Going Up in Dreams and Esteem Cross-Age Mentoring to Promote Leadership Skills in High School–Age Gifted Students

• Published in: Gifted child today magazine Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 18 - 30
• Main Authors: Besnoy, Kevin D., McDaniel, Sara C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Academically Gifted; After School Programs; Alabama; At Risk Students; Cross Age Teaching; Elementary School Students; High School Students; Interpersonal Relationship; Leadership Training; Mentors; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Student Leadership; Training; Alabama; high school; leadership development; cross-age mentoring; gifted programming; gifted students
• ISSN: 1076-2175; 2162-951X
• DOI: 10.1177/1076217515613386

Mentoring programs are an effective way to offer gifted students authentic learning opportunities. Although there are many mentoring models, the fundamental relationship between mentor and mentee has remained consistent throughout the ages. One mentoring model that has recently grown in popularity is the cross-age mentoring model. In this model, the mentor is an older student who is paired with a younger elementary or middle school–age mentee. This article describes the effectiveness of the Crimson G.U.I.D.E. (Going Up In Dreams and Esteem) Program. The Crimson G.U.I.D.E. Program utilized the cross-age mentoring model by matching gifted high school students with struggling elementary school students in a structured after-school mentoring program. The program provided gifted high school students an opportunity to develop the leadership skills necessary for lifelong success. Suggestions for replicating this mentoring program are offered.