STUDENT LED CONFERENCES

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STUDENT LED CONFERENCES

• AND CREATING A VISION FOR INCREASED STUDENT
  PERFORMANCE

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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

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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?

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• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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NUTS AND BOLTS

• Before the Conference
• Administer self assessments
• Self Assessment
• Team work cooperation
• Behavioral self-evaluation
• Citizenship
• Organizational skills
• Responsibility

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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?

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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?

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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.

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NUTS AND BOLTS

• Before the Conference
• Parent Questionnaire
• Letter to parent (see next slide)
• What are your childs 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?

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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NUTS AND BOLTS

• During the Conference
• Introduction/Orientation
• Introduction - Student introduces parent to
  teacher (1 minute)
• Orientation - Teacher explains conference
  procedures (2 minutes)

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NUTS AND BOLTS

• During the Conference
• Student Achievement Data
• Examining the Data - Teacher shares data that
  helped student and teacher identify goals (5
  minutes)

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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).

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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 ______

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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).

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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).

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NUTS AND BOLTS

• After the Conference
• Student sends thank you letter to parent
• Student completes reflection survey
• Parent questionnaire/evaluation

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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 didnt you like about the conference?
• If you could change the conference to make it
  better, what would you do?

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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 childs study habits such as finishing
  assignments and handing work in on time?

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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?

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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

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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 dont participate
• Vision of the student for their academics and
  their future

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THE ROLE OF VISION

• Vision is a dream in action
• Vision gives direction
• Vision determines your destination
• Vision always precedes great performance or action

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THE ROLE OF VISION

• Vision clarifies purpose
• Vision empowers students beyond known assets
• -Vision Enables
• -Vision Empowers
• -Vision Enhances

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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

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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

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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

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SUMMARY

• Parent benefits
• Increases the amount of information given to a
  parent
• Learn more about their childs learning and
  skills
• An opportunity to help their child set positive
  goals
• Active participant in their childs learning
• First language communication
• Eliminates standing in line for a conference
• Allows for more time in their childs 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

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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