School Partnerships: Richmond Highland Heights Elementary

A mentoring program was designed to teach responsibility and accountability. The program pairs older & younger students with like problems. A 6th grader with some behavioral issues was asked to participate in the program. Each day this student meets with 2 kindergarten boys and asks them about their day. They discuss the good choices and the 'not so good' choices the student has made. At the end of the day, if the kindergarten student has achieved a certain measurable goal, the two of them go to the gym for 10 minutes of reward play time.

Previously, I had been in this 6th grader's class and discussed accountability and credibility. I explained that as mentors for the younger students, it is extremely important that their actions as 6th graders are good examples. After the 6th grader had met with the kindergarten students a few times, I asked him about his experience as a mentor. He told me it was helping him to understand the importance of behaving in a positive way for the younger students. He added that for him to be able to hold them accountable, he has to be accountable for his behavior.

This 6th grader, after learning a valuable lesson as well as teaching that same lesson, is headed in the right direction. What a difference in students when they learn to practice responsibility.