What makes a student-led Conference effective?
In order for student-led conferences to be effective, each participant (student, teacher and parents) must understand their roles. In their book, Kinney, Munroe and Sessions write:
What should student-led conferences look like in high school?
Student-led conferences in high school should be focused on teaching students to advocate for themselves and take complete responsibility for their social and academic goals, since these are skills they’ll need for college or the workplace.
What are the different types of conferences I use with students?
The following are the three types of conferences I use with students: Advice Conference: This conference is all about learning specific skills that students are missing. Each student must ask the teacher a series of questions based upon an area where he or she is struggling.
Is conference attendance worth it?
Sure they’re a great way to present your work and research findings, but there is so much more to be gained from conference attendance beyond an 8-10 minute presentation. So what are some of these opportunities and how can you achieve the most out of the few days?
What are equitable outcomes for students?
Equitable outcomes refers to the concept that the school’s goals should apply to all students, while the means to these goals will vary as those students themselves vary. All students should be prepared to be ready for both postsecondary and career pathways.
How can you be equitable in the classroom?
Seven Effective Ways to Promote Equity in the ClassroomReflect on Your Own Beliefs. … Reduce Race and Gender Barriers to Learning. … Establish an Inclusive Environment Early. … Be Dynamic With Classroom Space. … Accommodate Learning Styles and Disabilities. … Be Mindful of How You Use Technology. … Be Aware of Religious Holidays.
What does it mean for a classroom to be equitable?
What Is Classroom Equity? Classroom equity happens when all students are respected and included, regardless of their background or abilities. Each student should be given the tools needed to achieve academic success, and the unique talents and abilities of each individual should be celebrated and encouraged.
What are key practices to ensure an equitable educational environment?
Equitable classroom practices involve the following: creating specialized differences in curricular experiences, creating multiple options for knowledge acquisition, sense making, and product creation, and. providing different work, not more of the same.
What does it mean to provide an equitable learning experience for all students?
“Educational equity means that every student has access to the educational resources and rigor they need at the right moment in their education across race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation, family background, and/or family income” (p. 3).
How can we promote equity in education?
How can teachers promote equity in a classroom?Teacher behavior. Every educator must understand the saying ‘People cannot give what they don’t have; they can only give what they have’. … Self Awareness. … Setting Class Norms. … Promoting the act of “Calling In” … The ‘Whip around Strategy’ … Cooperative Learning.
Why is equity important in education?
There are numerous reasons why equity in education is important, including: Creating opportunity for underprivileged and underserved students so they are able to overcome disadvantages and find success. Giving everyone the chance to learn in the way that best supports their learning style.
How is equality and equity is important in school setting?
Equality in education is necessary for students to have the same opportunities to start off with positive educational outcomes, and equity helps to make sure those equal opportunities are adjusted to make room for students who might need extra help and attention.
How do you uphold equity to education?
Eliminate Policies and Practices that Contribute to FailureEliminate grade repetition.Avoid early tracking and defer student selection to upper secondary.Manage school choice to avoid segregation and increased inequities.Make funding strategies responsive to students’ and schools’ needs.More items…
What does equity in schools look like?
What Does Equity in Education Look Like? Equity in school occurs in two steps: Start by acknowledging some students arrive at school in need of more academic and socio-emotional support than others. Ensure students have access to high-quality education.
How do you promote equity and inclusion?
Ways to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplaceBe aware of unconscious bias. … Communicate the importance of managing bias. … Promote pay equity. … Develop a strategic training program. … Acknowledge holidays of all cultures. … Make it easy for your people to participate in employee resource groups. … Mix up your teams.More items…
What is the chance for every student to admit failure?
Every student has a chance to articulate areas where they are growing and where they still need to grow. Every student is able to realize that there are as many retakes as necessary until they master the standards.
Why do students feel known on a deeper level?
Students feel known on a deeper level, which then increases trust. This, in turn, leads to a higher level of student self-efficacy and helps prevent discipline issues. But it’s more than that. Before doing one-on-one conferencing, I was accidentally ignoring some of the quiet kids who were doing just fine in class.
