that kids actively engaged in arts
education are likely to have higher test
scores than those with little to no
involvement
• Develop skills needed by the 21st century
workforce: critical thinking, creative
problem solving, effective communication,
teamwork and more
• Teach kids to be more tolerant and open
• Allow kids to express themselves
creatively and bolster their self-confidence
• Keep students engaged in school and less
likely to drop out
http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/default.asp
37. “I don’t know what to do
with my mentee.”
• 101 Simple Activities
• Calendar of Events
• Local Activity Resources
• Activity Lists
• 32 Separate Activities
Mentoring
Journal
41. Theories: Approach
• Counseling techniques
– Building rapport
– Creating “holding
environment”
– Therapist as a
“container” for painful
feelings
Kotin, J. (1995)
42. Theories: Approach
• Creative arts therapies applications
– Adolescence issues
• Identity formation
• Competence & autonomy tasks
• Highly non-verbal
– Trauma/adverse experiences
• Safety in expression
• Non-threatening interactions
• Art is transitional object & reminder of experience
• Art is container for overwhelming feelings
– Positive risk-taking experiences
Rubin (1984)
46. “I’m not sure how
to approach this topic.”
• A Day in the Life Photo/Video
• Family Maps
• Drawing on Your Heart
• Friendship Poems
• Friendship Review
Mentoring
Journal
54. Program Benefits
• Monitor meetings with Weekly Entry
pages
• Assess relationship satisfaction with
Quarterly Impression pages
• Turn any Activities into group
activities for multiple matches
• Align program goals with review of
entire Mentoring Journals
throughout year
Mentoring
Journal
55. Program Benefits
• Increased match success and
longevity
– Theoretical and anecdotal at this point
• Publicity/Visibility
– More opportunities for press releases,
exhibition of work, use of art in materials
• Connecting with new audiences
– Already-established audience of collaborating
artist or group are potential supporters (donors
and/or volunteers)
Mentoring
Journal
56. Obstacles &
• Adults intimidated to be creative/not willing to take
risk to fail
– Support adults in taking risks; use group activities to
normalize experience
• Youth unlikely to instigate any activities, even if
interested
– Support mentors to try select activities and then pay
attention to youth’s responses for follow-up activities
• Specific activities can become group activities, but
may need to be facilitated by outside artists
– Seek funding for art-focused workshops led by artists in
community or ask them to donate services and materials
Solutions
57. Obstacles & Solutions
• May be viewed as childish, uninteresting, gender-
specific
– Support mentors to try select activities; encourage males to focus
on “doing” parts, less on “talking” pieces
• Program is SB or already have curriculum to follow
– Integrate creativity in academic-based program without having to
reinvent wheel
• Program is not structured
– Mentoring Journal supports building of relationship by stages, but
not necessary to follow exactly
• Not appropriate for all matches
– Have sets on hand for those pairs who would really benefit from
use
58. • Successful mentoring relationships are characterized by
meaningful interactions that help build relationship
– Trust-building
– Maintaining boundaries
– Good communication
– Realistic expectations
• Meaningful interactions come from meaningful
activities
Theories: Summary
61. Ordering Information
Mentoring Journals sold in sets of two (2)
1 - 25 sets = $28 set
26 - 50 sets = $23 set
51 + sets = $20 set
• Order online www.mentoringinstitute.org
• Order by telephone 650-559-0200
• Order by mail 1741 Broadway, Redwood
City, CA 94063
62. Webinar Special
Order Mentoring Journals online at
www.mentoringinstitute.org
and use promo code
JOURNAL
to receive 20% off!
63. Mentoring Institute Conference
12th Annual Mentoring Conference
Share What You Know:
Collaboration and
Networking in Youth
Mentoring
January 27-28, 2011
Jean Rhodes, Ph.D.
Keynote Speaker
Oracle Conference Center