spark mentor orientation

1Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved. sparkprogram.org

2Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Objectives & Agenda

Objectives– Understand the Spark Program and mentor role &

expectations– Identify and discuss approaches to working with middle

school students – Connect with a network of community members to

support the experience

Agenda– Welcome– Apprenticeships– Policies– Strategies– Close

3Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Apprenticeships: The Mentor Experience

4Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Apprenticeships: The Student Experience

5Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Apprenticeships: Goals

Goals– Help your student learn about him

or herself– Address how what you’re doing

relates to the student’s education and social-emotional development

– Introduce your student to your career and future possibilities

Every session should include… A hands-on activity Work toward your Discovery Night

Project or other goal An opportunity for you and your

student to connect personally

6Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Apprenticeships: Timeline

Week 1-2 Get to know each other Introduce your student to your

office and coworkers Week 3-4

Brainstorm and plan for Discovery Night project

Set goals and milestones for project

Week 5-8 Encourage student ownership of

project Goal of each session should be

related to milestone

7Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Past Project Highlights Sales / Business• Start a business• Create a case study of a popular company Programming• Design a basic computer game• Create a website featuring the student’s favorite animal, sport, subject,

etc. Math / Economics• Analyze the economics of sports, entertainment, technology, etc. Finance• Create a savings plan for a high school graduation trip• Cost benefit analysis of different educational / career paths • Track a favorite company’s stock and analyze what causes price changes HR• Plan an Event• Orchestrate a student satisfaction survey and analysis• Create a “Future Resume”

8Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Agenda Check

– Welcome– Apprenticeships– Policies– Strategies– Close

9Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Spark Policy Highlights

Student Safety & Expectations– Workplace site clearance– Food/ Gifts– Media Release/ Social Media

Communication with Spark Staff– Rescheduling/ Student Attendance

Student Transportation– Waiver– SAP– Support

Preparing Apprenticeship Activities & Final Project

10Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Strategies: Life as a Middle Schooler

Self-expression and self determination

Hands-on learning that is personally relevant

Increased awareness of social, cultural and environmental issues

Peer approval Awkwardness and self-consciousness

11Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Strategies: Engaging Youth

Be clear and consistentBe open and shareSet clear boundaries on day 1Ask questionsRelate what you’re doing to education, career, lifeBe authentic

12Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Discuss: Scenarios

What is your interpretation of this scenario?

How would you have reacted if you were the mentor in this situation?

What are the key takeaways from this scenario?

13Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 1: Quiet Student

It is your first day meeting with your student. He comes into your office and won’t look you in the eyes. When you show him new things about

your job, he doesn’t say anything. When you ask him about school he just says “it’s fine.” He

seems bored and unhappy.

14Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 2: Expectations Mismatch

You are a fashion designer and are very excited about an activity you have planned for the day. When your student arrives, you ask her to look

through the books and magazines in your office, choose five famous fashion designers, and write

a paragraph about what they like about each designer. As she starts to do the activity, it

becomes clear that she is having trouble reading the articles and her writing skills are very weak.

15Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 3: Unclear Actions

On your sixth meeting, your student is working on her Discovery Night Project, and you get an

important call. You leave the room for five minutes, and when you return she quickly hides something

in her bag. She seems flustered and embarrassed.

16Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 4: Inappropriate Question

On your third meeting, your student asks if you have ever used illegal drugs. This makes you

uncomfortable.

17Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 5: International Travel

When you tell your student about the trip you took to Europe last year, she responds by

telling you that she can’t go to Europe because she doesn’t have the right papers.

18Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 6:Safety

Your student tells you that if he is late for dinner his mom will hit him. It’s hard for you to tell if he is

joking; his mom seems nice, but he also came to his apprenticeship one day with a bruise on his face.

19Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Scenario 7:Travel Logistics

Part 1: You are expecting your student to arrive at 3pm today. At 3:30pm your student has still not arrived. You try calling your student’s cell

phone number, and it goes straight to voicemail. What do you do?

Part 2: Your student calls you at 5:30pm and says they’re sorry they couldn’t come today.

When you ask why they didn’t attend, they say something came up. What do you do?

20Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

A Spark Story

21Copyright © Spark Program. All rights reserved.

Contact

Shireen Javandel

E ::

sjavandel@sparkprogram.org

P :: 510-435-2309

Megan Stariha

E ::

mstariha@sparkprogram.org

P :: 425-223-8579http://sparkbayarea.weebly.com