Beginning teacher mentor

Reflection on My First Year as a Mentor

This year marked my first experience as a mentor, and guiding Ngapipi through her journey as a beginning teacher has been both challenging and rewarding. As a mentor, I had to provide support in planning lessons, understanding the curriculum, and navigating classroom management while also fostering her confidence and independence as an educator.

Being new to this role, I initially struggled with knowing how much guidance to give versus when to step back and let Ngapipi take the lead. Finding this balance was a learning curve for me. To overcome this, I focused on maintaining open communication, ensuring regular check-ins where she could share her thoughts, challenges, and successes. These discussions helped me tailor my support to her specific needs, whether providing resources, modelling lessons, or simply offering encouragement.

One area I found particularly challenging was managing my time effectively. Balancing my teaching responsibilities with the demands of mentoring required careful planning. I created a structured schedule for mentoring sessions and ensured that these were productive and focused. This approach not only helped me manage my workload but also made sure Ngapipi received consistent and meaningful support.

Looking back, I realize there are ways I could better support her in the future. For example, I could introduce more opportunities for her to observe other teachers, gain feedback from multiple perspectives, and reflect on different teaching approaches. I also want to encourage her to set clear professional goals and work with her to create a roadmap for achieving them.

Mentoring for the first time has been a significant learning experience for me. It has deepened my understanding of leadership, communication, and the importance of patience and empathy. Watching Ngapipi grow in her role has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to her journey as an educator.