Implementing Student-Led Conferences by Jane M. Bailey, Thomas R. Guskey

Synopsis

Students and parents benefit from this powerful communication tool!

Jane Bailey and Thomas Guskey, leaders in the field of student assessment, address a nagging issue for both beginning and veteran teachers--how to effectively communicate to parents the learning progress of their children. Every teacher knows the sinking feeling of facing a sea of anxious parents with limited time for in-depth discussion.

Now there is a way for students to take responsibility in communicating their progress and for parents to get the satisfaction they deserve. In this new approach, the teacher serves as facilitator as students lead their parents through a discussion of their work. An important benefit in this innovation--students are required to evaluate and reflect upon their work!

Highlights of Implementing Student-Led Conferences include:

• Overview and philosophy of student-led conferences
• Roles and responsibilities of participants
• What an effective model looks like
• How to prepare, organize, and evaluate for maximum effectiveness
• Anticipating and handling unique situations
• The role of student-led conferences in authentic assessment and reporting

A rich resource section includes everything you need to prepare, conduct, and evaluate successful student-led conferences--sample conference announcements and formats, portfolio planners, reproducible letters, parent and student response forms, teacher surveys, and much more!

This is an essential resource for teachers and administrators at every school level to maximize time, improve communication with parents, andencourage student self-reliance.

Biography

Thomas R. Guskey is Professor of Educational Polity Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky. He has been a teacher at all levels, served as an administrator in Chicago public schools, and has worked in the area of professional development for more than 20 years. Guskey has written widely and is a regular presenter at the annual conference of the National Staff Development Council.