Linking E-Mails to Curriculum
Connecting to Success does not include a prescriptive curriculum. Instead, the program acknowledges that each teacher will tailor the program to classroom and existing curriculum needs. Teachers are encouraged to be creative in using e-mentoring as an adjunct to existing curriculum.
Teachers should meet with mentors at the outset of the program to talk about how curriculum will be integrated into the program. The degree to which curriculum is a part of the program is up to the teacher. If curriculum is a part of the program, the teacher should communicate with mentors weekly through the listserv to tell them about the week's lesson. The following are some options:
Unstructured
E-mails are purely conversational. Mentors may help with homework or with class assignments if requested but the teacher does not direct this. This option can be linked to curriculum in that students will improve their writing and communication skills through writing and reading e-mails.
Weekly Questions
E-mails are directly linked to classroom curriculum objectives. Each week the teacher notifies mentors through the listserv of a question or topic relevant to the week's curriculum. For example, if the class is reading A Tale of Two Cities, then perhaps the teacher requests that the mentors read along with the class. Then she posts weekly discussion topics related to the book. The Weekly Questions format works for a variety of topics, including Career Readiness.
Project-Based
Either the teacher assigns a project, or the mentee and mentor develop a project (with teacher approval). The weekly e-mails focus in part on planning, development and completion of this project. Some projects that have been used in e-mentoring settings are development of a Web site, development of a Web-based photo album, and writing a report. Some additional ideas are outlining an idea for an invention, writing song lyrics, and developing a career map.
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