1. STUDENT LED CONFERENCES
AND CREATING A VISION FOR INCREASED STUDENT PERFORMANCE

2. At the conclusion of this workshop you will have ideas on…
how to conduct student led conferences
how student led conferences motivate students to take responsibility for their own learning
how to increase parent participation
how to market the school
how vision plays a role in
academic achievement

3. Everyone is a Winner
Have you experienced student motivation problems this year?
Are you interested in students taking a more active role in their learning?
Would you like students to take more ownership for their work?
Are you concerned about students behavior and lack of physical activity at home?

4. Student led conferences could help you put students on “center stage” and take more responsibility for their academic achievement, self-discipline, and physical well-being.

5. PHILOSOPHY
Student led conferences reflect the belief that students should be actively involved in their learning and assume responsibility for the learning process. Through student led conference, students become more motivated, reflective and evaluative. They also become more critical in their approach to learning.

6. PURPOSE
Students accept responsibility for learning and become more aware of the learning process.
They report academic growth to parents and progress toward becoming life long learners.

7. POWER Student led conferences…
Encourage students to take an active role in their learning
Motivate students to take more ownership for their work
Allow students to see their progress over time
Encourage students to evaluate their work

8. POWER Student led conferences…
Encourage students, parents and teachers to openly communicate as equal partners about student achievement
Enhance students’ oral communication skills
Build students’ self-confidence
Build relationships

9. POWER Student led conferences…
Increase parent participation in conferences
Move students toward goal of being life long learners
Focus discussion on priority standards and their accomplishment
Showcase student work
Encourage students, parents and teachers to engage in open, honest, dialogue

10. POWER Student led conferences…
Press students to have a vision for their future
Utilize students strengths, interests, and hobbies to garner higher student achievement
Facilitate the development of students oral communication skills
Encourage self-efficacy

11. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
Begin the year with a student goal setting conference.
Prepare samples of students work to show evidence of growth and goal progress (portfolio).
Notify parents well in advance of the conferences.
Provide opportunities for students to practice

12. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
Begin the year with a student goal setting conference.
Identify strengths and challenges based upon data…
Student Interest Inventory
Parent Questionnaire
Student Achievement Data

13. Student Achievement Data
NUTS AND BOLTS
Before the Conference
Student Achievement Data
Illinois -- ISAT
Criterion-referenced tests (CRT)
Test of Cognitive Skills (TCS) Performance Indicator
Classroom assessment and performance
Classroom behavior

14. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference Administer self assessments
Team work & cooperation
Behavioral self-evaluation
Citizenship
Organizational skills
Responsibility

15. Student Interest Inventory/Student Attitude Inventory
NUTS AND BOLTS
Before the Conference
Student Interest Inventory/Student Attitude Inventory
Are you a good reader? Why or why not?
Are you a good writer? Why or why not?
Name 3 topics you would like to read or write about.
How often do you read for fun?
How often do you write for fun?

16. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
Begin the year with a student goal setting conference.
Set goals with the grade level priority/power standards in mind…
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

17. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference Design a plan of action
Student responsibilities
Teacher responsibilities
Parent responsibilities
Decide on evidence to be included in portfolio what shows progress toward achieving the goals

18. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
(2) Prepare samples of students’ work to show evidence of growth and goal progress (portfolio).
Include baseline evidence
ISAT/ITBS
Running records
Classroom assessment
Writing assessments
Students’ Attitude Inventory
Have students organize their work with a table of contents.

19. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
(2) Prepare samples of students’ work to show evidence of growth and goal progress (portfolio).
Ask students to explain and reflect upon their choices (Post-Its or note cards)
I put this in my portfolio because…
I feel good about this piece because…
If I did this piece again, I would improve it by…

20. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
(3) Notify parents will in advance of the conference.
Send home a letter explaining the conference format and why it is being used…
Why are you having student led conferences?
How will the conferences be different?
If necessary, when can parents talk to you without the student?
When and where will the conference be held?

21. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
(3) Notify parents will in advance of the conference.
Develop parent conferencing questions to guide parents through the process…
Reading:
What books have you been reading?
What book did you enjoy most? Why?
What are you reading now?
What new words have you learned?
Read me a page from the book you are currently reading.

22. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference Parent Questionnaire
Letter to parent (see next slide)
What are your child’s academic strengths?
What subjects are the most difficult for your child?
Describe what your child enjoys doing most in his/her spare time.
In what clubs or activities does your child participate?
Is your child physically active?

23. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference Parent Questionnaire
How much time each evening does your child spend…
Watching TV?
Reading?
Completing homework?
What 3 words would best describe your son or daughter?

