USDA - APHIS

Partnership in Education - Dos and Don'ts for Mentors and Tutors

Do

Get your supervisor's approval and sustained commitment.
Keep your supervisor informed of your plans, and activities.
Observe your scheduled days/times and stay within the approved time frame, i.e., two hours per week.
Always notify your assigned student(s), school liaison and/or agency liaison (depending on the arrangement) in advance if you can't visit on your designated day or time.
Listen carefully and gain the confidence and respect of your student(s).
Be consistent, on time and truthful.
Avoid unrealistic expectations.
Select schools that are close to the work site or on the normal travel route to/from the office so that travel time is kept to a minimum and time with the student(s) is maximized.
Let the agency liaison know if you can no longer fulfill your commitment to the student and explain to the student with a close-out session.

Don't

Do not judge or preach to the student, or try to take the place of parents, guardians, or school officials.
Do not loan money to the student or buy anything unless it's a part of some reward system that you have established.
Do not make promises you can not keep because many of these students have already faced a lifetime of disappointment. Again, if you can no longer fulfill your commitment to the student, explain why to the student with a close-out session and inform the Agency liaison.
Do not volunteer at this time if there is any doubt about your ability to perform in the required manner.
Do not take students out of major classes (e.g., math, English, science, etc.) for outside activities you have planned, without expressed approval and support of the teachers involved.

Do not try to correct the educational system or change the particular school. You are a resource; you are not there to take over, judge or correct.