LAST CHAPTER
To help us work towards our school goal of improving our understanding and practice of assessment, my principal has provided our staff with a copy of Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing it Right - Using it Well, by Jan Chappuis, Rick Stiggins, Steve Chappuis, and Judith Arter. As I make my way through the book, I will be summarizing my learning as a means of organizing my thoughts and getting clarification on particular ideas.
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| Classroom Assessment for Student Learning Cover. (Accessed 2016). Uploaded to Amazon; Pearson Education. Available online at: https://www.amazon.ca/Classroom-Assessment-Student-Learning-Doing/dp/0132685884 |
Chapter 12 - Conferences About & With Students
Kinds of Conferences
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| Chappius, et al. (2012). Figure 12.2 Kinds of Conferences. Classroom Assessment for Student Learning, pg 387. |
Feedback Conferences
- make sure students know what learning targets will be discussed before the meeting
- you can ask students to reflect on strengths/weaknesses before the meeting
- Keys to Success
- focus on the intended learning (identify strengths & help guide improvement)
- offer feedback
- only offer feedback if the student demonstrates at least partial understanding
- do not do all the work for the student
- limit corrective info to the amount a student can act on at one time
Goal-Setting Conferences
- can refer to one piece of work or a collection of evidence
- not necessary for every student
- Keys to Success
- clarify the learning target
- clarify the students' current status
- state the target as a goal
- make a plan
- what action will they take
- what assistance do they need? from who?
- what is the time frame?
- collect before and after examples
- ensure student ownership; don't set the goals for them
Progress Conferences
- typical parent-teacher night conferences
- can focus on growth over time or on a student's current achievement status
* personal preference is for student AND parent/guardian present
- meeting agenda
- explain learning targets
- identify strengths, help guide improvement
- provide evidence/exemplars of student work
- end positive
* provide conference evaluation forms, follow-up as needed
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I WANT TO KNOW:
How often do you hold formal conferences with parents?
Please leave your thoughts below :)