Primary Student-Led Conferences

Dear Parents,

Primary Student-led Conferences are next week. The following information should help to ensure that you and your child have a memorable learning experience. Please mark your calendars for this important day.

Date

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Location

Homeroom Classes and Specialist Rooms

Time

This is a normal school day for all students, but we will include three 90 minute sessions for families to attend conferences.

• 08:15 to 09:45 – Preschool, Kindergarten & Grade 1

• 10:30 to 12:00 – Grade 2 & Grade 3

• 13:00 to 14:30 – Grade 4 & Grade 5

Purpose

The purpose of the day is to help students take responsibility for their learning and to confidently demonstrate their understanding to parents.

What to Expect

Your child will be facilitating several reflective sessions with you. Each child has a schedule of preselected experiences to share with you. As well as looking at their portfolios and the work completed in journals, the students will demonstrate approaches to teaching and learning being employed at the school.

The parents’ role during student-led conferences is to engage positively with their children and to gently encourage them to talk about their learning. This should be an enjoyable occasion for everyone. Parents are invited to ask questions about their children’s learning experiences. Here are some typical questions that may help uncover some important thinking during the day.

• Why did you select this piece of work for your portfolio?

• If you could work further on this piece, what would you do?

• How is your work now different from your work at the beginning of the year?

• Can you show me an example of a learner profile or attitude you are developing?

• Is there anything you learned that made you take action? Why?

• Which pieces reflect one of your strengths?

• What are you most proud of? Why?

• What have you found challenging?

• What knowledge or skills have you learned from doing this piece?

• Have you achieved your goals? Explain? Do you have new goals?

There will be an opportunity to complete a parent reflection following the conferences. We ask that you take the opportunity to complete this form so that we can continue to strengthen our programme.

Student-led conferences are a great opportunity for us to help our children take responsibility for their learning and to inquire into their thinking. We hope you are able to join us in celebrating your child’s learning.