1. Student Led Conferences/APTT ISPR-Sept. 23, 2015

2. “…this practice is the biggest breakthrough in communicating about student achievement in the last century. When students are well prepared over an extended period to tell the story of their own success (or lack thereof), they seem to experience a fundamental shift in their internal sense of responsibility for that success. The pride in accomplishment that students feel when they have a positive story to tell and tell it well, can be immensely motivational. The sense of personal responsibility that they feel when anticipating what it will be like to face the music of having to tell their story of poor achievement can also drive them to productive work." ~Rich Stiggins, Phi Delta Kappan, 1999 The Practice of Student Led Conferences

3. Top 10 List: Why do STUDENT LED conferences in Middle School?  Improves Home/School Communication  Practices real life-skills - communication, organization, leadership, etc.  Teaches self-evaluation, self-reflection skills  Focuses on learning  Goal setting process has buy-in by all involved

4. Top 10 List: Why do STUDENT LED conferences in Middle School?  Easier scheduling - easily accommodates late arrivals, walk-ins arrivals, walk-ins  Provides quality time between parent and child  Less stress on teacher during conference days  Accommodates parents who do not speak English  Students are the center of the conference

5. What do Middle School Teachers Say? What do Middle School Teachers Say? “I now look ahead to the types of assignments I will do this trimester and what I want to include in the portfolio.” “When students need to present to their parents the missing assignments sheet, there is no place for that student to brush off the blame on someone else.” “Kids now get their work in.”

6. What do Students Say? “ I love it; it encourages me to be very well organized.” “It helps bring out the best in me.” “I like (creating the portfolio); I’m more in charge.” “Things at home are about the same, but my mom helps me more now. helps me more now.

7. …And How About Parents? “My child is more reflective, more self confident, self-directed, owning her work.” “I am so impressed with the enthusiasm my son shows in regard to learning more and understanding schoolwork.” “I stay at conferences as long as they will let me; time is always too short.” “I want to thank you for everything the school and teachers have done.” “ I’m really proud of my son and I was so impressed with his attitude and the way he conducted himself.”

8. Preparing YOU for the Middle School Conference: Tips for Success Understand difference between your role as TEACHER & conference FACILITATOR. Understand difference between your role as TEACHER & conference FACILITATOR. *You help students work through goal setting process *You help students work through goal setting process * You help students organize their work, data, goals, etc… * You help students organize their work, data, goals, etc… * You teach the conference process/script * You teach the conference process/script *Allow time for students to practice, practice, practice! *Allow time for students to practice, practice, practice! *Have students send a personal invitation to parents *Have students send a personal invitation to parents Select work to Present: Select work to Present: ~How many pieces of work per subject area? ~How many pieces of work per subject area? ~Who selects work? ~Who selects work? *Teacher Selected; Student Selected; Shared Decision *Teacher Selected; Student Selected; Shared Decision Gather & Organize Materials, Graphs, Rubrics, Goal Sheets, etc..Ahead of Time Gather & Organize Materials, Graphs, Rubrics, Goal Sheets, etc..Ahead of Time

9. Preparing YOU for the Middle School Conference: Tips for Success Design & TEACH use of Self-Evaluation and Self-Reflection Tools Self-Evaluation: Self-Evaluation: *Rubrics *Rubrics *State Scoring Guide *State Scoring Guide Self-Reflection: Self-Reflection: *Why? *Why? -to help students understand the learning process; & how to assess themselves as a learner. -to help students understand the learning process; & how to assess themselves as a learner. - It encourages honest recognition of strengths, areas to work on, and goal setting. - It encourages honest recognition of strengths, areas to work on, and goal setting. *How? (Examples) *How? (Examples) - Responding to highly specific questions in writing - Responding to highly specific questions in writing -Making a graph of effort (Effort Tracker-coming soon), satisfaction, interest and value -Making a graph of effort (Effort Tracker-coming soon), satisfaction, interest and value -Letters to teacher or self -Letters to teacher or self - Checklists or charts - Checklists or charts -Journal or learning log entries -Journal or learning log entries

10. Data Notebook Contents: The Non-Negotiables SMART Goal: Character and Academic SMART Goal: Character and Academic (Not necessary for students to create 1 for every class. They simply need to create 1 for (Not necessary for students to create 1 for every class. They simply need to create 1 for an area of weakness, or an area they would like to improve) an area of weakness, or an area they would like to improve) Effort Tracker (Leisa will model use of this tool, with you and your students ) Effort Tracker (Leisa will model use of this tool, with you and your students ) Data (STAR, Gradebook Report, Teacher Created Assessments, etc…) Data (STAR, Gradebook Report, Teacher Created Assessments, etc…) Authentic Work Samples (How many? Who chooses?) Authentic Work Samples (How many? Who chooses?) Self-Assessment example (Rubric) Self-Assessment example (Rubric) Self-Reflection example (See examples; slide 9) Self-Reflection example (See examples; slide 9)

11. So, by the end of today’s session… 1.Choose plan for helping students create their SMART goals 2.Use “Missing Assignment Sheet” provided or create your own. 3.Use/tweak Lana’s “Student Led Conference Script/Checklist. 4.Decide number/types of work samples to be included. 5.What rubric/s do you plan to use? 6.What self-reflection pieces will be shared with parents? 7.Use template for parent invite, create your own, or have students create? 8.Sign up for a time for Leisa to present effort tracker. Please specify which periods if more than one.