Mentor Training Meeting #1October 20th, 2011

YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS…

Responsibilities

• Always keep a positive and energetic attitude when working with your buddy

• Be patient with your buddy• Know the Science Alliance Calendar• Make sure your buddy understands his task

for the week/month• Be interested in your buddy’s project• Be available in case your buddy needs help

with conducting his project• Have lots of fun!

Email Protocol• Email your buddy at least once a week to see how they are

progressing. MORE often is better!• Be grammatically correct when emailing; use complete

sentences and full words• ALWAYS copy 3 others: THE PARENT, the club officers

(communications1112@mvsciencealliance.org), and your mentor trainer.

• ALWAYS USE “REPLY TO ALL” TO KEEP THE EMAIL STRING GOING

• Put your last name, first name, buddy last name, first name AND ONE of these key phrases: JUST CHECKING IN, topic question, introduction-background, hypothesis-control-variables, procedure-materials, tables-data, analysis-graphs, conclusion, project board, binder write-up, judging

• Gently remind buddies to be productive

Bad vs. Good Email• Bad: “wassup kid? need sum help 4 the hypo? u can use

this 1: if you shine red light on a plant, it will grow more”

• Good: “Hello (insert buddy name),

I just wanted to double check on your progress with the hypothesis. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. Remember to try using the “If… then…” format we discussed before! Here’s an example _____ Be sure to respond back this week.   (insert your name)”

Meeting Protocol • As mentor be on time: Bring your mentor binder,

extra pens or pencils, check into the commons no later than 3:30 pm

• Pick up the Mentor-Buddy worksheets for this meeting.

• Go to the sign on the wall with your buddy’s SCHOOL NAME & wait there until the buddy arrives.

• Greet Buddy enthusiastically! Move off to the assigned room or another area of the Library (inside or outside).

• Have some small talk…bond some with your buddy. Note: a parent is supposed to stay at the first meeting.

M-B meetings continued…• Begin the task for the day. By the end of the meeting be

SURE your buddy understands the task for the day…check for understanding.

• Discuss the next steps with the buddy…tell him to check his email and to copy his parent, communications1112@mvsciencealliance.org and the mentor trainer, and to put your last name, first name, his last name, first name in the subject line of ALL emails… remind them to always use “REPLY TO ALL”

• Offer your help and advice but do not do the upcoming tasks for your buddy. Offer suggestions to give them some guidelines.

• If you have an emergency and cannot make a meeting…call the buddy’s parent cell phone no later than 3:00 pm AND send an email to the club officers at communications1112@mvsciencealliance.org

• Tell the buddy to come to the meeting. A substitute mentor will work with him.

• The NEXT day call the Parent & schedule a make-up meeting at the buddy’s house or the library within 2-3 days. Before meeting…download “mentor make up meeting form” so parent can sign it. Turn it in to Mrs. Bandrowski, room 500

First Meeting

• Greet them as your NEW BEST FRIEND. MEET the Parent. Be professional!

• Exchange emails & phone #’s with buddy and parent

• Begin talking about interests, including those in science

• Narrow down a possible project area: biology, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, etc…

• Go over the safety quiz and contract. Get Parent signature.

• Together look through project category ideas in binder

• Offer suggestions to tweak ideas in binder

Calendar

• Meeting 1: Nov. 7 -- MEET, SAFETY, TOPIC• Meeting 2: Dec. 5 -- TOPIC, Question,

Hypothesiso Question, Hypothesis, Control, Variables, Proposed

Procedure & Materials, Tables for data collection due Dec. 16

o Introduction/Background info, Edits to Q/H/C/V/P/M due Jan. 5 before next meeting

• Meeting 3: Jan. 9 -- Make plans to set up experiment within the next week or two!

Calendar (cont.)• Begin experiment in mid-Jan. if project is safety

approved by Mrs. Bandrowski (must receive an email stating “THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED” in the subject line).

• Meeting 4: Feb. 6o Data Analysis/Graphs due when project is finished

• Meeting 5: Mar. 5 -- Conclusion, Abstract due• Meeting 6: April 2 -- Check that all written parts are

completed, Work on Project Board. Final Draft due. All pages for binder completed, project board planned .

• Science Fair! Apr. 21 -- mandatory for all mentors and buddies! 9:30 am-3:30 pm at SRVHS