Student-Led Conferences

At the close of term one in 2008, CVPS introduced student-led conferences. This was an evening where students celebrated their learning with family and plotted a path for continued success in the future. The Student Led Conference initiative is new to many of our teachers and students and our goal is to continuously improve, so your feedback is welcome.

As a school, we have focused on student self assessment, and have tried to teach our students the importance of knowing their strengths, areas for improvement, and how to make this improvement occur. This all starts with sharing the learning expectations on a regular basis with the students.

During the student-led conference, your child will give you an overview of their learning and provide evidence of this learning through work samples that they have collected over the term. When the conference is completed, we urge you to complete the third page of the report card and set some goals for term two. The teacher circulates throughout the room while several conferences are occurring and is available for comments and questions. But, we hope your child can handle the tough questions independently.

Conferences are scheduled at 30 minute intervals, so you have lots of time with your child. Families that do not speak English as their first language are encouraged to conduct the conference in their first language.

The benefits of Student-Led Conferences

For the Parents

• Assumption of a significant role in their child’s learning
• Active participation in their child’s learning
• Better understanding of that learning
• Less intimidating environment
• First-language communication
• Forum for parents to have a voice
• More relaxed atmosphere
• Better communication between home and school
• A forum for parents to talk to their child productively and positively

For the Students

• Accountability for their learning
• Ownership for progress in learning
• Increased commitment to school work because they present to parents
• Increased interaction between child and parents
• Independence
• Self-Assessment
• Active participation in the evaluation process
• Learning of real life skills
• Increased self-confidence
• Enhanced self-esteem
• Development of leadership skills
• Empowerment
• Fostering of organizational and communication skills

For the Teacher

• Increased student participation
• Increased parental involvement
• More effective use of the interview time
• Gain of partners to help to develop the action plan
• Freedom to take on an observing role

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