Student-Led Conferences

 

 

Student-led Conferences:  What’s the idea?

 

In “the old days” the main way to find out how your middle school child was doing in school was to come to traditional parent conferences.  Twice per year, parents could come to school in the evening and stand in line and wait to talk to each teacher.  Often, parents had to wait for up to 20 minutes for a specific teacher. 

 

Today, there are many ways to check on the progress of your child.  The most efficient way to get an update of your child’s progress is to send an email to your child’s teacher.  The feedback is specific, quick, and can happen at any point you have concerns, not just twice per year.  Another great communication tool is the agenda.  A parent can write a note in the agenda and have their child take it to each teacher during the day.  Teachers can write back with comments, concerns and current grades.

 

Student-Led Conferences meet three learning objectives:  First, students will make a formal oral presentation to an authentic audience - their own parents (Idaho Standard LA 6.2).  Second, students will honestly evaluate their own progress and learn to take control of their own learning.  Third, each student will set individual learning goals that will help them progress academically and socially.

 

We believe that the student-led conference process will help all students take more responsibility for their progress and help in the transition to a much more independent learning environment – High School!

 

 

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