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The situation had been a nightmare. Ten-minute conferences, five teachers (sometimes more), one or two parents, one room. The parents would be scheduled into a rigid time spot that could not be honored because the ten-minute slot (even with a one or two minute transition buffer) was usually never enough time. Parents and teachers needed more time than we had, we would get backed up, and frustration would mount for teachers and parents.
Conferences felt like a take-out window.
Student-led conferences have been the savior. The team that I teach with has used them for a number of years now, and I never want to go back to that other kind of conference.
Students and parents come in together during a long block of time. They can stay as long as they wish. Students reflect on their learning, their goals, and their habits while the parents ask questions. Individually, the teachers check in with each family, have a conversation, and answer any questions the parents or students have.
We find that it is a much more relaxed atmosphere than the assembly line conferences we used to experience. Parents also get more time from each of the teachers; conversations with one teacher could last more than ten minutes itself. We have even had some parents and students stay for over an hour!
To have the student, parent, and teacher all together at one table is a boon, too. The students give honest assessments of themselves in front of the adults, and there is no miscommunication. In addition, the teacher (and probably the parent, too) gains a whole new perspective by seeing how the child interacts with the parent.
Prior to the conferences, students generally feel like it is going to be a miserable experience. After all, what good could come out of my parents and teachers getting together?
Afterward, the students admit that it was nowhere near as horrific as they imagined. They seem a bit surprised and a very pleased that the teachers have many nice things to say about them to their parents. Many students also feel a bit empowered being put in the driver's seat.
Although the students can be nervous and a little irritated at being the cog in the conversation, the conferences evoke positive experiences (and even some smiles and laughter) between the parents, children, and teachers. Parents - perhaps the students - walk away seeing the value of the positive interaction, and I feel student-led conferences draws the parents, students, and myself a little closer.
If you have had positive experiences with parent conferences or other positive interactions with parents or families, please share them in the comments.
