In 2021, I started reaching out to my colleagues from my former elementary school because I wanted to continue to build on the technology experiences that I had been doing in my previous role as an Educational Technology Coach at K-5. I wanted to continue to collaborate and learn with educators who had trusted me to work with their students when sometimes I didn't know what I was doing.
Our first mentoring with 7th or 8th grade and kindergartners started in the spring of 2021 when we still needed to sit 6 feet apart. Using yoga rugs and meeting outside, the kindergarten team was willing to work with me and provide my 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to mentor. This was the start of the mentoring program that our 7th and 8th grade technology students do for our K-5 school.
In the past year, the Infysys Maker grant helped immensely to provide more technology like the Glowforge. While our local Verona Area Educational Foundation provided two different grants to help cover the cost of 3D printing, Infusible Ink, and more. This year we have been continuing to work through both the highs and the lows because when older learners and younger learners connect magic can happen.
Sometimes I've had to slow down and just watch what is happening instead of what I think should be happening. Today was one of those days.... a 7th grade group that has been struggling transformed into the most amazing group of thoughtful and caring mentors. To be able to see the connections and the impact that both the older and younger learner are having on each other's life is truly the "why" of mentoring.
Thank you to Jessica Reed for capturing these moments today and always being willing to navigate this crazy path of collaboration!