conferences – Page 3 – Pernille Ripp

I sit here quietly, listening to them speak…

“I read 26 books this year, last year I read just read 10.”

“I learned that if I study I do much better.”

“I found out that I don’t work so well with my friends, so I can’t sit by them.”

They say this with downcast eyes, shy glances, waiting for the reaction. Waiting for the comments they know will come.

And they do.

“Wow, that’s a lot of books!”

“What a great thing to learn…”

“Yeah, I don’t learn with my friends so well either…”

They tell their stories in front of us, knowing that our faces can corroborate or distort their versions. They put themselves out there for us to see; teachers and parents. They gather, they practice, and they decide; what story will they share? What will their parents leave knowing? Who will they become once their parents come into these hallowed hallways and they are no longer surrounded by friends?

So I sit here grateful that I get to listen in. That I get to see the care they take. The consideration they put into their words and how their parents thoughtfully ponder and prod when needed. I didn’t know if student-led conferences would be enough for parents at the middle school level. I didn’t know if the kids could do it. I didn’t know what they would say, if they would care, if their parents would get all of the information they needed. But they did and they have. And I sit here listening to their stories and uncover the bits and pieces that have seemed to be missing for me all year. Now, I understand why a child reacts that way. Now I see how they tick. I wish I would have know that much sooner.

When our students share their stories, we let them figure themselves out. We let them decide what they need to tell, what they need to work on. We help them prepare, push them harder to uncover their challenges and embrace them rather than hide them away. When we do student-led conferences, whether completely or as part of our conference, we let the students decide how they will be known. Think of the power in that. Think of what that tells their students about their voice and the choices they make.

PS: Want to learn more about actually doing student-led conferences, go here

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark, who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. The second edition of my first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” will be published by Routledge in the fall. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press. Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being a teacher, conferences, ideas, parents

3 Ideas For More Meaningful 5 Minute Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 15, 2014 Pernille Ripp

This week I had my first experience with the 5 minute drive-by conference. You know the one; all the teachers in the lunchroom at their own table, parents waiting in line, and once the timer starts, off we go for non-stop talking, the only caveat being you only get 5 minutes. Not exactly my cozy student-led conferences that I love so much. Why the change? Besides that this is how we do it at my new school, I also have 113 students. I don’t even know how I could possibly give them a longer student-led conference at the moment without spending weeks on it. And still, I wanted my students to be a part of it. I still wanted it to be worth the time for the parents, I wanted it to be meaningful. I therefore did this:

The students reflected beforehand. As always I had my students reflect on what their grades should be, what they were proud of and what they accomplished. I invited all of my students to come to their conference but knew that few of them would, but their voice needs to be present. This sheet allowed me to have the conference focus on their learning journey, not just what my thoughts were.

I reflected and wrote down beforehand. I knew it would take a long time for me to write strengths and goals for all of my students, but I knew it was worth it. In the week preceding conferences I spent every evening thinking about each child, writing down what I knew I wanted to share (beside their grades). I didn’t want the conference to be focused on the grades, I wanted it to be focused on the child. I was then able to share what my thoughts were after we looked at the student’s reflection.

I asked the parents how they felt and what they thought. My gut reaction was to not ask any questions and just run it as a fast monologue. After all, with only 5 minutes I have a lot to cover, but that is not the point of these conferences. No matter the time limit, parents/guardians/students should always have the time to speak, even if you feel like it may eat up too much valuable time.

Always find something good and end with that. Ok, so this is the fourth idea which I wrote about yesterday. In every conference I made sure to end with something good. I remember how it was as a kid to have your parents go to conferences without you; that nervous feeling, that growing sense of dread. As a teacher I want to make sure my students know that I am in their corner, even if there are things to work on. Often the last thing we say is the one that leaves the freshest impression, so make it something good.

