Building A Classroom Bond
I find that many students in their courses assume a leadership role and can instinctively focus on those who need mentoring in class. Typically these seem to be the older, more mature students but I have, on occasion, I have observed younger classmates tutor and become interested in the educational outcomes of their classmates.
I have a similar situation in my class currently. The younger student is mentoring an older adult student and it has been positive. The older adult has benefited by many of the younger student's ideas, and in comparison, the younger student has learned from the older adult in other areas. It is my hope the pattern will continue as this has been a powerful learning experience for both.
K.C.,
This can be very effective in learning and is also a realistic experience as they will be interacting and working together later on. Great job!
Susan Backofen
In my classrooms I always promote building relationships with people who you are less likely to form one with. I think it is very important that they reach out and find that you can rely on someone that you don't expect to.
Kimberly,
Excellent idea! People tend to gravitate toward individuals who seem like themselves. Encouraging them to reach out to others can provide pleasant and surprising relationships.
Susan Backofen
I teach for a vocational nursing program. Two terms ago, I had a student in class who was a former special ed teacher and had chosen nursing as a second career. She was an excellent student, but what made her stand out was her skills to tutor and mentor the other students in her class. She would hold study sessions for anyone who wanted to come and worked primarily with the students in her class who were foreign nationals and had English as their second language. The time she took to help them through the program became invaluable to their success to pass and graduate.
