Student-led Conferences

In week 8 of this term we had my favourite day of the school year, student-led conferences. In the past I have done these with students from 4 years of age to 10 years of age, and they never fail to be a success. The students love being in complete charge, leading their parents through their learning journey and explaining how their school day is structured. Parents always leave beaming and proud.

It has been a good 3 years since I have had a class do student-led conferences, as the only senior classes here do them. However, they had that same familiar feel of student ownership, engagement, and parental pride. It was fantastic to see these wonderful parents supporting and encouraging their young learners. 

Above a student explains the evidence of his achievement in his writing book. Then he took his mum over to our differentiated maths groups and explained to her how he can choose his own level of challenge. This particular student started the year scoring very much at norm or slightly under on e-Asstle assessments and GLOSS. However, he wasn't focussed on that, instead he proudly pointed out his peg on the Black square where work is set at challenge, a curriculum  level above. This is his choice, and he has consistently worked at Black over the month, pushing himself, even if occasionally he needs to come and seek extra help.

Left, a student explains the Hydrologic cycle in its complexity with sophisticated vocabulary to his mum.  

PTC 8 - encourage ākonga to take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour.
PTC 9 - select teaching approaches, resources, technologies and learning and assessment activities that are inclusive and
              effective for diverse ākonga.
PTC 11 - foster involvement of whānau in the collection and use of information about the learning of ākonga.