Mentoring is a Verb

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.

• Chapter 1: Introduction: Mentoring young people toward post-secondary successPart 1: What is Mentoring?Chapter 2: What does it mean to be a mentor?Chapter 3: What mentoring can and cannot doChapter 4: Setting up programs and relationships the right waySection 2: What are mentors up against?Chapter 5: Barriers and limits to mentoringChapter 6: Starting at "Ground Zero:" The issues young men faceChapter 7: "You Gotta Push:" Mentoring young women to successPart 2: Becoming a MentorChapter 8: Setting and keeping high expectationsChapter 9: Asking questions to clarify goalsChapter 10: Connecting to parents and familiesPart 3: Nuts and Bolts of Post-Secondary SuccessChapter 11: Mapping out a plan with a menteeChapter 12: Exposure to college options and choicesChapter 13: Nuts and bolts of college applicationChapter 14: Running the Hurdles: Financial Aid and ScholarshipsChapter 15: When College is not the Right Choice Right NowPart 4: Mentoring over the Long HaulChapter 16: Hang in there! Mentoring Through Crises in Young Peoples’ LivesChapter 17: When Mentoring Relationships ChangePart 5: Building Sustainable ProgramsChapter 18: How to Know You are Making a DifferenceChapter 19: Get the word out! Marketing Mentoring ProgramsChapter 20: Finding Resources To Sustain Mentoring Programs

"Mentoring is a Verb provides a thoughtful, straightforward approach to working with youth. Olwell’s understanding and compassion is evident in the ‘real-world’ descriptions of the obstacles faced, as well in as strategies to address them. This book emphasizes the importance of helping young people engage/re-engage with and move toward valuing their education. I am excited to use this book to lend structure and greater intention to my experience in the training of our peer and professional mentors."-Mark A. Jackson, Director of APEX Scholars, Wayne State University"As the knowledge economy continues to grow and the options for post-secondary education flourish in the United States, it is increasingly critical that educators have strong resources to guide their thinking. Preparing young students for jobs that have not yet been created requires informed educators to mentor and guide students for the challenges they will face in the post-secondary setting. This is an active process that we must engage students in, and this resource is critical to educators providing young people with an informed response to their needs."--Richard Vandermolen, Principal of Central High School, MI"Mentoring is a Verb provides practical, hands-on, thought-provoking activities that will enhance any mentorship program. The reflection questions throughout the chapters help you look at your own hang-ups before having a conversation with the mentee."--Nicolette Lesniak, MiddleWeb, middleweb.com