Just reflecting on Celina's list of great things about student-led conferencing, and absolutely agreeing about the amazing interactions that we had with our students and their families. First, our students shared a PowerPoint that they had created about themselves as learners, planners and learning community members. Their presentations showed a depth of thought and honesty that was exciting to see. The parents were impressed and the kids were able to celebrate and enjoy the limelight. Following their slides we moved over to check out their report card. Each student had the opportunity to share how their progress to targets and goals related to their standards based grades.
Student-led conferences are new to our district at the elementary level, although our Middle School has been using the model for some time. If I have learned anything from the experience it is that our kids can do this. They know how to self-assess their work, articulate their learning progress and set goals for future growth. They are comfortable with sharing where they are on the learning continuum and see that their hard work and courageous efforts make it happen. At the same time there are still students who are figuring the whole process out, that we will need to continue to support and help them recognize their potential and progress.
Student-led conferences felt like a natural complement to our multiage classroom. Plus this experience once again highlighted the power in putting the students first, meeting them where they are and helping them to shine. What a difference this year has made for all of us. ~Ann
Showing posts with label conferences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conferences. Show all posts
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Taking time to reflect
We are halfway through conferences. I love the way that first trimester conferences fall around a weekend. It has given me that halfway point to reflect on what I have learned from my students and their families so far, ideas and areas I want to pursue that will both help and inspire my students based on their interests and needs. Plus I am reminded that I too am still learning, that I too have areas in which to grow.
This fall we worked through a science kit around the topic of Variables -- something that is normally just for 5th graders in our district. Having taught the kit for the last two years I was made aware that this concept should be used throughout science in all grades, so this year I wanted to teach it to our entire multiage group. This turned out to be an epiphany in itself. The majority of third graders readily took to the idea of what controlled, changed and measured variables are, and could quite easily identify them in a situation. So many of the fifth graders could not. Which left me wondering if this was a developmental thing. Were my third graders more open to the idea? I love a good mystery, and here I am with one that I will use to transform how I teach science and how my students can teach each other. More to come . . . .
One of my very quiet students shared her reflections about how our multiage classroom is going so far, and it was wonderful to hear her insights and thoughts on the process. She has been inspired by our work with building blocks and learning partners to push herself into new levels. She is a strong reader and writer, and through the conference shared even more of her interests with reading nonfiction, something she was choosing to read at home. She shared her thoughts on a presentation given by other classmates to our school board and hinted at her own desire to try something like that. I was delighted to learn more about this very shy student, then to see her yesterday morning and recognize a change in her as well. She was more confident, more happy to have been recognized for her interests and her intellect. She is coming out of her shell a little more. Everyday I am reminded of the uniqueness and special qualities of these amazing little beings! Again, more to come . . . ~Ann
This fall we worked through a science kit around the topic of Variables -- something that is normally just for 5th graders in our district. Having taught the kit for the last two years I was made aware that this concept should be used throughout science in all grades, so this year I wanted to teach it to our entire multiage group. This turned out to be an epiphany in itself. The majority of third graders readily took to the idea of what controlled, changed and measured variables are, and could quite easily identify them in a situation. So many of the fifth graders could not. Which left me wondering if this was a developmental thing. Were my third graders more open to the idea? I love a good mystery, and here I am with one that I will use to transform how I teach science and how my students can teach each other. More to come . . . .
One of my very quiet students shared her reflections about how our multiage classroom is going so far, and it was wonderful to hear her insights and thoughts on the process. She has been inspired by our work with building blocks and learning partners to push herself into new levels. She is a strong reader and writer, and through the conference shared even more of her interests with reading nonfiction, something she was choosing to read at home. She shared her thoughts on a presentation given by other classmates to our school board and hinted at her own desire to try something like that. I was delighted to learn more about this very shy student, then to see her yesterday morning and recognize a change in her as well. She was more confident, more happy to have been recognized for her interests and her intellect. She is coming out of her shell a little more. Everyday I am reminded of the uniqueness and special qualities of these amazing little beings! Again, more to come . . . ~Ann
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Truly Knowing Our Students
Our conferences begin today. Usually I am in a tiff, flitting about in chaos. Yesterday, though, marked a day of change. A new mindset and philosophy has resulted in a different approach, as we are floating around in a bubble no one can pop (using a twist from one of my favorite metaphors from Ann)! Yesterday was the best time I have ever had stuffing report card folders- as we worked we read aloud their letters to their parents. Truly priceless! {...and then we un-stuffed the letters so we could make copies of them because they were truly amazing ... we want to be able to reshare them with students at the end of the year, plus use them for inspiration as we move forward}
We feel like we know our students this year even better than we ever have before. And truly it's because each child has their own individualized program in reading, writing, math, and science (and soon social studies). Our new program has opened new doors for us. We know where each child is on each content area continuum, yet we are also able to teach several whole group lessons a day with all of these amazing brains working together. And really these are not "traditional lessons", but conversations that are beginning to be driven by the students (and we are only in November!!). They are sharing the strategies that are working for them and how they have approached the topic/activity for their own learning/ intelligence style. The metaphors, quotes, and dialogue that are being shared are WOWING us each and everyday. We need more wall space for all the great thinking!!!
This year we are excited to have our conference conversations about the individual child, rather than the point we are at within the curriculum, or how their child's performance matched up to the curriculum's sequence or expectations. In addition, we are prepared to share with parents the "building blocks" that are missing (and need to be filled) in order to move on to particular state standard expectations at the child's personal grade level. We have specific academic prescriptions for each child and we are so excited to share them!!
~Celina
We feel like we know our students this year even better than we ever have before. And truly it's because each child has their own individualized program in reading, writing, math, and science (and soon social studies). Our new program has opened new doors for us. We know where each child is on each content area continuum, yet we are also able to teach several whole group lessons a day with all of these amazing brains working together. And really these are not "traditional lessons", but conversations that are beginning to be driven by the students (and we are only in November!!). They are sharing the strategies that are working for them and how they have approached the topic/activity for their own learning/ intelligence style. The metaphors, quotes, and dialogue that are being shared are WOWING us each and everyday. We need more wall space for all the great thinking!!!
This year we are excited to have our conference conversations about the individual child, rather than the point we are at within the curriculum, or how their child's performance matched up to the curriculum's sequence or expectations. In addition, we are prepared to share with parents the "building blocks" that are missing (and need to be filled) in order to move on to particular state standard expectations at the child's personal grade level. We have specific academic prescriptions for each child and we are so excited to share them!!
~Celina
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