Mentor's Manual

90 For the Nex t Generat i on: The Urban Mi n i s t r y I ns t i tute ’ s Mentor Manua l

Holding Fast the Good: Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Leadership Development A major goal of our ministry training is helping our students not to over-react or respond unthinkingly to ideas and viewpoints different from their own, especially those they encounter in their textbooks, or in heated class discussions. In order to help us understand how to train our students in the skills of dialogue and critical thinking, Dr. Davis has written a short but fine essay that every student should read. This essay deals with how we have to handle diversity of thought and opinion in our training. Again, this file is located at www.tumi.org/mentor . Please print a copy for each of your students. Scripture Memory Grading Form In order to fulfill their credit requirements for their courses, the students will need to memorize and self-grade select Scripture passages connected to the course. Students are allowed the rough equivalent of one mistake per verse for full credit. Additionally, they are also allowed the equivalent of two mistakes per verse for one-half credit. More errors than these per verse results in the student receiving no credit for their assignment. (Punctuation and misspellings do NOT count as a mistake.) Your students should grade their own verses, and note on their form their credit amount in order to receive credit for this assignment. There is a sample Scripture Memory Grading Form in the Appendix, and printable forms can be found at www.tumi.org/mentor . Assignment Submission Envelope Students tend to take their work more seriously if we provide opportunity for them to be as responsible for their work as possible. In light of this, we strongly suggest that you purchase 10x14 clasp envelopes and print labels to put on these envelopes that list the assignments they will need to submit for class. The envelope method is an easy way for your students to organize their work and to ensure that they store and turn in every assign- ment at the end of class. Furthermore, this method can help you force the students to manage their own documents, helping you keep in proper order the many papers you will receive to grade at the end of your course. This simple method of students archiving their own assignments throughout the course has proven to be an excellent tool, for student responsibility as well as classroom management.

Preparing Class Paperwork