Other small ideas include:

Be wiling to set up separate conferences. I knew that some of my students needed more time for discussion so rater than wait for parents to contact me, I sent out a blanket email offering every child a longer conference at a different time in our classroom. A few responded and there were even a few surprises of who wanted a longer one. You never know until you ask.

Bring out the picture books. I send all student work home so instead of having their to display, I will have some awesome picture books out. That way, parents can at least read some awesome stories while they wait.

Just listening. Often parents know exactly what their child needs to work on or they have simply heard it before, so stop talking and listen. Ask them questions and see how much they cover that you would have covered as well. Parents know their kids, sometimes we seem to forget that (myself included).

Treat ever conference as if it is your first of the day. Every parent deserves the best of you, so keep smiling, keep the energy up. Yes, I know it is like running a marathon to be your very best self for 4 or more hours, but that is what you should be. I had water and peppermints to help me keep up the spirit. We owe it those waiting to meet with us.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being a teacher, conferences, Student

There Is Always Something Good

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 Pernille Ripp

I am exhausted. Eyes feel like cotton balls, my head is spinning. The boots on my feet feel like they weigh 20 pounds each. Welcome to the day after parent-teacher conferences; a marathon of 5 minute conferences in a 4 hour span that leaves me feeling like I am not quite sure who I am or what I said. And still…

I may have rushed through every conversation. I may have not said everything I wanted to say. I may not have fulfilled every hope, that happens when you are held to a 5 minute time limit (middle school conferences at their best). I am not sure I was enough , the time definitely wasn’t, but I kn I know one thing for sure. I know that in every conference I brought up something good. I brought up something unique. Something that the child brings to our classroom, brings to my life. Every single child had something good mentioned. Every single child was worth celebrating.

Yes, there are goals and challenges, ups and downs that need to be discussed. Those pesky habits we are trying to break, those strong skills we are trying to teach. The strides we have to make, the plans we have to lay. But there is also good. And goodness in every child. Every child has something positive worth sharing. Every child is worth us smiling about. So even if the academics are in shambles, and who knew where those behaviors are coming from, look for the good, perhaps dig really deep, but remember, that these are children we get to talk about. Children who are learning what it means to be successful. Children who are learning from their mistakes. Children whose parents send us their very best child every day. Parents who need to hear that we see something worth believing in.

There is always something good to share, it is our job to uncover it. Just like our students uncover it in us every day. Just like parents believe in us every day. So dig deep if you must, but don’t give up. Uncover the goodness in each child. Uncover your belief that they can be good.

PS: I cannot wait to do student-led conferences in the spring…

conferences, new teacher, new year, Student-centered

How To Do Student-Led Conferences

August 3, 2013November 26, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I seem to have written a lot about the why of student-led conferences but then have never given a step by step approach on how to do it. Fresh in my mind from my webinar for SimpleK12 – here are the steps. Use them as you wish.

First to the Why:

Let Them Speak – Why Student-Led Conferences Are the Right Choice

Now the How

Before you start:

Think about your reasoning; what are you trying to accomplish with them?
Determine if you want full or hybrid. Full meaning all student-led with only a few minutes of teacher talk or hybrid meaning half and half between teacher ad student. I do a mixture depending on the child and the time of year.
The age of the child, the make up of your district, and how crazy of an idea this is can all help you make your decision.

First Week of School:

Inform the students that they will be leading their own conferences and why so that this does not come as a surprise to them later in the year.
This is an overall philosophy so make sure you have ways to gather their learning whether in journals, portfolios or some place for them to gather evidence.
Student-ownership of learning should be from day one. A constant question in your classroom should be, “How are you doing and what do you need work on next?”
Plant the seeds for student goal setting and help them set goals starting now. I start this on my beginning of the year student questionnaire.

