Mentorship
Making a difference one relationship at a time INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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WHAT IS MENTORSHIP? WHY MENTORSHIP MATTERS THE SCIENCE OF MENTORING EMPATHY: THE HEART OF MENTORING WHERE ARE YOU AS A PEER MENTOR? HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PEER MENTOR ACTIVITIES FOR PEER MENTORS AND MENTEES LOOKING FORWARD REFLECTION
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Middle School Grades 6 to 8
Making a difference one relationship at a time
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Mentorship
Making a difference one relationship at a time
MIddle School Grades 6 to 8 Middle
START HERE
What is Mentorship? Peer mentorship is a relationship where a student helps another student navigate school, build confidence, and develop skills. As a peer mentor, you become a trusted guide, someone who understands what it feels like to be a middle school student because you are one. Mentoring is not about being perfect or having all the answers. It is about showing up, listening, and helping someone else find their way. Whether you are helping a younger student adjust to middle school, supporting a classmate through a difficult time, or encouraging someone to try something new, mentorship creates real connection.
Making a difference one relationship at a time
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THE MOST IMPORTANT PAGE
Why Mentorship Matters 1
Builds self-esteem: Knowing someone believes in you makes a real difference.
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Creates belonging: A good mentoring relationship helps students feel part of the school community.
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Develops character: Mentoring teaches responsibility, empathy, and leadership.
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WHY IT MATTERS
The Science of Mentoring Your brain is still developing as a middle school student. In fact, the parts of your brain that help you understand other people's feelings are growing right now. When you are a mentor, you exercise these developing brain systems every time you listen to someone, imagine how they might be feeling, and think about what advice or support they need.
Making a difference one relationship at a time
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THE SCIENCE OF CONNECTION
Empathy: The Heart of Mentoring Empathy has two parts. Affective empathy is feeling what someone else feels. Cognitive empathy is understanding their perspective even if you have not had the same experience. Good mentors use both. When your mentee is stressed about a test, you might remember how you felt before a test and feel their worry with them (affective empathy). You also think about what worries them specifically and what might help (cognitive empathy). Together, these two kinds of empathy let you be a real support.
Research shows
Adolescents who are embedded in supportive social environments develop stronger empathy skills as they age. Your role as a mentor helps both you and your mentee grow.
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CHECK YOURSELF
Where Are You as a Peer Mentor? Before you mentor others, take time to think about yourself. Good mentors know their own strengths and challenges. Read each statement and reflect on where you stand.
Select the number that matches how you feel:
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Not really like me
Sometimes like me
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Often like me
Very much like me
I can tell when someone is feeling sad, angry, or scared even without them saying it. I can keep other people's secrets and information private. I stay calm when someone is upset or frustrated. I try to see situations from other people's point of view.
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STORY 1
Meet Jordan: A Peer Mentor J
ordan is an eighth grader who volunteered to be a peer mentor for a sixth grader named Casey. Casey just moved to the district and was nervous about starting at a new school. "At first, I was not sure what to do," says Jordan. "I thought I had to solve all of Casey's problems. But then I realized that Casey just needed someone to talk to and someone who believed she would be okay. We walk to class together some days. I show her how to find her classes. When she was worried about trying out for soccer, I told her about when I was nervous trying something new and how it ended up being great. I could not have predicted how much our friendship would mean to both of us." Jordan learned something important: mentoring is not about being perfect. It is about being present, listening, and genuinely caring about someone's wellbeing.
YOUR STORY How might you be like Jordan? What strengths do you already have that would make you a good mentor? Mentorship 6
VOICES ON MENTORING "When students mentor each other, they develop empathy and responsibility. Plus, I see mentees becoming more confident and engaged in school. Peer mentors often tell me they learned just as much from mentoring as their mentees did." Ms. Lin, 7th Grade English Teacher "Having Jordan as a mentor made me feel like I belonged here. She listened without judging. She made the hard parts of sixth grade feel manageable." Casey, 6th Grade Mentee
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FOUR WAYS TO BUILD TRUST
How to be an Effective Peer Mentor LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK Listening is your most powerful tool. When your mentee shares something, resist the urge to immediately solve it or share your own story. Instead, ask questions. " What happened next?" "How did that make you feel?" "What do you think you might do?" Your mentee will often find their own answers when you give them the space to think.
Ask Questions, Not Answers There is a difference between asking questions that open up conversation and questions that seem like you are interrogating someone. "Tell me what is going on" works better than "Why did you do that?" Open questions help your mentee feel heard, not judged.
Recognize Strengths Everyone has strengths. Part of your job as a mentor is helping your mentee see their own. When they do something well or face a challenge with courage, name it. "I noticed you kept trying even when it was hard. That takes strength."
Be Consistent Show up. If you say you will meet your mentee on Wednesdays after class, be there. Consistency builds trust. It tells your mentee that they matter and that you are reliable.
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LEARN BY DOING
Activities for Peer Mentors and Mentees Activity 1: Strength Spotting (10-15 minutes) What to do: ~ You and your mentee each write down
one strength you see in the other person.
~ Share what you wrote and explain why
you think that is a strength.
Why this matters Recognizing strengths builds confidence and connection. Your mentee will remember that you saw the best in them.
Activity 2: Story Sharing (15-20 minutes) What to do: ~ Think of a time when you faced
a challenge or felt nervous about something new.
~ Tell your mentee the story. Explain
what happened, how you felt, and what you learned.
Why this matters When you share your own challenges, your mentee learns that struggling is normal. They see that you are human and relatable, which builds trust.
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THE BIG IDEA
Looking Forward Mentorship is one of the most meaningful things you can do. It helps someone else feel seen and supported. It also helps you grow as a person. You will learn about yourself. You will develop empathy, patience, and leadership. You will make a real difference in someone else's life. As you move through middle school and beyond, carry these lessons with you. Be the person who listens. Be the person who sees someone's strength when they cannot see it themselves. Be the person who shows up and shows care.
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BEFORE YOU CLOSE THIS
Reflection QUESTION 1 What did you learn about mentorship that surprised you?
QUESTION 2 What strengths do you bring to a mentoring relationship?
QUESTION 3 How will you apply mentorship skills beyond the mentoring program?
HOW READY DO YOU FEEL TO PRACTICE MENTORSHIP?
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Ready
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Almost
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Getting there
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Working on it
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Just starting
You have what it takes to be a great mentor. Making a difference one relationship at a time
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MENTORSHIP Character Under Construction
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