As you are mentoring students in a school, there is an expectation that part of the hour may be spent on academics. Do this early in the session with the student and then get back to relationship building.

 

Here are some learning ideas:

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Reading

• Read aloud to your child

• Practice site words

• Help them read leveled books

• Read a story and draw their favorite part

• Use reading strategies (below)

• Play games that reinforce reading skills

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Writing

• Write in a journal

• Write cards and letters

• Write stories

• Write poems

• Draw a picture and label it

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Math

• Practice math facts with flashcards

• County money

• Practice telling time

• Play games that reinforce math skills

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Spelling

• Practice weekly spelling lists

• Write words in shaving cream or on a whiteboard

• Play games that reinforce spelling skills

 

Reading Strategies

Include reading each mentoring week. Most students spend their free time on their phones and playing video games, but little time is given to just enjoying a good book. They may not know what they’re missing!

 

Have a variety of reading materials available for your student… fiction, non-fiction magazines, brochures, newspapers, etc. Pre-select a few options and let the student choose what they will read together. This fosters investment in reading as an activity. Read aloud – age does not matter! All students can benefit from this; it is one of the best ways to motivate them to read more and better books.

 

Success is an important motivator! When we experience success with an activity, it builds our self-confidence and we want to repeat it. If a student associates reading with failure, he/she will naturally want to avoid it.

 

Those who struggle with reading have a tough road ahead of them. Research has shown that reading scores are a powerful predictor of future academic success. In fact, if students are not reading at grade level by third grade, it is very difficult for them to catch back up without significant intervention.

 

As a Mentor, concentrate on motivating and encouraging your developing reader rather than on teaching technique and skill acquisition.

 

Echo Reading: Used on a short passage (word or sentence). The mentor reads first, and the student repeats the text while looking at and pointing to the text.

 

Partner Reading: Student reads one page, paragraph, or sentence Mentor reads the next page, paragraph, or sentence.

 

Choral Reading: Mentor and student read together the same passage at the same time This technique is particularly beneficial for improving rate and fluency.

 

Repeated Reading: The student reads the story several times to allow for mastery of the text. This is immensely beneficial in developing sight vocabulary. The student should always be looking at the text when reading rather than simply memorizing the story and then repeating it.

 

Comprehension Skill Building: Before, during, and after you read a book with your student ask questions to help them understand what they are reading. For example, before you read a book ask your student to look at the cover and say what they think the book is about. As you are reading the book, stop to ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” “Have you ever done anything like this?” When you have finished reading a book, ask your student what they learned from the book or what surprised them.