Student Led Conferences

1
Student Led Conferences

• Izabela Lapinski
• Jim Sparks
• David Zirkle
• Michael Guy
• Voyager Middle School

2
Our Program

• This is a first year of implementing the Student
  Led Conferences in all grades at Voyager Middle
  School
• Our program differ a little from grade to grade
  and from team to team but the main idea is the
  same
• empowering students participations as a natural
  extension of learning

3
Types of SLC at our School

• At the beginning of October we will hold a Goal
  setting/intervention SLC
• At the end of April we will hold SLC Based on
  Portfolios
• In the middle of June we will hold Showcase SLC

4
Why Student-Led Conferences?

• Allows students to participate in authentic and
  real-world tasks
• Encourages positive parental involvement and
  support with their child and with school
• Encourages students to take responsibility for
  their learning
• Gives students practice preparing a portfolio, as
  well as developing and delivering a presentation

5
Goal setting/intervention SLC

• Setting long or short term achievement goals
  based on student achievement and assessment for
  learning
• Setting the intervention plan based on parent,
  student and teacher involvement
• Participants are the parent/guardian and student.
  All SLC are happening at the same time.
• Form1
• forms- student parent-teacher

6
SLC based on portfolios

• Growth portfolios
• Demonstration of growth which shows improvement
  on one or more learning targets
• Demonstration of competence and evidence of
  setting and meeting goals
• Participants of this conference are students who
  lead the conference, parent(s) and any teacher
  who facilitates one conference at the time
• Evaluation- student-parent-teacher

7
Portfolios and Student-Led Conferences

• Portfolios
• Represent a students work
• Compiled from work in all subjects areas
• Include student reflections on each unit strand
  and their learning

• Student-led conferences
• Students develop a plan for the conference based
  on their own assessment of their progress
• Student reflections form the basis of the
  conference
• Students execute the conference without direction
  from the teacher

8
Collecting Student Work

• Throughout the first half of the year, students
  store their work products in the classroom.
• Storage within the classroom may includes but is
  not limited to folders, pouches and crates.

9
Preparing the Portfolio

• Students examine their work from every class and
  select pieces the represent a range of
  performances
• Students write written reflections on each
  unit/strand that they have learned
• Teacher work with students closely during this
  process
• Teachers/Students send home letters inviting
  their parents/guardians to attend portfolio
  presentation

10
Preparing for Portfolio Presentation

• Work folders are organized by subject into the
  student presentation binder
• Three weeks before SLC, each subject teacher
  spends time with the students to help them
  organize their portfolios

11
Developing a Conference Plan

• Once the portfolio is assembled and the
  reflections are done, students develop an agenda
  for the conference and organize the SLC
  presentation according to the agenda

Form2
12
Showcase-SLC

• Celebration of learning
• Review of students best work
• Student presents the work ( usually e-folio),
  parent listen and ask questions and/or give the
  feedback teacher facilitate the process
• Evaluation- student- parent-teacher

13
Celebrate Learning

• Focus on what students are good at and things
  they can be proud of
• Find ways to make all students successful in some
  way
• Help students celebrate and capitalize on their
  strengths
• Create a non-threatening environment for students
  to self-assess areas for personal improvement

14
Components of the conference

• Sound assessment
• -based on formative and summative assessment
• Clarity of Purpose
• -provide clear information that will be used to
  set the goal and plan of intervention
• Careful preparation
• -selection of assessment
• -agenda
• -role play
• Effective follow-up
• -for all participants

15
Students Role

• Depends on the types of the conference
• -strengths-goals-intervention plan
• - collect evidence of learning for the
  portfolio
• - collect the examples of the success for the
  showcase
• -reflection
• -develop the agenda and invitation letter to
  the parents
• -role play the conference
• -Follow-up letter and reflection

16
Parents Responsibility

• Attendance on each part of the SLC
• View and feedback on students work
• Communication regularly about student learning at
  home
• Following up on intervention plan
• Listen and support students presentation
• Follow-up reflection

17
Teacher responsibility

• Help student organize each type of SLC
• Facilitate each conference
• Ensure preparation by students and parents
• Assist students with the collection of
  assessment, evidence of work and simples for the
  showcase
• Make sure the follow up conference with the
  students happens soon after the real SLC

18
Classrooms preparation for SLC

• Teachers begin the year with portfolios in mind
• Classroom activities are geared toward the
  development of meaningful learning products and
  meeting the standards
• Students are asked to set goals and reflect on
  their learning throughout the year

19
Student Developed Rubrics Focusing on Quality

• The Students
• Assess existing work and identify strengths and
  weaknesses
• Identify standards and criteria for quality

20
Developing the Rubric

• Following the development of standards and
  criteria, students create a scale against which
  the product can be measured

21
Finishing the Project

• Students self assess their work according to the
  class developed rubric
• I assess the work according to the same rubric.
• My grade is binding, but I consider their
  assessment and comments
• Poster and assessments can then be placed in the
  portfolio

22
Collect Parent and Student Feedback

• How did parents, students, and case manager feel
  about the process?
• Students and Parents complete feedback surveys
  immediately following the conference

23
Thank You and Good Luck!

• Jim Sparks SparksJW_at_mukilteo.wednet.edu
• David Zircle
• ZircleDM_at_mukilteo.wednet.edu
• Michael Guy-
• GuyMA_at_mukilteo.wednet.edu
• Izabela Lapinski Lapinskiij_at_mukilteo.wednet.edu