Establishing a Mentoring Culture in Early Childhood Practice

Since 1999, the Partners In Practice group has been developing two new and exciting resources for mentoring in early childhood practice. After having developed the Partners In Practice Mentoring Model (PIPMM), described in the publication, Partners In Practice Mentoring Model, reflection, caring and sharing (1999), the Partners have focussed on a tool that facilitates the incorporation of the model into two areas of early childhood practice. The two areas are the early childhood care organization, and the field practice component of early childhood studies programs. This research and development project was made possible through funding from the Child Care Visions Program of the Child, Family and Community Division of the Social Development Directorate, of Human Resources Development Canada.

An organization’s workbook , Partners In Practice Mentoring Model in Early Childhood Care Organizations , adapted the field practice workbook to incorporate mentoring into the culture of early childhood care centres and organizations. This workbook was piloted at A Child’s World (formerly Port Colbourne Co-op) in the Niagara Region of Ontario.

Both workbooks take a community based development approach to planning. Workbook users are taken through a process that uses the Partners In Practice Mentoring Model (PIPMM) to compare the aspects of their program (organizations/centres and/or field studies component of ECS programs) that are present, in process of being developed, and need to be developed to successfully incorporate mentoring. The programs identify where they want to go with mentoring by exploring their vision and values and the fit with the vision and values of the PIPMM. They do a situation audit of their program looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and barriers that are present and will challenge and enhance mentoring in their program. An implementation plan is developed that utilizes the vision and values, and situation audit. The plan includes plans for programs and services; human resources; communications, public relations and partnerships; transitions; and finances and budgets. Monitoring, feedback and evaluation vehicles are developed for continuous improvement and learning in relation to mentoring in the program. Both workbooks will be available January 2002.

The Partners In Practice Mentoring Model (PIPMM) defines mentoring as a relationship where one member has expertise that the other wants to develop. They form a mentoring relationship to transfer the skills and knowledge. The quality of the mentoring relationship is affected by the communication between the members of the mentoring pair. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator ^® (MBTI ^® ) is used to match the members of the pairs, based on the preferred communication styles of each member in the mentoring pair. When communication styles are complimentary, relationship building and shared reflective thinking is facilitated and the time required to initially develop healthy communication is minimized.

The PIP Mentoring Pair Matching Tool simplifies the matching process for both students and practitioners. The MBTI of mentoring pair members are inputted to the PIPMM database along with up to six other variables identified by the program. Matches are performed first on compatible communication styles and then on the other variables. The tool is particularly valuable with matching students with practice teaching staff.

These new editions of resources join two other resources from the Partners In Practice Group, the publication The Partners In Practice Mentoring Model: Reflection, Caring and Sharing and the Pip Net Early Childhood Mentoring Web Site.

The Partners In Practice Mentoring Model: Reflection, Caring and Sharing describes the PIP Mentoring Model (figure 1) in detail with chapters on the mentoring relationship, guiding principles, tools and strategies for the mentoring relationship, and a community based development approach for implementing the PIP Mentoring model. Included is a survey of mentoring initiatives across Canada conducted in 1998.

The PIP Net Early Childhood Web Site <www.partnersinpractice.org> offers early childhood practitioners with an opportunity to talk with another early childhood practitioner about the dreams and realities of their work; an opportunity to mentor and be mentored; and information and skills regarding mentoring in early childhood practice. A member section includes training for mentoring pairs and mentors, bulletin board and dialogues journals to share within a mentoring pair.

Partners In Practice is a national non-profit organization with a mandate to promote mentoring throughout early childhood practice. The Partners, (Board of Directors), are:

The partners bring a balance of theory and application experience to its projects, and serve as its principle researchers.

The objectives of Partners In Practice are:

• To promote mentoring in early childhood practice;
• To provide information, support and resources which will encourage quality mentoring in early childhood practice;
• To provide a forum for dialogue related to mentoring in early childhood practice;
• To provide a financially viable organization to carry out these objectives.