1. Student-Led Conferences (Simultaneous Conferences with Multiple Families)
Text Reference:
Implementing Student-Led Conferences
Jane M. Bailey and Thomas R. Guskey

2. Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey
Essential Questions?
What is the purpose of traditional parent-teacher conferences?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of these conferences?
Whose work is being discussed at these meetings?
Who is discussing this work?
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

3. Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey
Essential Questions
Are traditional Parent-Teacher Conferences outdated? (Same as when you were a child?)
Is there a better way to communicate with families at conferences? (Who do you think the families would prefer to hear from—their child or the teacher?)
Can we increase student responsibility for learning? (Is responsibility related to motivation?)
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

4. What are Student-Led Conferences?
A conference with the family in which the student leads a
discussion of his/her work and a review of his/her
portfolio.
The classroom teacher goes from being the leader of the conference to becoming a facilitator
Student goes from non-participant or passive observer to leader of conference
Families become more actively engaged in discussions with their child rather than the teacher
Support teachers go from non-participant to making sure that work samples are included in portfolio and available for conferences
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

5. Why Student-Led Conferences?
Benefits
Requires students to evaluate and reflect upon their work on a regular basis and identify what they do and do not understand about a given subject.
Facilitates students taking more responsibility for THEIR OWN LEARNING.
Helps students connect relevance of daily work and contributes to their metacognitive growth.
Allows for “individual voice” for students.
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

6. Why Student-Led Conferences?
Benefits:
Provides structure for goal setting and attainment.
Allows students to learn new skills.
Provides an opportunity for parents to view their child’s work and understand the students’ progress in an effective and direct manner.
Parents are more inclined to attend a student-led conference.
Changes climate of school and perceptions by families-can become a way of celebrating students and the school.
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

7. Changing Roles Student-Led Conferences
The teacher’s role
Teachers become facilitators as students lead their families through discussions about their progress and learning.
Teachers are responsible for organizing the conference environment. This includes
Scheduling
Guiding portfolio collection
Rehearsing with the students
Arranging space for meetings
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

8. Changing Roles Student-Led Conferences
The student’s role
Student’s role changes from passive observer to one of leader.
Student is the key person responsible for
Identifying strengths and learning needs
Reflecting on collection of evidence to document progress
Inviting parents and scheduling
Role-playing and rehearsing
Preparing physical space for family at meeting
Taking home pertinent information for family
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

9. Changing Roles Student-Led Conferences
The family’s role
Families become partners in learning.
Families’ responsibilities include
Providing reinforcement, encouragement & praise
Asking probing questions
Listening and spending time with their child
Seeing what school is like through the “eyes of their child”
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

10. Changing Roles Student-Led Conferences
The administrator’s role
Administrative support is essential.
Administrators
Encourage innovation
Facilitate scheduling
Provide time and training necessary for teachers to learn about the concept
Educate parents about student-led conferences
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

11. Changing Roles Student-Led Conferences
The co-curricular and support teacher’s role
It is critical that information from these classes is included
Co-curricular teachers roles include
Making sure work is included in portfolio
Helping to design portfolio
Planning exhibits and performances of student work
Promoting student self-evaluation
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

12. What Do Portfolios Include?
Agenda/organizer
Student work/samples (evaluation)
Goal sheets (academic and behavioral)
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

13. Examples of Work to Include in Portfolio
Illustrations/Graphs
Homework/Class work
Projects
Warm-ups
Drills
Interactive Notebooks
Tests
Quizzes
Group Work
Writing Assignments
Labs
Implementing Student-Led Conferences
Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

14. Preparing For Conferences
Introduce concept to colleagues
Communicate concept to parents
Determine scheduling and location of meetings
Determine contents of portfolio and how to collect
Arrange child care and refreshments
Encourage parent participation
Determine and implement evaluation method
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

15. What Forms Do I Need? Invitation to Parent Grade Reflection
Behavior Checklist
Reflection and Goals
Meeting Agenda
Conference Follow-up Letter
Helpful Hint: Color code forms or folders
Implementing Student-Led Conferences
Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

16. Student Led Conference Timeline
Invitation to Parent >>> Send home 2 weeks prior to conferences
Prepare Portfolios/Folders/Goals >>> on-going
Rehearse Conference >>>> 1 or 2 days before the conference
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

17. What Is Conference Day Like?
All paperwork is assembled, organized and ready to go!!!
Students are excited about their conference!!!
Room becomes noisy!! It’s ok!
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

18. Traditional Conference vs. Student-Led Conference
Only parent and teacher meet
Students, parents (families) and teachers meet
Meeting time is limited
Student can spend as much time as needed to review portfolio with families
Limited number of slots available
Multiple conferences can be held simultaneously
Implementing Student-Led Conferences
Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

19. Student-Led Conferences- Let’s Review
What is the purpose?
What are some of the advantages of these conference?
What are some of the disadvantages to these conferences?
Whose work is being discussed at these meeting?
Who is discussing this work?
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey

20. Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey
Other Possibilities:
Individual or student-involvement in conferences (especially for very young students)
Presentation or showcase conferences
Portfolio nights
At home student-led conferences
Electronic student-led conferences
Implementing Student-Led Conferences Jane Bailey & Thomas Guskey