The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is to transform the lives of children through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring, well trained volunteers.
Course Descriptions
Mentoring 411
This self-study guide sets a foundation for the mentoring relationship by examining the mentor’s role in a child’s life and the importance of relationships in the child’s growth and development. Mentors become familiar with and practice basic communication skills that promote relationship building with their mentees.Mentors will also receive a self-study guide regarding abuse and neglect.
Safety Awareness for Bigs
This course will cover abuse and neglect issues in greater depth than the self-study guide provided in Mentoring 101. Mentors will learn the definitions of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and different kind of neglect. They will also learn some physical and behavioral indicators of neglect of which to be aware, and indicators by age-group (i.e. differences in indicators for younger vs. older children, etc.).
Planning Activities with Littles
Mentors will explore the basic developmental stages of children and adolescents, as well as age-based behavior characteristics. Come and learn how to make sure that the outings and activities planned for your mentee are what the child needs: fun, educational, age-appropriate, etc.
Mentoring Sexually Developing Youth
Mentors will explore current issues and trends involving adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors. Learn how to use effective communication techniques to promote discussions about sexual-risk taking behavior. Mentors are introduced and given the opportunity to practice these techniques.
The Magic of Tutoring
Mentors are introduced to techniques for effectively tutoring youth, including learning styles that identify best instructional methods. Practice activities give mentors an opportunity to learn their own styles and how to teach a child to adapt to their school's learning environment.
Communication
This session covers the basics of effective communication with mentees and children being tutored ("tutees"). Mentors and tutors will learn how to draw a child out, make the child feel listened to, communicate their regard and liking to the child, and encourage the child appropriately.
