Several research studies, spanning nearly 15 years, have illustrated the significant role that peers play not only in forming supportive networks, but also in enhancing learning and personal development.
Peer-to-peer mentorship programmes can greatly help in the transition from primary school to secondary school life for students. When conducted on school grounds in full view of teachers and others in the school community, peer mentorship programmes also provide students with a trusting environment for personal growth.
Once it has been determined that a peer mentoring programme is ideal for your school, you can follow these important steps to help in building a successful initiative.
Recruit, screen and select
First you need to set the criteria for accepting the right participants into your programme. Criteria should be aligned with the goals of the programme. For example, if the aim is to help students who are struggling academically, grades and performance will be used to screen both mentors and mentees.
Perhaps most important is to be sure to recruit from a wide range and cross-section of the student cohort. This reduces any stigma associated with being part of the programme.
Referrals for youth participation should be from a range of teachers, guidance counsellors, other team members and parents. Implementing an array of match activities will ensure the best possible peer matches. Hold a series of recruitment events so as many students as possible have an opportunity to participate.
When recruiting for a secondary school programme, it is also important to look for participants with a high level of “social interest”. This is generally indicated by a positive attitude, optimism, genuine desire to be helpful, and empathy. You may include past experience in a helping role as one of your criteria, or seek this information through teacher, parent or counsellor recommendation.
Finally, ensure that parent or guardian permission is granted before students participate.
Effectively market the programme
Successful peer-to-peer mentoring programmes are well marketed in the school to reach the largest number of potential participants.
Consider advertising your programme by hanging posters or handing out flyers around school. You can also take advantage of social media by sending a Facebook group invitation to staff and students explaining all the important points. This will give you more space to share more details than just a flyer hanging on the wall.
Encourage teachers to make class announcements and also see if you can get the programme announcement in the school newspaper and any parent communications. Be sure all communications have a clear call to action so it is easy for interested students to learn more.
Train participants for success
Mentors may benefit from some special tutor training, especially if the programme has specific goals, such as helping raise overall student body academics.
Your peer-to-peer mentorship programme should have an assigned coordinator who conducts all of the training. By having one main point person who is responsible, training can be most effectively administered. Make sure you have resources for this coordinator both at the outset as well as later on to ensure the programme’s success.
It is a good idea to work with teachers to develop or adapt training for peer mentors.
The way you train young people to be mentors, as well as what topics you cover, will need to take into account how young people interact with one another and what peer mentors can do to keep the mentoring relationship on track.
There are two broad areas that young people will need training in – programme orientation and guidelines, and skills for the mentoring relationship.
It is a good idea to break training into several shorter sessions since most secondary school students are not developmentally ready for a full-day training session.
At a minimum, initial training should cover an introduction to the peer mentoring programme and basic communication topics that will give mentors practical skills right away as their relationships get started. The remaining skill development topics can then be covered throughout the school year, ideally on a preset schedule (monthly or bi-monthly, etc).
Listening and communication skills should be an important part of the training programme. Providing peer mentors with a solid foundation in communication skills is essential. Training peer mentors on skills such as focused listening, asking open-ended questions, paraphrasing for meaning, non-judgemental responding, and reflecting, can help mentors get to know their mentee better and establish a strong relationship.
Selecting the right activities
There are three main varieties of development activity. Whether they are academic, for personal growth, or purely fun, the goals you have set for the programme should be reflected in which activities you choose. Be mindful of your school’s resources when planning and always think of how community groups can provide your mentoring programme with unique opportunities to gain a wide variety of development experiences.
Academic activities such as helping with homework and studying for tests are common activities for peer mentoring groups. They have the benefit of providing an alternate environment for study, which can greatly enhance some pupils’ capacity to learn.
Other activities might include group research, which can be enhanced by visiting museums or doing field trips. Academic activities like these can incorporate personal growth development, as well purely being fun, giving them huge learning potential.
Personal growth activities lend towards social and moral development. These are chosen for students who find it challenging to integrate with their current peers, and are particularly helpful in reducing traumatic behaviour that can put stress on a pupil’s life.
Skills such as confidence, self-esteem, communication and anger-management can be easier to develop through peer mentoring than other traditional techniques. Furthermore, it can help students to engage with conflicts in their lives, such as a parent or family issues, bullying, peer pressure and health issues.
Finally, there are the fun activities. These are vital to the development of a student’s social and mental wellbeing. Often the strongest bonds between mentor and mentee can grow from simple, carefree activities, sometimes outside of the overbearing structure of school. They let students realise that they all share a common ground, and helps teach them vital communication skills.
Often teachers are unable to act as a friend, or a pupil is unwilling to engage them in that way, mentor programmes help break down that boundary, and can provide a unique support system where others may have been unable to.
Peer mentoring programmes can be labour intensive, but the rewards for the school and the students are great when implemented effectively.
- Keir McDonald is CEO and founder of EduCare, an online training company that specialises in child protection, exploitation and online safety, and bullying and child neglect.