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Teaching Tips September 1, 2009 |
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An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living, but doesn't teach them how to make a life. 
The author of that statement is unknown, but the concept is not to many homeschoolers. It is one of the abiding principles that raising up a child entails so much more than academics. With the mushrooming emphasis on preparing students for the global marketplace, the admonition above takes on even more weight.
Sometimes in our rush to make sure there are no “gaps” in our children's academic training, we overlook the more mundane, yet essential life skills. Perhaps we figure that these skills will be included “naturally” into our schedule as we do chores, cook, clean, repair, and maintain the household and family cars. And for the most part, that's true. I do come across families, though, who are not quite sure what chores and responsibilities should be given to the children at what age. Christine Field's Life Skills for Kids is an excellent reference book for this. Combining humor and insight, she has devised hundreds of fun ways to systematically teach children basic life skills by letting them do everyday stuff along with adults. Children learn by having the skills modeled for them, and done with them, until they can do them on their own. That description could easily be used to define this month's teaching tip: the art of mentoring. In a nutshell, mentoring is where an older (hopefully wiser) person agrees to have a younger person be accountable to them. The term comes from mythology. Mentor was the wise and faithful counselor to Odysseus, who in turn asked Mentor to befriend his son and counsel him as well. It has come to mean offering advice and admonition. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines admonition as instruction in duties, caution, direction, gentle reproof, and counseling against a fault. Implied in this definition is a level of relationship that not only allows the mentor to be candid, but also to know the person well enough to know what to look for, both in terms of strengths and weaknesses. A true mentor should have a sense of loyalty that accepts mistakes, yet works with the individual to correct any shortfalls. In homeschooling, a mentor can help a student explore areas of mutual interest, and is particularly helpful when exploring career options. Another useful role is on-the-job training, even if the job is not necessarily what the student wants to pursue. The student watches how the mentor does things and then tries to do the same. There are just some skills – such as interacting with people or getting organized – that are best learned by doing. Learning in a somewhat controlled environment allows the student to gain experience with the assurance that someone has his or her back. A mentoring relationship can also be expanded into an apprenticeship. This is where someone teaches an actual skill or profession to the student. Usually the student is not paid or receives only a minimal wage in exchange for the training. In some cases, the student may have to pay a fee (much like tuition) to learn the craft. An apprenticeship can be included on a high school transcript for credit toward graduation as an elective. The credit earned is based on the amount of hours spent in training, as well as the type of work involved. (For more information on credits and transcripts, see the related articles in the archives.) When doing an apprenticeship, it's a good idea to come up with a course description that details the specific skills to be taught and the level of performance expected. It should include performance objectives that can be easily measured or observed. It's also helpful to specify how often the mentor is to meet with the student and for what purpose. This way both parties know what is expected. While these measurable objectives are important, probably the greatest benefit of mentoring is the opportunity to share life experiences with someone who has been there, done that, and succeeded. Knowledge and understanding are necessary, but without the wisdom that comes with age and experience, they can be applied in the wrong way. When we look at how God designed the family and the various roles of the mother and father, with different anointings for the tasks they fulfill, we can see how God envisions the Body of Christ to function. Likewise with mentoring, the older person brings an anointing that comes with experience; the student brings youthful energy and zeal. The mentor can help smooth the rough edges of exuberance and offer insight and caution when necessary, while the student can help soften the cynicism that often comes as a result of living in the world, and energize and bring renewed hope to the mentor. 802 Words
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