What did Berckemeyer like about student-led conferences?
Several aspects about student-led conferences appealed to Berckemeyer. He liked the fact that the responsibility of the parent conference rests where it should — with the student. The teacher facilitates the conference, but the student is responsible for answering parent questions and concerns about student learning.
What is student led conference?
Student-led conferences are emerging as a way to actively engage students in their learning process, wrote Donald G. Hackmann, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University in an ERIC Digest, “Student-Led Conferences at the Middle Level.”.
How to discuss student progress with parents?
One concern of parents is that they would like to have a candid discussion with their children’s teacher, and student-led conferences do not permit that to occur, Hackmann said. To accommodate parents who desire an opportunity to privately discuss their child’s progress, Hackmann suggests several possibilities: 1 Parents can select either a traditional parent-teacher conference or a student-led conference. 2 The student leaves at the conclusion of the student-led conference, and the teacher and parents meet privately. 3 The parent and teacher can schedule an additional conference time.
Who wrote the book “A School-Wide Approach to Student-Led Conferences”?
Berckemeyer writes in the foreword of a book recently published by the NMSA, A School-Wide Approach to Student-Led Conferences, written by Patti Kinney, Mary Beth Munroe, and Pam Sessions.
Can parents attend parent teacher conferences?
Parents can select either a traditional parent-teacher conference or a student-led conference. The student leaves at the conclusion of the student-led conference, and the teacher and parents meet privately. The parent and teacher can schedule an additional conference time.
Ask for feedback up front
The welcome wagon for student-led conferences at Brattleboro Area Middle School.
Get feedback from students
You could survey students in a similar way to the digital survey for parents. But I think there are observable indicators of student success that could be even more powerful.
Taking constructive criticism
Not all responses are going to be positive. When we open the doors for feedback, we have to hear it all. Some of it may be critical, but let’s hope it’s more constructive information. No matter what, hear it all. If you hear a particular sentiment being repeated by several people, there must be at least some truth to it.
Give all parties the opportunity to provide feedback
Don’t stop with just parents and students, however. Naturally, teachers need to reflect upon student-led conferences and determine what worked and what needs improvement.
Author
Who should be assessing student-led conferences? February 1, 2020 In “Student-Led Conferences”
How many desks are there in a classroom?
All you need to do is make sure your classroom contains groups of desks (no more than 8). When going over independent work, for example; call on a student in your first group cluster. After they answer, move to your second group cluster and call on a different student.
Why do students need to pre-plan a design?
All students need to pre-plan a design, share their thoughts, and then pitch in to construct objects or incorporate art in the activity. It builds confidence and encourages participation in a smaller group setting, which is less intimidating than speaking in front of the whole class.
Can you assign students to small groups?
You can assign students to small groups based on each child’s personality. This way, your more outgoing, confident students can be a speaker/representative for the group when it’s time to present or share answers with the class.
How to promote equity in the classroom?
Establishing a safe learning environment can cultivate equity in the classroom. Promoting inclusion and openness to others’ opinions and ideas is a great place to start. Clearly discussing how to be respectful of others’ ideas, opinions, and values can help institute equity. Also, educators should encourage students that it is okay to disagree with each other but teach students how to disagree respectfully. Once students feel safe that their ideas, opinion, and values will be respected equity will thrive in these classroom settings. This is something that will take time, planning, and persistence to establish.
What is the difference between equity and diversity?
While sometimes used simultaneously, it’s important to understand the difference between equity and diversity. Equity is the approach that everyone ensures access to the same opportunities. Diversity is the representation of different people , experiences, and backgrounds.
What is the Center for Public Education?
The Center for Public Education selected relevant data from the Condition of Education to help school leaders not only monitor the educational progress of Black students, but also rethink what public schools can do better for Black students.
What if the lesson looked like this instead?
