Welcome to my first podcast called “Do what’s best for kids!!” This conversation will focus on putting kids first, and being in touch with their needs at both home and at school. In my first episode, we will discuss the importance of peer mentoring. I created a peer mentoring program at my school to support my ELL students. It is very challenging to come to a new country, new school, new classroom, new friends…you get the picture. Creating a peer-mentoring program provides opportunities for children to share their feelings, thoughts, and concerns with their fellow peers in their home language. Students learn from each other. They build relationships with their peer mentor and become comfortable reaching out in their school community. The key to successful children begins with creating a foundation of security and confidence. Benefits of Peer Mentoring:They become part of something. Giving younger children access to older children not only helps the younger ones but also provides older students with leadership opportunities as peer mentors. Younger Students - In addition to becoming part of something, the younger students learn from the older students. The mentors teach the students about the school and the rules. This is especially important if they are from another country and the expectations surrounding school are completely different. The mentors help the new students to ease into a very new and different culture. The mentor students also work on basic reading and math skills with the newcomer students. Very often our new students have not had much formal education. The mentor students help to teach them things they have missed and also reinforce the importance of education. This is a new value for some kids. Older Students - I believe the benefits of a peer mentoring program are equal if not greater to the mentor. The mentor students grow as people. Even though they are 9 and 10 years old, they take their responsibility seriously. Helping other students is a very important job. Sometimes they are the only person in the building that speaks the same language as a new student which makes that 15 minute block very important! Besides providing opportunities for children to build relationships, peer mentoring programs also teach skills, like kindness, listening, and compassion. My mentor students volunteer their recess time to participate in the program. Creating a peer mentoring program in your school does not need to be difficult. Start with a few students who just need more. The program should be voluntary and seen as a reward for being a good student. We are all so busy at home, work, and school. It is hard to remember to take the time to step back and ask, “Is this what’s best for kids?” Ask it often. They are only little for a short time before the window closes.