Student Led Conferences Ahead

A student-led conference is a meeting with the student, family and special guests where the student shares their work and discusses their goals and progress. The student facilitates the meeting and families are encouraged to ask questions, to take the time to celebrate and to establish/reset goals for the remainder of the year! This year, the conference will run about 45 minutes and there may be multiple conferences happening at one time.

At the heart of our mission at MVCS is that every one of our students will be life-long active participants in their own education with a strong sense of self and community.

• When students lead their conference, they take ownership of their learning (both Montessori philosophy and Positive Discipline)

• It helps students to hone their understanding of reflection, quality work and what it means to set and meet learning goals (positive discipline)

• It is a way to practice 21st Century skills (Montessori)

• It is also a way for families to experience and connect to what MVCS is all about

Here are a couple of great resources to get a feel for, and wrap your mind around, this kind of conference.

• Students As Leaders of Their Own Learning: This Edutopia article by EL Education Project Director Meg Riordan describes strategies for getting 100% parent participation

• https://www.edutopia.org/video/student-led-conferences-empowerment-and-ownership (5:06)
• https://vimeo.com/49170218 (4:36)

All teachers will be scheduling conferences for Friday, April 24 throughout the day 8:00-3:30 (Please know that there is no school on this day.)

Note: Students are required to be at this conference with you.

On Friday, April 3 teachers will be sending out a sign up sheet and some information about what their Student Led Conferences will look like.

Q: What if I want to talk to the teacher about current levels or concerns?

A: If after, the SLC you want to check in with your teacher you can always set up a meeting. Just send them an email.

Q: Who can come?

A: This is a celebration of learning. Your student is in charge of the guest list! Because this is our first year implementing SLC, students may want to keep it to immediate family.... or not!

Q: Why do we have Student Led Conferences?

A: First, this kind of conference is more in alignment with our mission and vision (see above). Second, families have shared a desire to be more connected to classrooms and the learning that is happening at MV. And lastly, this assessment tool makes more sense for mid year.

Q: What do I do at this kind of conference?

A: Follow your student's lead and enjoy! Here are some great questions to ask and a few tips!

• Student-Led Conferences: A How-to Guide https://hthunboxed.org/student-led-conferences-a-how-to-guide/?utm_source=gsenewsletter&utm_medium=art2&utm_campaign=issue49&utm_term=art2&mc_cid=8af55c6659&mc_eid=7d8c0b1d47

• Student-Led Conferences: Empowerment and Ownership: Read this article and watch the accompanying video to consider a greater range of approaches for the design of student-led conference structures that increase student ownership of their learning.

• Guide to Student Led Conferences: Read this article to delve more deeply into the roles of teachers, students, and parents during student-led conferences.

• When Students Lead Parent Teacher Conferences: Read this article to see how one school district in New Hampshire began using student-led conferences as part of their plan for school reform and improvement.