Reading Mentors
The word mentor appears everywhere these days, but what exactly is a mentor? My dictionary defines the word: an experienced or trusted adviser. The origin of the word mentor is attributed to Mentor, who Odysseus appointed to look after his son during the Trojan War. Mentor was a wise counsellor and legendary guardian who gives us the word mentor for use in a far broader sense today. The word is often interchanged with teacher, instructor, tutor, monitor, guide, etc. The fact is anyone can be a mentor. Each of us has something unique we can bring to others. If you can read, you can become a reading mentor.
The best place to start is with your own kids. Once you've ensured they're avid and passionate readers move onto any other children you come into contact with. Mentor the children in your circle of friends and neighbours into the joys of readership. Keep classic tales aside in readiness to share with your grandchildren when they appear. Reading mentors give books as gifts at Christmas, birthdays and just because. They start discussions on book related topics. Be the one to stop, sit still and read to the children in your life. Be the one who'll listen to them reading their favourite story for the tenth time, and more, today. Turn them into reading mentors, too.
Once a child can read, they can mentor those around them. They can become mini mentors, sharing the gift of books and the enjoyment of stories. This is one pleasurable duty you can encourage older siblings into doing in your place. Life gets hectic at times. Ask your older kids to share a fun story with the younger ones. These kinds of activities will draw them closer together. They will make precious memories of the times they spent together as children sharing stories. The ambience of their togetherness will discourage arguments, at least for a while, and encourage them to talk more about their dreams, ideas and daily concerns with each other.
A reading mentorship is an active relationship, but there needn't be anything official about it. The mentor will begin to identify any reading problems the other reader might have. The very act of reading together will iron out these problems over time. The trust built in this relationship makes it a good place to work out other problems. This will be even easier if the problem is covered in the stories you're reading together. Though be careful not to make this obvious or force it. Discussions should flow naturally out of the theme in the story. Those in potentially sticky relationships, such as step-parenting, might find reading together a good starting ground to build their new relationship. A reading mentorship will also teach the mentor many things, not only an increase in patience.
Go To Page: 1 2
Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic
Latest Articles