The Power of a Student Conference

Conferring with your students on a regular basis is a must in the classroom, as it provides you with oh-so-many opportunities to address their individual needs.  However, it tends to be one of those things that many of us avoid.   Hopefully, after reading some more information about the "why" and "how" of a conference, you will be sold on its power.

Why should I conference?

To begin, conferences offer you an opportunity to provide individualized instruction to the learners in  your classroom.  During this time, immediate feedback, both +/-, can be given during a private conversation.  Conferring regularly with your students can prevent future misunderstandings about an assignment or your expectations of how work should be completed.  This translates into LESS work for you later and as a teacher in today's climate, who wouldn't want that?  In additional to all the benefits a conference offers the teacher, students also like them, as they provide an opportunity for you to get to know them without everyone else being involved.

When should I conference and who should I meet with during my conference?

You can conference with your students during independent work time.  Each conference takes between 5-20 minutes so you can meet with multiple students for various reasons each day.  Many teachers have conferences for writing or reading reasons, but they are also appropriate (and needed) in math activities, too!  

The beauty of a conference is that everyone gets one!  While the reason for the conference and the frequency of conference may be different, the best thing about a conference is it is for all students—struggling learners, advanced/gifted, English Language Learners, Special Education, etc.   Some of your students may need to meet with you multiple times a week, while others will only need to meet with you once every few weeks.  

What do I teach during a conference?

There are many different types of conferences; each type lending you a moment or more to address a need or provide additional instruction to push a student further, instructionally.

• On-the-Spot Conferences/Discussion Conferences
• Visit briefly with students at their desks
• Monitor student’s work or check progress
• Pre-reading or Pre-writing Conference
• Plan for the reading/writing session
• Feedback Conference
• Use this instead of writing comments on a paper.
• Share a graded assignment with your feedback
• Use the rubric whenever possible
• Additional Lesson Conferences
• Individual--maybe small group
• Can be used as Tier 2 and/or Tier 3 interventions
• (Re)teach a procedure, strategy, or skill that is needed for this student (s)
• Revision/Editing Conference
• Revise Writing/Repair Comprehension
• Proofread writing/read with a grammar focus
• Focus on spelling, punctuation, grammar, mechanics within writing/reading
• Common Core State Standards Language Strand asks us to teach grammar now--this is a perfect spot!
• Assessment Conference
• Asssess a student
• Discuss growth
• Set goals
• Reflect on assessment/growth/goals 
• 
  

How do I conference with my students?

Treat your conference as a conversation.  Be less formal than when you teach the class.  Allow the back and forth of this conversation to lead your student to new understanding.

Consider using a structure to make your Conference Effective.  These four steps will give you a way to cover all the material you have planned and have some consistency from one conference to the next.  

1. Research

2. Compliment

3.Teach

4. Link (Next Steps)

A great blog to visit for more information about conferring with your students is Two Reflective Teachers.  The image below if from their blog. 

How do I keep track of the student I meet with and what was said?

There are many forms/tools that you can use and modify to get your started. Pick one that fits your style!  

Things to consider:  

-Do you want to use a clipboard?   What about a binder?

-Will you use one form per student?  One form per day? Class list with notes page for week?

If you've moved away from the paper ways of the past, consider using an app.  Two to consider are Confer and Reading Note. 

Still looking for more information?

Visit Pinterest.  There are many great boards about holding a student conference that can give you tips and materials to use during your conference time. 

You can view some great conferences in actions by visiting the links below.  

Lucy Calkins Writing Conference

Reading Conference with Bella

Rick's Reading Conference via The Teaching Channel

Mrs. Noonan Writing Conference

References:

Anderson, C. (2005). Assessing Writers. Portsmouth: Heinemann. 
Anderson, C. (2000). How's it going?: A practical guide to conferring with student writers. Heinemann Educational Books.

Calkins, L. M., Hartman, A., & White, Z. (2003). The conferring handbook. Firsthand Books.
http://tworeflectiveteachers.blogspot.com/

http://readingandwritingproject.org/
http://www.teachingchannel.org/