Mentoring is a Verb Strategies for Improving College and Career Readiness

This accessible guide offers school leaders a wealth of strategies to foster a culture where educators engage with young people to encourage college readiness and career success. Based in research and best practices, Mentoring is a Verb explains how to build effective mentoring programs as well as encourage educators to individually mentor students. Olwell breaks down the key elements it takes to forge lasting relationships with students and addresses ways to connect to at-risk students. Packed with actionable steps, this book gives you the tools to help your students set high expectations and goals, recognize and address barriers to success, plan for the future, and reach their post-graduation aspirations.

Chapter 1: Introduction: Mentoring young people toward post-secondary success Part 1: What is Mentoring? Chapter 2: What does it mean to be a mentor? Chapter 3: What mentoring can and cannot do Chapter 4: Setting up programs and relationships the right way Section 2: What are mentors up against? Chapter 5: Barriers and limits to mentoring Chapter 6: Starting at "Ground Zero:" The issues young men face Chapter 7: "You Gotta Push:" Mentoring young women to success Part 2: Becoming a Mentor Chapter 8: Setting and keeping high expectations Chapter 9: Asking questions to clarify goals Chapter 10: Connecting to parents and families Part 3: Nuts and Bolts of Post-Secondary Success Chapter 11: Mapping out a plan with a mentee Chapter 12: Exposure to college options and choices Chapter 13: Nuts and bolts of college application Chapter 14: Running the Hurdles: Financial Aid and Scholarships Chapter 15: When College is not the Right Choice Right Now Part 4: Mentoring over the Long Haul Chapter 16: Hang in there! Mentoring Through Crises in Young Peoples’ Lives Chapter 17: When Mentoring Relationships Change Part 5: Building Sustainable Programs Chapter 18: How to Know You are Making a Difference Chapter 19: Get the word out! Marketing Mentoring Programs Chapter 20: Finding Resources To Sustain Mentoring Programs

Russ Olwell is Director of the Institute for the Study of Children, Families, and Communities and Professor of History at Eastern Michigan University, USA. He has worked in summer programs, as a middle school teacher, and as Director of EMU GEAR UP, a pre-college program that sent more than 600 high school students in low-income districts to college.