Conferencing Conferencing Conferences provide opportunities for students and teachers to discuss students' strengths and weaknesses, and to plan future learning experiences. As teachers conference with individual students or small groups, other class members are encouraged to continue with their reading and writing activities.
Teachers learn a great deal about students and their learning in conferences.
As students discuss their successes and difficulties, teachers can guide students to appropriate reading and writing strategies, to resources relevant to their interests and needs, or to more challenging activities. A class calendar could be used to keep students informed of their conference dates. A review of conference records will identify students who have not had a conference for an extended period of time. Students who have common difficulties or are at the same stage of language development may be brought together for conferences. These conferences could focus on specific concepts or skills.