How do you communicate with your mentee during times of change or uncertainty?

1 Establish trust and rapport

The foundation of any effective communication is trust and rapport. You want your mentee to feel comfortable and confident in sharing their concerns, questions, and feedback with you. To build trust and rapport , you need to be consistent, respectful, empathetic, and supportive. Show genuine interest in your mentee's goals, challenges, and achievements. Listen actively and attentively to what they say and how they say it. Acknowledge their feelings and emotions, and validate their perspectives. Offer encouragement and praise when appropriate, and avoid judgment and criticism.

2 Communicate frequently and clearly

When there are changes or uncertainties in the school context, your mentee may feel anxious, confused, or overwhelmed. They may need more guidance and reassurance from you than usual. To communicate effectively with your mentee during these times, you need to communicate frequently and clearly. Set regular and predictable times to check in with your mentee, either in person, by phone, or online. Use multiple channels of communication, such as email, text, or video, to share information and updates. Be clear and concise in your messages, and avoid ambiguity and jargon. Confirm your mentee's understanding and expectations, and ask for feedback and questions.

3 Provide relevant and timely information

One of the main sources of stress and frustration for your mentee during times of change or uncertainty is the lack of information or clarity about what is happening and why. As a teacher mentor, you can help your mentee cope with these situations by providing relevant and timely information. Share what you know and what you don't know about the changes or uncertainties, and explain the rationale and implications for your mentee's work. Provide resources and links to help your mentee learn more about the changes or uncertainties, and direct them to the appropriate sources of support or assistance. Anticipate and address potential issues or challenges that your mentee may face, and offer suggestions and solutions.

4 Encourage reflection and learning

Another way to communicate with your mentee during times of change or uncertainty is to encourage reflection and learning. Reflection and learning can help your mentee adapt to the new situations, develop new skills, and grow professionally. To foster reflection and learning, you can ask open-ended and probing questions that prompt your mentee to think critically and creatively about their practice. You can also share your own experiences and insights, and model how you deal with changes or uncertainties. You can also facilitate opportunities for your mentee to collaborate and learn from other teachers who are facing similar challenges or opportunities.

5 Support emotional well-being

Finally, communicating with your mentee during times of change or uncertainty also involves supporting their emotional well-being. Changes and uncertainties can take a toll on your mentee's mental health, motivation, and performance. As a teacher mentor, you can help your mentee cope with these emotional challenges by being supportive, compassionate, and positive. You can acknowledge and normalize your mentee's feelings and emotions, and help them identify and express them in healthy ways. You can also help your mentee find balance and perspective, and remind them of their strengths and achievements. You can also suggest strategies and resources to help your mentee manage their stress and take care of themselves.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?