CURRICULUM RESOURCES

 

The Aboriginal Peer Mentoring Program can be used as part of the Aboriginal Perspectives Fourth R or as a stand alone program. The peer mentoring program connects younger secondary students with peer mentors from older grades. This link with an older student helps smooth the transition from elementary to secondary school for the younger individual, and connects two people with similar interests and backgrounds. The mentors are in turn mentored by a member of the community, who comes into the school several times per semester to engage the students in cultural teachings. Internal school support is required. In the pilot schools, this support has been provided by the First Nations Counsellors.

Uniting Our Nations Peer Mentoring Program: Manual for mentors This manual was developed to support training and mentoring process for the mentors. It provides an overview to the program, and background and training information (including roles of mentors and mentees, a cultural perspective on mentoring, relationship-building skills, confidentiality and limits, etc.). Specific sessions are outlined for the program, including those that involve an adult community mentor. Additional mentoring pair or group activities are provided. Uniting out Nations Peer Mentoring Program: Implementation manual This manual was designed to assist administrators and educators in implementing the program in their schools. It includes an overview based on frequently asked questions and a five phase plan to implementing the program. These phases include identifying and recruiting key partners, developing an action plan, training your mentors, implementing the program, and completing and evaluating the program. Within these phases there are 10 steps for which sample agendas, templates, and activities are provided. Our recommendation is to purchase the Implementation Manual for whomever is running the program, and then Peer Mentor Manuals for each of the Peer Mentors in your program.

 

The peer mentoring program is currently in its third round of piloting at three urban schools in the Thames Valley District School Board in Southwestern Ontario. Preliminary feedback from students, First Nations Counsellors, school administrators, and community members has been very positive. There is a manual available that is used for training and to support the mentors.

Two Youth Liaison Coordinators were hired by the Fourth R with funds accessed through the Aboriginal Education Office of the Ministry of Education, Community Outreach Project Grant. This position was shared by two Aboriginal post-secondary students, one of whom was a graduate of numerous Fourth R Aboriginal initiatives including the Peer Mentoring Program. This individual assisted with the operation of the Peer Mentoring Program by visiting the schools to provide additional support to students and the First Nations counsellor, as well as to gain feedback about the program.

Manuals have been created to assist with delivering the program. There is an Implementation manual for the facilitator, plus a manual for the Peer Mentors. When implementing the program, it is best to have a manual for each peer mentor.

 

Secondary school student peer mentors and peer mentees participating in the Fourth R Peer Mentor Program for Aboriginal Youth commented on their experience and program resources: “We get along great and like to just hang out and we talk about all sorts of different stuff.” (Peer Mentee) “Its fun to eat our lunch together and talk about school.” (Peer Mentor) “The manual has helped me many times while I’m mentoring and unsure what to do.” (Peer Mentor)

 

PRICING FOR ABORIGINAL PEER MENTORING PROGRAM

• Peer Mentoring Manual.........................................$60.00
• Peer Mentoring Implementation Manual...........$65.00