Two Weeks Prior:

Have a classroom discussion to discuss the learning. What have you explored since we started, what are major themes, where have we been heading?
Then discuss assessment. How do you get assessed? How do you assess yourself? What are district assessment tools? How do you know how you have been doing?
Discuss performance – how will the students assess themselves? This can be daunting for some kids and so a class discussion or small group discussion is often a great way to get started.
Student self-reflection time – Students should have plenty of time to continue their reflection of themselves as learners. This should be a continuation of what you have been doing since the first day.
Student preparation sheet – this sheet can be tweaked to fit your needs and I often have students bring this to the conference as a support. I have a general one and a specific 5th grade spring preparation sheet. I often project these and ask students for feedback and we tweak the form to fit their needs before I give them copies of this. And this fall I actually updated my sheet – I like this one a lot better!
Start reminding parents that students are leading this and therefore must be present at their conference – I put it in newsletters and in general emails.

One Week Prior:

Check in with whole class – are there major questions or confusion that needs to be addressed?
Individual check-in with students. “Walk me through your evidence and what you want to show your parents.”
Give them time to gather the evidence that they want to show their parents, make copies, find work etc. I hand them a folder to keep it all in.
Think of ways you can showcase the classroom. Last year we had QR codes parents could scan that would show off different videos from our classroom.
Continue to remind parents that students must be present.

Day Off:

Role-play a conference with a student in front of the whole class. Often students are anxious about the experience, so doing a fishbowl demonstration really helps settle nerves and answer any last minute questions.
Have each child check their folders for everything they need.
At the end of the day, my students leave their folders and what they may need right on their table. That way when they come in they can grab it and not waste any time.
Have students remind their parents that they must be present. (It seems like overkill, but every year without fail a parent shows up without their child).

During:

Welcome and introduce the concept of student-led conference.
Showcase the parent list of questions (I laminate a copy and leave it on the table) and encourage parents to jump in.
Let the student do their thing.

Final minutes:

Take the last few minutes to wrap up and address any parent concerns. Ask if another meeting needs to be scheduled.
Hand over student questionnaire and parent questionnaire and ask them to bring it back the next day.
Repeat the students goals and make a note of them (I use one of my teacher sheets and always tell parents I will give them a copy of the sheet).
Make sure students leave behind their preparation sheets, these are great to pull out for the next round of conferences as they prepare for them and reflect back on the year.

That’s really it for me. I have all of the forms I use on this page, please feel free to use and adapt to fit your needs. If you have any questions, just reach out, my email is p (at) globalreadaloud (dot) com

being a teacher, conferences, global, global read aloud

The Global Read Aloud – My Session From The Global Education Conference 2011

November 19, 2011 Pernille Ripp

This week I had the thrill of presenting at The Global Education Conference on my passion; The Global Read Aloud. This 30 minute or so presentation was recorded, so if you would like to hear it “live” here is the link.

You can also see my slides below, I am not sure they will make much sense though without the audio. I tend to not do a lot of text.

being a teacher, conferences, Student-centered

A Student-Led Conference

November 13, 2011 Pernille Ripp

There they sit, hands clutching the paper, eyes shifting a little back and forth; the responsibility clearly weighing on them and yet…If you look a little closer, you will also notice poise, presence, and a sneaking calm. The students are ready to state their goals, to own their learning; welcome to student-led conferences.

Most of these students have never been given the control of their conference so they are more nervous than they need to be, in fact, I think they get a little glimpse of how many teachers feel. They want to do well, they want to be able to answer the questions, they want to offer their parents hope and positivity. Yet they are not afraid to bare their shortcomings, they are not afraid to discuss what the path ahead looks like. They own their education.

I leave the meetings exhilarated and proud, we shared our journey and we previewed our path. Parents had tough questions but the students were honest in their answers. Parents leave feeling satisfied, proud of their children, and part of the process.

As educators, we wonder how we lose the engagement of our students and then do conferences to them. We do education to our students acting as if they have nothing at stake, pretending to be the one true expert that will fill the empty vessels. Even if we do student-centered learning, we then forget to shape our conferences on the same model; less me, more them. I could never go back to the old conferences.