Providing students with opportunities to use their own voice for reflection on their academic progress is essential to the development of a healthy school environment. When given voice during the school day, students feel empowered and school becomes more of a team effort than a what the teacher says goes atmosphere. Students also need the opportunity to continue that reflection with those in their home as well. A great way for this to happen is through student-led conferences.
What Should a Student-led Conference Look Like?
Traditional conferences have the parent on one side and the teacher on the other. The teacher provides perspective to the parent about the progress of the student and the parent ask questions of the teacher about their student's progress. The student does not get a voice in the conversation until the parent gets home, and usually that is when the conversation is negative. Why is the student not involved from the beginning?
Student-led conferences provide students that opportunity. In a student-led conference, the learner is the one guiding the conversation with their parent. Preparation for the conference starts at the beginning of the year when the student sets a goal for him/herself. Having students think about their strengths and opportunities at the beginning of the year helps to build an understanding of where he/she has has trouble in the past. The student can then build a SMART goal to help guide them through their educational journey leading up to conference time. Students also need to be mindful of the growth they are making academically as well. Tracking their pre- and post assessment data against the learning targets is also important. Students need to fully understand why it is they are receiving the marks they are.
For students to understand their progress through the school year, teachers and other educators need to provide time for reflection on the progress students are making toward their SMART goal. Providing effective feedback to students throughout the year and allowing them the opportunity to keep track of their progress in school give students ownership of learning and allow for them to be aware of their growth from the beginning of the year. Then, when it comes time for conferences, students have the opportunity to me the leaders of the conversation, instead of a bystander in discussion. Parents and teachers are part still play a role in the exchange, but the student is given a stronger voice in the process.
Student-led conferences provide students that opportunity. In a student-led conference, the learner is the one guiding the conversation with their parent. Preparation for the conference starts at the beginning of the year when the student sets a goal for him/herself. Having students think about their strengths and opportunities at the beginning of the year helps to build an understanding of where he/she has has trouble in the past. The student can then build a SMART goal to help guide them through their educational journey leading up to conference time. Students also need to be mindful of the growth they are making academically as well. Tracking their pre- and post assessment data against the learning targets is also important. Students need to fully understand why it is they are receiving the marks they are.
For students to understand their progress through the school year, teachers and other educators need to provide time for reflection on the progress students are making toward their SMART goal. Providing effective feedback to students throughout the year and allowing them the opportunity to keep track of their progress in school give students ownership of learning and allow for them to be aware of their growth from the beginning of the year. Then, when it comes time for conferences, students have the opportunity to me the leaders of the conversation, instead of a bystander in discussion. Parents and teachers are part still play a role in the exchange, but the student is given a stronger voice in the process.
Why Student-led Conferences?
When making a transition from the traditional to more progressive educational strategies, many people will ask "Why?" Aren't conferences meant to be for teachers to inform parents of what their student is doing (or in some cases is not doing) in their class? The answer: Yes, in theory. Conferences provide time for teachers to bring parents in to be a greater part of their student's education. They give teachers a chance to provide clarity to the parent about the progress their student is making and how their student can improve. But, student-led conferences do not take this opportunity away.
With student-led conferences, the conversation is shifted from just the adults in the room and includes the person with the greatest impact on their learning: the student. According to Donald G. Hackmann, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University in an ERIC Digest, "Student-Led Conferences at the Middle Level," student-led conferences give students greater control of their academics and allow for a stronger personal responsibility of their academic performance. With students involved, the conversation becomes more honest between all parties and provides students with the opportunity to grow their communication skills.
Student-led conferences also have other benefits. Getting parents into the school building is often a struggle because of the schedules many families have. Hackmann states that parents are more likely to attend student-led conferences versus the traditional form where it is just teacher and parent. Students are also more likely to be develop stronger organizational skills because they are responsible for taking ownership of their learning. They must provide evidence to support their learning during the conference, so students are more inclined to maintain a system to keep track of their documentation. This may need to be heavily modeled at the beginning of the year, but giving students this tool will pay dividends at the end of the year.
Providing students with the opportunity to advocate for themselves in their academic journey is a powerful tool. Student-led conferences are a great way to give them that power. With student-led conferences, students are afforded the opportunity to build themselves up and provide insight into their progress that parents and teachers cannot provide. That is what holding conferences should truly be about.
With student-led conferences, the conversation is shifted from just the adults in the room and includes the person with the greatest impact on their learning: the student. According to Donald G. Hackmann, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University in an ERIC Digest, "Student-Led Conferences at the Middle Level," student-led conferences give students greater control of their academics and allow for a stronger personal responsibility of their academic performance. With students involved, the conversation becomes more honest between all parties and provides students with the opportunity to grow their communication skills.
Student-led conferences also have other benefits. Getting parents into the school building is often a struggle because of the schedules many families have. Hackmann states that parents are more likely to attend student-led conferences versus the traditional form where it is just teacher and parent. Students are also more likely to be develop stronger organizational skills because they are responsible for taking ownership of their learning. They must provide evidence to support their learning during the conference, so students are more inclined to maintain a system to keep track of their documentation. This may need to be heavily modeled at the beginning of the year, but giving students this tool will pay dividends at the end of the year.
Providing students with the opportunity to advocate for themselves in their academic journey is a powerful tool. Student-led conferences are a great way to give them that power. With student-led conferences, students are afforded the opportunity to build themselves up and provide insight into their progress that parents and teachers cannot provide. That is what holding conferences should truly be about.