Using student led conferences instead of parent teacher conferences

Are you looking for a new way to host parent-teacher conferences? Consider switching to student led conferences to boost parent participation and student engagement. The concept works best with smaller teams where everyone can buy into the idea, but if you gain alignment, the format works at any level.

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What Is a Student-Led Conference?

A student-led conference is a parent-teacher conference where the student, not the teacher, runs the meeting and walks parents through their work, progress, and goals.

The Case for Student-Led Conferences

I first utilized student-led conferences several years ago with my 6th grade students. At the time, my school building was having challenges getting parents to attend conferences. Teachers were frustrated as a large percentage of parents would schedule a time to come in but never show up. While it can be easy to blame one side, the disconnect between home and school was clear, and our goal was to fix it.

To improve relationships with our families and find a less intimidating approach for everyone, our principal approved a test of the new format. We wanted to make students the focal point of the conferences and give them the chance to share their successes, struggles, and goals to open discussions about their learning.

Student Accountability Improves Conferences

student led conferences promote accountability from both students and teachers

Most of the work for these conferences happens during class. With all of the class preparation put into the student-led conferences, both students and parents were more likely to attend the conference as scheduled. Students felt more accountable for the event, and they even ENCOURAGED their parents to attend!

Interestingly enough, this format tends to reduce “conference anxiety” in parents. Since their child facilitates the conference, parents fear the unknown less. Students also get a chance to provide their perspective on what is going on at school.

Perhaps the biggest incentive for teachers is reduced conference prep time, but ironically, parent discussions become more robust with student input. As a bonus, students are incorporating reading and writing standards throughout the process!

Weekly Template for Student-Led Conferences

Monday:

Show students a video of students participating in a student-led conference. I took a video of one of my students' actual conferences the first year we implemented them. They LOVE watching and seeing what they are in for.
Discuss what a student-led conference is with students.
Have copies of the Student-Led Conference Evaluation Form for students to complete
Students complete the form and place it in a conferencing folder that I have for each child.

Academic strengths worksheet for student conferences

Tuesday:

Gather work samples they want to share in their conference folder.
Write an Icebreaker Letter to the parent/adult attending the conference who will begin the conference.
Edit, publish, and place the Icebreaker Letter in their conferencing folder.

Student led conference evaluation template

Wednesday:

Have students partner up with a peer and perform a “Dress Rehearsal” of their student-led conference. This peer presentation eases the jitters of sharing this information in front of others, helps with time management, and allows students to make any needed changes to their form. It also helps students practice speaking and listening effectively.

Thursday:

I double-check that all student preparation is complete. Make sure organizers are finished, work samples are accounted for, and the Ice Breaker Letter is complete.
I place a Post-it with the conference date and time on the cover of each folder for my own organization and keep them in order. This way, I know who is coming and when!
I place a Conference Discussion Form in each folder with the student/parents' names to document our meeting.
We are ready to go for the following week! I always get conference folders completed at least a week before conferences because this is when kids start being absent due to sickness. Don't wait!

I hope this helps you generate new ideas for your parent-teacher conferences. I can assure you that when you give kids ownership and accountability, both PARENTS and TEACHERS will benefit from the process!

If you are interested in a done-for-you resource to make implementing student-led conferences easy, I created an inexpensive resource with all the tools and form templates you need…

Digital and Printable Student-Led Conferences Toolkit