Conferences Reflection

This week was parent-teacher conference week. My mentor and I had the conferences be

student-led. We picked six standards that we know all student have met and wrote them on

separate posters; there were two ELA standard (3rd and 4th), two math standards for third

graders and two math standards for fourth graders, one standard that applied to STEM, and one

free space for core. On their own poster, students had to have six boxes, and in the boxes, they

had to explain and prove how they have met each standard over the past few months. Before

students worked on their individual poster, we brainstormed possibilities for each standard

(pictured below). Students were encouraged to photocopy evidence from their binders and

notebooks that proved how they have met each standard. Pictured below youll see students

engaged with and diligently working on their posters. Also pictured below are some students

with their posters and their evidence folders, set up and ready for their student-led conference

with myself, my mentor, and their parents/guardians.

When it was time for the conferences, the students started us off and did the majority of

the talking. Parents did have time to ask questions or voice any concerns, and my mentor and I

had a chance to give our brief update of the students learning. Many, if not all, parents were

very impressed by their third or fourth graders and their ability to prove how they met each

standard. The kids did an excellent job! They were able to explain what theyve learned and

show the evidence that proves their learning.

I thought that this was a great way to get students involved with their learning and

assessing themself. It was also an opportunity for students to reflect on their learning and to
recognize their accomplishments. I believe that it is so important for students to have a voice

and this activity did just that. All the students took this whole process very seriously and their

work showed that. In my experience, when students are given the chance to direct their own

educational experiences, they can really impress and surprize you with what they come up with.

After being apart of this experience, I would definitely do this in my own classroom. My

Philosophy of Education illustrates my strong belief of a student-led classroom no matter what

grade or age group. This activity is almost entirely student-led and would be a perfect way to

incorporate my beliefs in my future classroom.