Student led conferences break new ground

New ground was broken in the area of communication between school and home, when John Paul II Collegiate held its first ever student led conferences.

The traditional parent-teacher interview, which saw the teacher directing the meeting, has been replaced by the student led conference, which sees the student, not the teacher leading the direction of the meeting. Nervous anticipation regarding the change was replaced with satisfaction as the evenings unfolded. Students were well prepared to guide the conferences, parent and guardian turnout was positive and teachers were satisfied parents and guardians received the information they needed on their student's success.

Oct. 23 and 24, SLCs saw teachers in their classrooms, rather than the common area of the gymnasium, to meet with students and parents. Students brought their parents and guardians to the school and took them on the path the student takes every day to each classroom they work in.

In each classroom, the student explained a compilation or portfolio of work to parents and guardians, which helped them understand how their student was performing in each class. Preparation for the evening went far beyond the former practice of report cards. In order to lead the conferences students reviewed outcomes and expectations, created scripts and outlines with support from their teachers to ensure necessary information was covered, and created portfolios that included outcome-based assignments and assessments.

Carlo Hansen, principal of John Paul II Collegiate was pleased with the turnout.

"Over the past decade we have experienced a decline in the percentage of parents attending parent/teacher interviews. This has been partially due to the use of our online parent portal which providers our parents with current information on grades and attendance," Hansen said.

"This year we introduced SLCs which engage both parents and students in the learning process."

Hansen said the overall number of parents who attended SLCs were down slightly he was impressed 80 per cent of the parents brought the student with them.

With the change in format, there were a number of questions from students, parent and guardians. The most common was "Does my child have to attend the student led conference, in order for me to attend?"

Hansen explained the student did not have to attend in order for the parent to attend, but he added there is great benefit to the student being here to explain his or her position in each class. Who else can explain the student's success, better than the student himself? He also noted he received several comments from parents and guardians that they enjoyed seeing the school and meeting teachers in their own classrooms.

Teachers also had a positive response to the SLC format. Some of their comments were:

"I really was not sure what this would look and sound like. This has been a very neat experience. To hear students explain their assignments; to show off what they are proud of, confused about ... it truly did become about student ownership of their learning. I did really just facilitate the process and let the students take the lead. Parents showed great interest."

"I wasn't sure what to expect going into these, but I really enjoyed them. I liked that the students had their work to go through with their parents. Some parents commented that they were wondering why the student got the mark they got, but after seeing the assignment it was very clear to them where their strengths and areas for improvement were."

"I really liked the student lead conference format. I particularly enjoyed that the parents and students were able to walk from classroom to classroom, and down the halls seeing where their kids spent the good part of their day. I found it much more welcoming and personal than the gym format. Secondly, I enjoyed having students and parents in my room where we could talk in an atmosphere that was also welcoming. Thirdly, and most importantly, the opportunity to have students show their work in their portfolio file and discuss how they can achieve success was awesome."

"I was not sure what it would be like going into this, but I really feel like the SLCs were a success. I got positive comments from parents as well. I did not put every single assignment in their portfolios ... only a few important ones to focus on. I gave the students an agenda to follow in case they forgot what to do. I was actually very proud of them as I sat back and watched them lead their parents through their work. I heard a lot of discussion about the goals I had them set, the assignments and rubrics and their online work. I did, however, have a bit of a traditional interview mixed in as well. I talked to each parent-student group before they left, making sure they didn't have any questions and addressing concerns I had."

While change is always a bit uncomfortable and challenging, the new standard of student led conferences at John Paul II Collegiate can be considered a success. Most parents and guardians brought their students, attendance numbers were up, and most importantly students took ownership of explaining their learning, their strengths and their challenges, and by all accounts they did so with great pride. Student success: it is the goal of everyone in education.