Transitions

Your mentee is starting high school, and so are you! To help with this transition and minimize frustration, here are a few things to consider as your mentoring journey continues..... In most high schools, Seedling does not have a designated school contact to help our mentors connect with their mentees. We rely on the kindness [...]

Supporting and guiding a teen as they grow from childhood to adulthood is a complex task that requires patience, a healthy dose of humor, and lots of love.  What was once thought to be caused by angst, rebelliousness, or sex driven hormones, we are now able to better understand the complexities of adolescent behavior and [...]

Give your mentee opportunities to express his feelings about middle school If your mentee isn’t bringing up the topic but you notice he is more distracted or stressed out than usual, initiate a conversation. Acknowledge the change that is coming and ask open- ended questions to see if anything is concerning him. Listen to fears [...]

Thinking about the New Year and what lies ahead? Your 5th grade mentee might be too as s/he will be entering the 6th grade in 2018! The idea might be both exciting and a little scary for each of you. When compared to the structure and smallness of elementary, middle school will be a whole [...]

For Mentors / Mentees Transitioning to 6th Grade The goal of this activity is to help our mentees discover important information about the middle school they will likely be attending, as well as infuse excitement and a sense of confidence into your 5th grader. Navigate through your mentee’s future middle school’s website to learn about [...]

If you are mentoring an adolescent, you have most likely witnessed, or are about to witness, your mentee’s transition to middle or high school. This significant rite of passage brings a surplus of questions and “what ifs” for both you and your mentee. When asked about moving up, adolescents’ questions reveal their concerns about entering [...]

From Sarah: "Wow, I was so nervous during my first few weeks at middle school. I got so lost on the first day and then I misread my schedule and went to the wrong class! But then I realized that there were a ton of other people just like me who were totally new to [...]

Elementary School Students have one or two teachers that teach every subject, or share subjects. Students typically stay in one or two classrooms all day long. Students have recess. Students attend P.E. in the clothes they come to school wearing. Students have their own desk to keep their belongings. Students have 30 or so minutes [...]

We sincerely hope that every mentoring relationship will be continued next school year. Research tells us that match longevity is key to the lasting benefit of the experience. The fact is, however, we cannot know what events in the life of the mentor or the mentee might make it impossible to see one another again. [...]

General Characteristics Testing limits; a “know-it-all” attitude Vulnerable; emotionally insecure; fear of rejection; mood swings Identification with admired adults Bodies going through physical changes that affect personal appearance Physical Characteristics Very concerned about their appearance; very self conscious about their physical changes May have bad diet and sleep habits and, as a result, low energy [...]

A child’s development is an individual and continual process. The following page outlines typical developmental characteristics of this age group. Keep in mind that some of the youth in the program maybe be “behind” or “advanced” in any of these areas. General Characteristics Eager to learn; easily frustrated; short periods of interest Learn best when [...]

A child’s development is an individual and continual process. The following outlines the typical developmental characteristics of a middle school student. Keep in mind that some of the youth in our program may by “behind” or “advanced” in any of these areas. General Characteristics Testing limits; a “know-it-all” attitude Vulnerable; emotionally insecure; fear of rejection; [...]

A child’s development is an individual and continual process. The following page outlines typical developmental characteristics of this age group. Keep in mind that some of the youth in the program maybe be “behind” or “advanced” in any of these areas. General Characteristics Interested in people; aware of differences; willing to give more to others [...]