We have added screen shots of what the mentor tool might look like. It would guide students through modules, or trails, and teach them skills on how to be a mentor to a younger students.

Additionally, it would provide a way to receive and achieve badges for completing different trails. Students would be able to give each other badges as a sign of gratitude as well. 

Our current idea for the tool can be found here:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HP3mlam4v28H_LPoJAQRYfLctgu32rsrqMz66kV34G4/edit

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Overview: (What’s this idea about)

This idea is about supporting young students (grade 6-8) to see that college is a possibility as well as giving older students a way to provide purposeful service to their community by researching and putting together college-readiness campaigns.

Potential For Impact: (Why is this an idea that promotes continued growth?)

It’s a way for different members of a community to support each other on the journey to and through college. Older students her younger students grow while learning more about college themselves. As those younger students grow, they give back and educated others about college. All members of the community that are involved grow to be informed and resourceful about college.

Value Prop/Pitch: (How would you pitch this to other teachers in your school? Your principal? Etc)

Improve the student to mentor ratio dramatically.

As high school students put together campaigns they educate themselves about college readiness.

Create communities where college education is discussed, encouraged and celebrated.

Helps mentors build:

·       Self-management skills- Mentors identify obstacles and think critically about actions they can take to overcome them.

·       Self-efficacy skills - A belief that they have control over their own college journey.

·       Self-awareness skills - By looking into how to help younger students learn more about college, they learn more about their own college journey.

·      They will learn that can have an impact on others and their community through hard work and perseverance.

Helps younger students develop:

·       Self-management - Understand that obstacles that might come in the future and get advice from mentors on how to overcome them.

·       Self-efficacy – A belief that they have control over their own college journey, even before starting high school.

·       Self-awareness – They become mindful of what they need to get into college. They become mindful of how important college is from a young age.       

an understanding there is more than one way to solve a problem.

How’d I get this idea off the ground

Find a group in a community where there is a necessity for college-readiness education and find teacher mentors who are willing to be part of advisory groups for high school students will to be mentors.

How you can get started:

1. Have high school students research and put together college readiness campaigns for younger students in elementary and middle schools.

2. During these campaigns high school students can create real partnerships. Afterwards they can meet periodically to talk with younger students about the process they are going through.

3. Younger students will reach out to their mentors, which can then serve as role models that nurture the feeling that college is possible.

4. High school students can create campaigns for parents of younger aged students as well.

5. Additionally, students in college can serve as mentors for students in High School by creating the same kinds of campaigns and partnerships.

Create a step by step guide on how to become a mentor.

1. Explain the Mentor profile/guidelines

2. Identify Ss that are interested in being a Mentor

3. Sign a commitment pledge.

Mentorship Guidelines:

Over the next few weeks we will work on developing a way for students to have a mentorship guidance tool that can be accessed online. It will give them a step-by-step guide on how to conduct mentorships with younger students. 

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Original Post:

Using inspiration from stories in the first phase of this collaboration I envision students becoming mentors to each other. 

A rough draft of possible steps:

1. Have high school students research and put together college readiness campaigns for younger students in elementary and middle schools. 

2. During these campaigns high school students can create real partnerships. Afterwards they can meet periodically to talk with younger students about the process they are going through.

3. Younger students will reach out to their mentors, which can then serve as role models that nurture the feeling that college is possible.

4. High school students can create campaigns for parents of younger aged students as well. 

5. Additionally, students in college can serve as mentors for students in High School by creating the same kinds of campaigns and partnerships. 

Benefits:

Improve the student to mentor ratio dramatically. 

As high school students put together campaigns they educate themselves about college readiness. 

Create communities where college education is discussed, encouraged and celebrated.