Student-led Conferences
Sixth and seventh grade students at Margaret Buerkle Middle school have begun holding student-led conferences each spring, instead of the traditional parent-teacher conferences often held at schools. Students assemble portfolios containing work and assessment samples from the current school year as well as self-assessments that evaluate what each student feels. Students are asked to complete reflections on their study habits and current grades. Also included in the portfolio is a copy of the most recent report card and teacher evaluations about classroom performance. Students spend approximately two weeks preparing during their advisory classes for the conferences. Invitations are sent home to parents or other family members asking them to schedule a conference time. Once conference times are scheduled, final confirmations are sent home to parents a day or two before the conference date. On the night of conferences, students meet with their family member in a designated classroom and share the items collected in the portfolio. Conferences usually last between 15 and 30 minutes. Once the conference is over, parents and students are invited to complete a survey letting us know how they felt about the experience.