Feb. 15, 2016

Student Led conferences begin this week. One common concern that many of you have shared is that you want students to be realistic and accurate with their self reflections.

The only way to promote growth is for students and parents to understand an accurate picture of the student’s performance in the classroom. Growth does not happen for all students at the same rate because everyone does not learn the same way!

When we apply the engineering design process in the classroom, we purposefully teach students that the process is so important and to not give up or get discouraged. I really think student led conferences are the Share phase of the engineering design process and it continues to repeat itself.

Imagine: student curiosity, design challenges & daily “I can” statements

Plan: learning content & student goal setting

Design: student work & formative assessments/data

Improve: remediation/extensions

Share: work samples, report cards, parent and student led conferences

This is engineering at it finest-becoming self regulated learners, who do not give up!!

Feb. 8, 2016

This week I have spoken to many of you about student led conferences. As a reminder, one goal of our Portrait of a Graduate is to grow self­-regulated learners. One way we do that is through goal setting, data collection, reflection and student led conferences. I have found several videos that I wanted to share. These videos are just a glimpse into conversations but are by no means an expectation. I thought by sharing these videos, it will help you process and prompt conversations within your teams.

Here is an example of a kindergarten student sharing his goal notebook and data. The powerful point to me was when the family wrote a goal with their child. Promoting teamwork helps bring awareness and responsibility for the parents too.

This video is a teacher that actually walks the parents through “what to expect” at the student led conference. If the student and parents watched this at the beginning of their
conference, they would know exactly what to do ALONG with a personal touch from YOU!

Jan. 25, 2016

STUDENT LED CONFERENCES

As we are approaching the two half days in February, I know many of you have started brainstorming how your conferences will "look". Since we are all at different levels of implementation of this process, I thought it would be important to review the "why" behind this process and provide some helpful resources.

As we work towards our students becoming “self-regulated leaners”, it is important that we help students have a VOICE as they reflect on their progress through self evaluation. (I realize this process is led by you in the classroom prior to the conferences.) I truly believe this process leads to more student responsibility to help drive their academic progress. The purpose of these conferences is to allow students to highlight their progress and discuss with their parent a plan to reach their next goal.

I have placed a folder called Student-Led-Conference Resources in your grade level PLC folder. You will find two resources that have some great ideas and examples regardless of your grade level. I would like to highlight three things you might find beneficial:

1) parent communication examples to explain the purpose of the conferences

2) a form that allows a parent to write questions or concerns that they have PRIOR to the conference

3) student self evaluations of “Work Habits” and “Social Skills”

To see the resources shared by Tona in last week's staff newsletter, click here. Also, Irene also shared this article with me from a teacher named Melissa Kozerski about her journey of implementing student-led-conferences. Thank you, Irene!!

Please do not get caught up in the details of specific numbers of “student led conferences” required. Focus on the value and impact these conferences will have on your classroom. I would love to brainstorm with you!

January 26, 2015

Parent & Student Led Conferences:

            February is approaching quickly and parent conference time is around the corner.  As I was discussing iStation with another Learning Liaison, she reminded me of this link on the HOME iStation screen. 

  

 

            This link takes you to the Frequently Asked Questions.  There are 4 sections that you will find great information:

            1.  Technical Questions

            2.  Classroom Management

            3.  Logging On, Using Student Program, and Report and Management

            4.  Reports- Under reports #5 “What report is best used in conferences”

Take a look at this and see how you can use this in your classroom to discuss with STUDENTS about their growth in reading.  This may be a great tool to use in student lead confernces as well. 

CALLING ALL BLOGS….I love learning from other teachers.  Please send me the name/link of blogs you read to gain inspiration and ideas.  I want to collect these and share them with the staff.  There will be FREE SONIC drink for each person who submits a BLOG resource to me by 4PM on Friday, January 30^th.