Mentoring Staff

In their article, "When Intent and Reality Collide," which is included in the newest Exchange Essential: Mentoring, Jane Humphries and Rebecca Pruit make these observations about how a director can support staff members by adding meaning and insight to new learning:

"Motivation and self-directed learning — Understanding the dynamics of the relationships among motivation, self-discovery, and learning can provide the foundation needed to adequately take advantage of on-the-job training opportunities. Becoming more attuned to what motivates each teacher (smoother transitions, happier children, recognition for accomplishments) enables the director to highlight an opportunity for growth and then provide the resources and support needed for self-directed learning to occur.

"Reflection, transformative learning, and the subjective way of knowing — Bridging the gap between the teacher’s own classroom learning and her classroom teaching practices often hinges on the amount of reflection that occurs. Directors have a unique opportunity to facilitate reflection by asking key questions of their staff throughout the day that will serve to connect ongoing experiences (very important to the subjective knower) with content being taught in settings outside the center."

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