Estimated time required to complete full module: 20 h
Estimated time required to complete unit: 7 h
Estimated time required to complete unit: 7 h
Estimated time required to complete unit: 6 h
Estimated time required to complete unit: 10 h
Conflict and problem solving
All relationships have their ups-and-downs and your mentoring relationship will be no different. We each have different ways of dealing with conflict or difficult situations, but it is important that the mentor teacher maintains a professional approach, and sets the tone.
Put the student teacher at ease.
- Stay calm. Show that your intentions are constructive, not critical.
- Use body language to communicate attentiveness (eg, maintain eye contact, sit at the same level).
- Avoid judgmental statements such as “Why would you do something like that?”
- If you are getting emotional or upset, ask for some time out to calm down.
- Reassure the student teacher that confidentiality will be honoured, but be honest when this is not possible.
- Be tactfully honest in difficult situations.
- Allow the student teacher to talk at their own pace. Do not force the issue.
- Do not pry too much. Allow them to bring up topics when they are comfortable.
- Brainstorm with the student teacher and be creative in finding a solution. There is usually more than one way to handle a situation. This process is educational for the student teacher.
- Provide information if the student teacher is unaware of resources or options.
- Be collaborative: you are a team.
- Follow through with any and all commitments.
Adapted from of The Mentoring Partnership of New York, Mentoring in the Faith Community: An Operations Manual for Program Coordinators as found on pcaddick.com