When students realize the relevance of what they are learning, they become motivated to do their very best work. They become fully engaged in the learning and assessment process and are eager to share their progress with their parents/caregivers.
This student-parent conference is led by the student, and the teacher is available to meet with parents as well and to intervene as needed. The student feels empowered and confident. In this clip, you will observe a teacher participating briefly in the conference. As he walks around the classroom, he notices that this student needs assistance. The intervention is brief and respectful, and control is given back to the student as soon as possible.
One of the goals of student-led conferences is to guide students to become independent, motivated learners who value and understand their learning beyond its relation to the marks they earn. In this clip, the student begins to discuss her work with a focus on marks. The teacher notices this and
decides to gently enter the conversation.
During this conference, the student clearly articulates the impact of technology on her learning. She also reflects on her strengths and needs, determines specific next steps for improvement, and involves her parents in deciding how they can assist. The student in this clip is very aware of herself as a learner and she recognizes the value of what she is learning in terms of her future success.
Students learned about their parents, parents learned about their child, and teachers learned about their students and the students' parents. When participants reflected on their new learning, they decided how to move forward with student-led conferences.
The parents/caregivers in this clip appreciated that the teacher was accessible during the conference. It was clear that they valued the conference experience and that they gained new insights into their children as learners. They also expressed what surprised them about their children during the conference.
