Tips from participating teachers

Having a Peer Mentor for the first time

The following list of comments all come from class teachers who have worked with Peer Mentors in their classes:

Have a meeting at the start to discuss your plans.
Allow Peer Mentors to participate actively in all activities. Draw upon their enthusiasm and wealth of practical experiences.
Listen to Peer Mentors and try to monitor their comfort zone. Take advantage of their expertise.
Be open and inclusive. They have a wealth of knowledge and can enthusiastically engage students.
Ensure you are fully aware of their role.
Use them in any way that aids you and class.
Utilise their skills.
Set up classes to cater for individual needs eg support or extension and allow Peer Mentor freedom to cater for these groups.
Know your program in advance and discuss with the Peer Mentor what they think they can offer and what you would like to see offered.
Encourage the Peer Mentor to participate as soon as possible. Have a chat and let them know your topic plan and just be positive and get on with the teaching as normal.
Talk to Peer Mentors about what they want to get out of the program and organise the set up around that.
Ask the Peer Mentor to input into lesson set ups or ideas for running the class.
Make use of them!
Be contactable. Talk about what is happening the following week and what/how the Peer Mentor can help.
Get into it early. Give them things to do.
Encourage other teachers to have a Peer Mentor. They bring new ideas and relate extremely well to the students.
Make the most of it. Your students may communicate more readily with the Peer Mentor.
Ensure you have the Peer Mentor's contact details. Ensure students and staff know and understand their role.
You are fortunate to have them. Plan some activities that you have been wanting to do but perhaps could not because you needed extra support.
Give the Peer Mentor lots of opportunity and control.
Try to remember to factor the Peer Mentor into the lesson preparation.
Plan activities where their assistance is most valuable.
Encourage participation in practical work and build upon Peer Mentor's science/maths experience in the class.
Be relaxed and allow them to find their comfort level.
Use them in every possible way.
Have specific tasks/jobs for the Peer Mentor to do planned in advance.
Get them talking to students in small groups as soon as possible. Recognise that they are very knowledgeable and have access to useful resources. Plan with them to present small tasks were possible.
Re-introduce the Peer Mentor each week and go over their role.
Use the time with the Peer Mentor to complete those difficult practical activities, set up work stations. Discuss the lesson with the Peer Mentor beforehand so they can provide assistance.
Allow Peer Mentors to get involved rather than just strolling round. Really get into their area of expertise and utilise them.
Give them a briefing of what you are teaching. Give them a work plan and text book if possible. You lead and let the mentor follow.
Sit with the Peer Mentor initially to discuss what they want to offer. Identify how you want the mentor to help them and clarify their role.
Go for it! Be flexible on when and how you do things. Involve the Peer Mentor in the lesson as much as you can.
Meet the Peer Mentor prior to class to discuss expectations etc.
Ensure the Peer Mentor feels part of the team, treat them professionally as they have so much to offer.