Student-Led Conferences Celebrate Success,
Teach Life-Long Skills

For immediate release:
February 25, 2003
Tampa, Fla.

When it's time for conferences at Independent Day School-Corbett Campus (IDS-CC), students take charge. Adding a new dimension to the traditional parent/teacher-only approach to conferences, IDS students - some as young as first grade - have the opportunity to play an integral role in evaluating their progress, setting goals, and discussing it with their parents.
The method used to engage children in this process is student-led conferences, and according to teachers, parents and students alike, the benefits are tremendous. "Student-led conferences at IDS are really a celebration of all the wonderful things our children do," said primary multiage teacher Jennifer Jones. "It's parents and teachers coming together to empower students and help them become the best they can be."

"We are always working to develop the student/teacher/parent team," said Middle School Division Leader Betty George. "Student-led conferences are a wonderful way of strengthening the student part of that team."

Student-led conferences instill pride by encouraging responsibility and ownership. They foster self-awareness and help build confidence and trust. With teachers at their side for support and encouragement, students explain what they're learning to their parents, while demonstrating important analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills they'll be using throughout their lives.

"As our students move on to high school, they will be taking more and more responsibility for their own education," said George. "Helping them to self-assess and to plan and work toward a goal is an important life-long skill."

Beginning with some primary classes, and including the entire intermediate and middle school divisions, teachers carefully prepare students for their conferences. Students create portfolios of current work, and teachers coach them on how to discuss the work with their parents while following a preset agenda. According to fourth grade teacher Vickii Ausburn, this preparation enables the conference to become "a powerful experience for the students to showcase their academic work and abilities."

Fourth grade parent Paul Stach, said his daughter, Carmen, "took her conference seriously. She was thorough and enthusiastic in her explanations." Barbara McBride, parent of fourth-grader Michael, said her son, "demonstrated a real love for learning as he proudly showed me his portfolio."

As part of their preparation, students conduct a self-evaluation of their academic progress and classroom behavior - a critical element of the conference learning experience. "How students perceive themselves has a big impact on their academic performance," said first grade teacher Kim Fowler. Younger students think about issues such as how often they share and take turns, or if they're friendly and polite. Older students focus on specific skills and subject areas, as well as work habits.

"It has become clear that taking time for reflection before moving on to new topics is a brain friendly thing to do," said fifth grade teacher and Intermediate Division Leader Michelle Hill. "Evaluating their work sharpens students' analytical skills, and improves their ability to monitor their own progress."

"Student-led conferences provide a dynamic opportunity for students to assess their strengths as well as their areas of challenge," said Hill's teaching partner and Director of Studies Linda Wenzel. They believe the experience provides a solid bridge to middle school for fifth graders by focusing them on actions and consequences, and increasing their awareness of what they need to do to get the results they want. Their students agree.

"I like student-led conferences because our parents get to hear our opinions about our work and how we plan to improve," said fifth grader Travis Couey. Classmate Dylan Attal feels the same way. "Student-led conferences are better because the student has a say too."

"I believe that student-led conferences are much better," said Kaley Pellingra. "I love being in charge, and I enjoy telling my parents about my school work in my own personal way."

Founded in 1968, IDS, recently renamed Independent Day School-Corbett Campus, is a fully accredited, nonsectarian, independent school located in northwest Hillsborough County. It serves 500 plus students in grades Pre-K through 8. At IDS, all children experience learning in a nurturing and highly academic environment focused on excellence and developing a positive self-concept. IDS-CC has become recognized as an exemplary school with over 900 visitors observing and learning from and with IDS-CC teachers.