24. NUTS AND BOLTS Before the Conference
(4) Provide opportunities for students to practice.
Model the process
Teacher to teacher
Teacher to teacher assistant
With students, develop a checklist describing student role
Organize student to student practice sessions

25. Conference Checklist for Students
NUTS AND BOLTS
Before the Conference
Conference Checklist for Students
Introduce your parent to your teacher
Tell your parent about…
Your reading goal
Your reading log and the books you have read
Your reading reflections about what you have read

26. Conference Checklist for Students
NUTS AND BOLTS
Before the Conference
Conference Checklist for Students
Tell your parents about…
Our reading rewards program
Your vocabulary journal and new words that you have learned
____________________________
Ask your parent if he/she has questions
Thank your parent for coming

27. NUTS AND BOLTS During the Conference Introduction (1 minute)
Orientation (2 minutes)
Students Achievement Data (5 minutes)
Students Goals (3 minutes)
Action Plan (5 minutes)
Students Work (10 minutes)
Debriefing (2 minutes)

28. Introduction/Orientation
NUTS AND BOLTS
During the Conference
Introduction/Orientation
Introduction - Student introduces parent to teacher (1 minute)
Orientation - Teacher explains conference procedures (2 minutes)

29. Student Achievement Data
NUTS AND BOLTS
During the Conference
Student Achievement Data
Examining the Data - Teacher shares data that helped student and teacher identify goals (5 minutes)

30. Student Goals and Action Plan
NUTS AND BOLTS
During the Conference
Student Goals and Action Plan
Examining Student Goals - Student shares goals and explains why they were selected (3 minutes).
Sharing Action Plan - Student and teacher discuss their responsibilities for parent (5 minutes).

31. NUTS AND BOLTS Conference Organizer
While we look at my work, please notice these things:
Math goal ________
Steps I will take to reach goal
_____________
How parents can help me reach the goal _____
Plan to monitor progress _______
These are the things I do well ______
These are the things I am working on ______

32. NUTS AND BOLTS During the Conference Student Work
Examining Student Work - Student shows work and reflections from portfolio to demonstrate his/her progress toward achieving goals (10 minutes).

33. NUTS AND BOLTS During the Conference Debriefing
Evaluating the Conference Process - The teacher, parent, and student discuss and comment on the conference process (2 minutes).

34. NUTS AND BOLTS After the Conference
Student sends thank you letter to parent
Student completes reflection survey
Parent questionnaire/evaluation

35. Student Reflection Survey
NUTS AND BOLTS
After the Conference
Student Reflection Survey
What did you like about the student led conference?
How did you feel during the conference?
What didn’t you like about the conference?
If you could change the conference to make it better, what would you do?

36. NUTS AND BOLTS After the Conference Parent Questionnaire
Which conference (traditional or student led) gave you a better appreciation of…
What your child was learning?
What your child studied in class?
Your child’s study habits such as finishing assignments and handing work in on time?

37. NUTS AND BOLTS After the Conference Parent Questionnaire
Which conference format did you prefer? Why?
What are the benefits of student led conferences?
What are the disadvantages of student led conferences?
What more would you like to learn in the conference?

38. KEYS TO SUCCESS Students and teachers willing to take risks
Teachers willing to step aside
Focusing in on student achievement-power standards and their accomplishment
Committing time to…
Learning
Preparing
Practicing

39. CHALLENGES First time jitters
Uncertainty of sharing control with students
Need to adopt a student-centered philosophy
Organizing the logistics of conferences
Responding to families who don’t participate
Vision of the student for their academics and their future

40. THE ROLE OF VISION Vision is a dream in action Vision gives direction
Vision determines your destination
Vision always precedes great performance or action

41. THE ROLE OF VISION Vision clarifies purpose
Vision empowers students beyond known assets
-Vision Enables
-Vision Empowers
-Vision Enhances

42. THE FUTURE-FOCUSED ROLE IMAGE
Unsuccessful students had:
Very short horizons
Believed their lives were in the hands of fate
Had no idea of where they were going academically or personally

43. THE FUTURE-FOCUSED ROLE IMAGE
Successful students had:
A vision of their future
Goals
Believed in their own self-efficacy
Saw multiple options in their life

44. SUMMARY Student benefits: Accountability for their learning
Students learn to evaluate their own progress
Students gain greater commitment to school work and learning
Builds self confidence and self-esteem
Encourages student/parent communication
Builds communication and critical thinking skills
Places responsibility on the student and parent
Allows students to become involved
Puts students in charge of their learning
Time allowed to share and celebrate in learning environment

45. SUMMARY Parent benefits:
Increases the amount of information given to a parent
Learn more about their child’s learning and skills
An opportunity to help their child set positive goals
Active participant in their child’s learning
First language communication
Eliminates standing in line for a conference
Allows for more time in their child’s learning environment to see what the child has worked on over a period of time
First hand opportunity to see their child in charge of the learning process

46. SUMMARY Teacher benefits:
Less stress on teachers, very relaxed atmosphere
Less confrontational (more positive)
Places responsibility on the student and parent
Increased parent participation
An opportunity to see students in a leadership role