Implementing Student-Led Conferences
Series:
Experts In Assessment Series
Experts In Assessment Series
September 2000 | 136 pages | Corwin
The term `student-led conference' is almost self-explanatory. A student-led conference is a conference with parents led by the student. The classroom teacher's role becomes that of a facilitator. In a student-led conference, students lead parents through a discussion of their work which is usually organized in a portfolio collection. Typically, several conferences are conducted simultaneously in a classroom with family groups seated far enough apart to allow privacy. The teacher circulates among family groups, stopping long enough to make pertinent comments and answer questions. Students primarily direct the conversation which is focused on their work and classroom behavior. The real power in this innovation is that student-led conferences require students to take most of the responsibility for reporting what they have learned.
The authors' goal in writing this book is to help readers understand:
· Why it is effective for students to lead a conference
· What an effective model for student-led conferences looks like
· How to prepare and organize for student-led conferences
· How to evaluate the effectiveness of student-led conferences
Philosophy and Purpose of Student-Led Conferences
Roles and Responsibilities of Participants
Designing Formats for Student-Led Conferences
Preparing Students to Lead Conferences
Preparing Parents and Colleagues for Student-Led Conferences
Organizing for Student-Led Conferences
Anticipating and Handling Unique Situations
Evaluating Student-Led Conferences
The Role of Student-Led Conferences in Authentic Assessment and Reporting