MLTAV Mentoring Project

1. MLTAV Mentoring Project Project Manager: Kylie Farmer

2. Project Goals • To match Languages teachers in their first 5 years of service with accomplished teachers of Languages to provide high quality assistance with all aspects of the beginning teachers’ work. • To use the Professional Standards for Accomplished Teachers of Languages & Cultures to reflect on LOTE teaching and learning and develop an investigative stance to: • Improve student outcomes • Use evidence and data to improve and measure impact and guide improvement • To facilitate effective mentoring through: • Collegiate classroom visits • Innovative use of ICT • Support from project manager

3. Mentoring • Assists teachers in reflecting on their work and improving their practice. • Allows the individual needs of the new teachers to be met in a timely and relevant manner and guides their progress to demonstrate the Standards of Accomplished Teachers of Languages and Cultures • As beginning teachers experience the full range of responsibilities of the teaching role, the mentor as a professional and critically supportive colleague assumes greater importance.

4. Principles of Effective Mentoring • Mentoring is a two way relationship that continues over time (not a coaching exercise). Both teachers bring many skills and much knowledge to the relationship that can enrich and develop both teachers’ practice. • The process should be guided by the Beginning Teacher’s professional learning needs and concerns. • The mentor is there to help Beginning teachers identify their professional learning needs and help find positive and effective ways to support that learning. • Commitment to the process and to “meeting” on a regular basis to discuss concerns, to plan and work through suggestions for developing professional practice and to celebrate achievement is essential.

5. The capacity and willingness of mentors to listen, to ask questions, to challenge and share critical professional knowledge often determines the effectiveness of the mentoring relationship. • The rich professional dialogue and opportunity to investigate and articulate elements of professional practice with other teachers is empowering and leads to very sound professional learning.

6. Project Timeline

7. Planning your Investigation • See sample investigations provided • Select one from samples or modify/ develop your own • Plan to implement over 12 months • Keep focus of investigation narrow and “GO DEEP” rather than trying to do too much and only making surface level changes!

8. Documenting your investigation • Document plans on project wiki • Plan your collegiate classroom visit • Decide on date and focus of visit • Decide on venue – either school of mentor/mentoree or neutral venue (eg. MLTAV office – Carlton) • Update wiki as much as possible throughout the year. • To claim CRT for collegiate classroom visit day, update wiki and email me to let me know you have met together

9. Contact Details • Exchange email and phone details with your mentor/ mentoree • Kylie Farmer – kyliefiona@gmail.com • MLTAV – ph: 9349 5759