Advisors Handbook
The PALS (Partners in Active Learning Support) Advisors Handbook is a teacher/advisor guide for implementing the National FFA Mentoring Program, in which high school agriculture students mentor elementary or middle school students to build self-esteem and excitement about school and agriculture. It walks advisors through a nine-step process for starting and running a local PALS program—organizing an advisory committee, planning, recruiting and training FFA members as mentors, identifying mentees, developing activities, obtaining resources, publicizing, evaluating, and celebrating—and includes complete advisory-committee and mentor training sessions with outcomes, timed agendas, activities, and reproducible handouts.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- Improve interpersonal, human relations and leadership skills in elementary/middle school youth and local FFA members.
- Develop the human resource potential of FFA members, elementary/middle school youth, teachers and administrators involved in the project.
- Increase self-concept and self-esteem as a result of relationships between young adult role models and elementary/middle school youth.
- Increase mentor understanding of the principles and fundamentals of the human development process.
- Increase consideration of human development needs of youth and the community at large with increased interaction and relationships between teachers across grade levels and school sites.
- Develop networks between people of all ages who have similar goals, objectives and skills in human development.
- Recognize and become knowledgeable of projects and resources of local, state and federal agencies and institutions involved in youth development.
- Increase awareness of agriculture and environmental science in elementary/middle school youth and the community.
- Grade level
- High School, Elementary, Middle School
- Materials
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- Advisory Committee Workbook and Handouts 1-15
- Mentor Workbook and Handouts 1-24
- Advisory Committee and Mentor PowerPoint slides / projector (transparency or PowerPoint)
- Flip chart paper, markers, masking tape
- Table tags / name tags / tent cards
- Sticky notes, poster board
- Paper, pens/pencils, envelopes
- School Handbook
- PALS Advisory Committee member Certificates
- Various props (hats, sports equipment, dishes, etc.) for skits
- Sponsored by
- Campbell's (Campbell Soup Company)
- Program
- The National FFA Mentoring Program — Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS)