Through this process, students become responsible for demonstrating what they have learned, showing their progress, and discussing future plans. At my school, these conferences have proved enormously successful in grades K-7. Everybody Wins Student-led conferences are beneficial for everyone. Relatives become aware of the programs and teaching methods at work in the school, and they observe how students interact with the teacher. Most parents say that they learn much more about their children's learning than they would if they were to talk to the teacher alone.
Students love to be in charge at the conferences.
When preparing for and conducting these conferences, students become aware of the learning process. They must work to express what and how they are learning, which builds valuable communication skills. When students take the lead, teachers gain insight into family expectations, interests, and relationships. If a parent is domineering, for example, the teacher may gain an understanding of why a child is shy in class. The teacher can then apply his or her observations to help increase the child's self-esteem.