3-WAY CONFERENCES or STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES Pamela Riordan ARR Coordinator Kennedy School

WHAT ARE THEY? Provide a forum for teachers, students and parents to share learning experiences and acknowledge student achievement Provide a forum for teachers, students and parents to share learning experiences and acknowledge student achievement Students (typically) lead the sessions by explaining their learning achievements, as well as areas for further development Students (typically) lead the sessions by explaining their learning achievements, as well as areas for further development Include referencing student work across a range of subjects Include referencing student work across a range of subjects

WHY HAVE 3-WAY CONFERENCES? STUDENT BENEFITS: Successfully used in many International Schools Successfully used in many International Schools Fit well with the PYP Fit well with the PYP Develop qualities from the Learner Profile Develop qualities from the Learner Profile Promote student involvement, commitment and accountability for learning Promote student involvement, commitment and accountability for learning Promotes student reflection / evaluation Promotes student reflection / evaluation Promotes independence Promotes independence Build confidence and self-esteem Build confidence and self-esteem Build and encourage communication and critical thinking skills Build and encourage communication and critical thinking skills Allow students and parents to be actively involved Allow students and parents to be actively involved

WHY HAVE 3-WAY CONFERENCES? CONTINUED… PARENT BENEFITS: Increase the amount of information given to the parents Increase the amount of information given to the parents Give parents a clear insight into the work their child is doing and how they learn Give parents a clear insight into the work their child is doing and how they learn Promote an active part in their child’s learning Promote an active part in their child’s learning Provide an opportunity to help their child set goals Provide an opportunity to help their child set goals Eliminate the possibility of waiting for, or delays in, parent and teacher conferencing Eliminate the possibility of waiting for, or delays in, parent and teacher conferencing Allows the use of different languages to communicate Allows the use of different languages to communicate

WHY HAVE 3-WAY CONFERENCES? CONTINUED… TEACHER BENEFITS: Promote a more relaxed atmosphere Promote a more relaxed atmosphere Timings are less rushed Timings are less rushed Place more responsibility on the student and the parent Place more responsibility on the student and the parent Strengthen communication channels with parents and students about the student’s learning, progress and next steps Strengthen communication channels with parents and students about the student’s learning, progress and next steps

FORMAT OF 3-WAY CONFERENCES: Term 2 Term 2 –Thursday 24 th March 2011 – 3:45pm to 6pm –Friday 25 th March 2011 – 8:30am to 4:15pm (school closed for lessons) Students and parents come to the ‘Home room’ (child’s classroom) at pre-arranged times throughout the day Students and parents come to the ‘Home room’ (child’s classroom) at pre-arranged times throughout the day Students and parents may choose to visit specialists / non-class based teachers at booked times, or as a ‘drop-in’, in designated rooms Students and parents may choose to visit specialists / non-class based teachers at booked times, or as a ‘drop-in’, in designated rooms ‘Home room’ conferences will run for up to 45 minutes ‘Home room’ conferences will run for up to 45 minutes Sets of students and parents rotate around different stations, spending up to 14 minutes at each station Sets of students and parents rotate around different stations, spending up to 14 minutes at each station 3 (or more, particularly for younger students) ‘stations’ set up with learning opportunities for students to share with parents 3 (or more, particularly for younger students) ‘stations’ set up with learning opportunities for students to share with parents

FORMAT OF 3-WAY CONFERENCES: CONTINUED… SPECIALISTS / NON CLASS BASED TEACHERS: 10 / 15 minute time slot (maximum) 10 / 15 minute time slot (maximum) Ideally led by student Ideally led by student Other ‘stations’ set up with learning opportunities for students to share with parents, e.g. Other ‘stations’ set up with learning opportunities for students to share with parents, e.g. 1.Examples of typical activities the child takes part in in these sessions 2.Activities allowing the child to show skills learned within the specialist session 3.Work samples from the specialist sessions 4.Games / tasks to complete with the parents

3-WAY CONFERENCES or STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES Pamela Riordan ARR Coordinator Kennedy School THANK YOU!