Understanding School Culture: Self-Reflection
Context:
Many tutor and mentor programs send volunteers into school settings. For incoming volunteers, working in schools after some time away can be challenging as well as exciting. Like all of us, volunteers have memories of their own school experiences, which, if left unexamined, can affect their present interactions with schools. Asking new tutors and mentors to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs about schools can help build sensitivity and objectivity. This activity is for use by programs orienting new tutors and mentors. It is particularly effective if used in conjunction with Understanding School Culture: Becoming an Effective Border-Crosser.
Goals:
- To encourage tutors and mentors to reflect on their past experiences and current associations with schools
- To build sensitivity toward current realities in education
Activity:
Ask tutors or mentors to spend a few minutes silently reading each of the Self-reflection questions. Ask them to pick a particular question and to discuss their responses either with a partner or in a small group. Debrief as a large group.
Key Questions and Points to Remember:
Our values, beliefs, and past experiences are important parts of who we are–parts that we can't and likely wouldn't want to change. It's important, however, to be conscious of the values, beliefs, and past experiences we bring into our work with schools. This self-awareness can help us respond "in the present" to current realities. For example, a tutor who had a difficult time with math may unknowingly communicate a negative attitude about math to a student. Having a chance to discuss these attitudes, feelings, and experiences can help tutors and mentors respond objectively and sensitively.
As an alternative use of the self-reflection questions, include them in your interviews with prospective volunteers who will work in schools.