What if the lesson looked like this instead? Students work together in small, diverse teams on an open-ended task (in any academic content area) that requires the interdependence of the team members to complete it. Students wrestle with different ideas and push each other towards deeper thinking as they try to come up with a solution without the teacher’s help. The teams have guiding norms, including SEL protocols, so they can deal with their own issues such as arguing, being off task, or not contributing equally.#N#During this lesson, students experience social bonding and effectively develop empathy and care in their teams because the level of cognitive rigor in the task necessitates that they rely on each other and coach each other through academic struggles. In other words, students are in a classroom environment where every student must develop and practice SEL competencies. And in this scenario, students didn’t just learn how to empathize with peers. They also exercised persistence, critical thinking, and communication—the same skills they will need to thrive outside of the classroom.#N#Student-led academic teaming opens access and equity to core instruction for every student, including reluctant learners, English learners, and those with disabilities. The team members own each other’s learning and foster an environment of academic safety and care. In an academic teaming school, SEL is integrated across all content levels and in all grade levels. Every student has opportunities to exercise SEL skills in their daily lessons.#N#Not only do students build SEL skills in their teams, which can lead to more equitable outcomes in their personal lives, but the academic achievement results from schools that have implemented teaming schoolwide also are significant.#N#A 10,000-student multiyear study in Iowa’s Des Moines Public Schools was conducted by Learning Sciences International’s Applied Research Center using the federal What Works Clearinghouse Design Standards. It focused on schoolwide implementation of academic teaming through a model called Schools for Rigor. The study found that students at schools where academic teaming was implemented experienced statistically significant improvements in reading and mathematics achievement compared to students at matched control schools.#N#Of particular interest is how academic teaming impacted students who had achievement gaps. African-American students, students with disabilities, and English learners all saw achievement gaps close by 4 percent to 7 percent in one year.#N#The associate superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools said, “Schools for Rigor fosters inclusiveness—instead of EL or special education students being pulled out into isolation, these students are able to work in their academic teams within mainstream classrooms.”#N#A comprehensive vision for equitable instruction must focus on both the academic outcomes that schools and communities want for their students and also the SEL skills outcomes integrated into core instruction. Student-led academic teaming puts this vision for equity into action, so all students have the chance to grow into leaders with the skills to effect positive change for themselves and others.#N#Visit www.academicteaming.com to see videos of students teaming, hear from teachers on the SEL and academic impacts, and access free resources.
What Are Student-Led Conferences?
How to Run Student-Led Conferences in Your School
- A clear understanding of roles
1. Teachers give time for students to select portfolio content throughout the year. 2. Students meet with the teacher one-on-one to go over their portfolios and rehearse 3. Teachers provide students with a sample script to help them guide the discussion appropriately 4. Students pair u… - Well-developed student portfolios
1. A selection of the student’s work from throughout the year 2. An agenda for the meeting 3. Sheets for setting social and academic goals
Student-Led Conferences Across Grade Levels
- Student-led conferences kindergarten
1. Writing their name 2. Identifying numbers 3. Recognizing letters of the alphabet 4. Using reading comprehension skills - Student-led conferences middle school
1. Organizing conferences by homeroom 2. Sorting students into teacher-led peer groups 3. Assigning students to a subject-specific teacher, especially if it’s a subject they’re passionate about.
How Prodigy Can Help Students Prepare For Student-Led Conferences
- As a learning station — Give students five to ten minutes with Prodigy during their student-led conference so they can show off their math skills! Teachers can use the Assignmentstool to align Prod…
- Key insights into strengths and weaknesses— Teachers can use Prodigy’s powerful Reports feature to see where students are excelling or struggling, and what skills they need to work on.
- As a learning station — Give students five to ten minutes with Prodigy during their student-led conference so they can show off their math skills! Teachers can use the Assignmentstool to align Prod…
- Key insights into strengths and weaknesses— Teachers can use Prodigy’s powerful Reports feature to see where students are excelling or struggling, and what skills they need to work on.
- Transparency between teacher and parents— Encourage parents to sign up for a Prodigy parent account, where they can monitor their child’s progress throughout the curriculum and support them as they…