Dear Spanish Lime Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving Break! Throughout the month of December the Spanish Limes will be busy preparing for student led conferences. This meeting is between parents and student on Friday, December 7th. Please check your email and use the sign up genius link to reserve a session. I added a few more slots for flexibility. When you come to this conference your child will greet you at the door and take you to their conference area. You and your child will read from a script of questions and answers that I previously asked. These questions go over your child’s strengths, hardships, favorite works, social, emotional and goal setting. Please make note of your child’s goals at school for you will be a big part in helping to implement those goals as well. After the scripted is read your child will show you a few of their favorite works. Please allow your child to carry out the lesson on their own and wait for them to include you in anyway. Performing lessons can be intimidating so please be patience and positive while your child works on building their presentation skills.
Why student led conferences?
· Student accountability
· Opportunity to see work in progress
· Motivates students
· Opens up communication between school and home
· Practices real life skills; communication, organization, leadership
· Teaches self evaluation, self reflection skills
· Focuses on learning
· Goal setting process has buy-in by all involved
· Creates an authentic evaluation
I want to re-share a paragraph from an academic article posted last year pertaining to the student led conferences. Enjoy!
“..this practice is the biggest breakthrough in communicating about student achievement in the last century. When students are well prepared over an extended period to tell the story of their own success (or lack thereof), they seem to experience a fundamental shift in their internal sense of responsibility for that success. The pride in accomplishment that students feel when they have a positive story to tell and tell it well can be immensely motivational. The sense of personal responsibility that they feel when anticipating what it will be like to face the music of having to tell their story of poor achievement can also drive them to productive work.” Rich Stiggins, November 1999
You child has selected work sample from all areas, analyze their strengths and weaknesses as a learner and set possible goals for the remainder of the school year. Please come to this conference prepared to listen, ask questions and acknowledge their efforts and growths. You will also be asked to help complete the goals your child has set and develop a plan to achieve them. Successful students are supported by involved parents. Thank you for attending this conference. The Spanish Limes are eager to share their school year with you.
Monday, December 10th is a professional day for parent teacher conferences. Please see sign up genius to schedule a conference time. If these times and dates do not work for you please email individually with a list of times and dates. Thank you!
December 12th the Spanish Limes and Coco Plums will attend the Nutcracker performance at the Tennessee Williams Theater from 12:00pm-2:30pm. Keep an eye out for permission slips.
Wednesday, December 19th I look forward to caroling and lights on the Holiday Conch Train!
Many Thanks,
Ms. Sally
