We have student-led conferences coming up next week.
Yes, they’re on zoom. Yes, first and second graders are really going to be in charge. Yes, parents will still receive a clear picture of where their kiddo is as a learner and as a human.
To prepare for these two full days of conversations, each student is reflecting and filling out a form to jot down their thoughts about themselves as a reader, writer, mathematician, friend, and distance learner. They’ll use these forms to guide the conversation during their conference.
We did the first page today. It’s my favorite. It consists of just three prompts:
- I am excited about…
- I am nervous about…
- I wish my teacher knew…
The amount of poignant, specific, and honest information that comes from these three little prompts is astounding. Today I learned about ballet classes, looking for a new house, turtles, the end of COVID-19, summer camps, pet names for grandparents, third grade, and birthdays.
As it turns out, if you are curious about what makes a first or second grader tick… just ask ‘em!
❤️
Writing and Laughing 
“The only way to know is to ask the kid” is a mantra I’m aiming to live by. Good luck with conferences!
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I’ve found most students are very honest when asked. I love student-led conferences. We did not get those this year! I’m so sad…
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Great questions! My favorite is ‘I wish my teacher knew…” I always enjoyed reading the responses, and that helped me develop a personal connection with each student. 🙂
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