Student-led conferences help JCPS teachers show parents how their child is learning

Teachers at Wheeler and Farmer Elementary Schools embrace a different kind of parent-teacher conference

By Toni Konz Tatman | JCPS Communications

When Victoria Voll arrived at Wheeler Elementary on Tuesday for the first parent-teacher conference of the year, she wasn’t expecting to see a video of her daughter explaining what she’s learned.

But shortly after sitting down at a table in Shasta Hoback’s classroom, 10-year-old Bria Sheckles began the student-led conference with an introduction.

“Hi, Mom. Welcome to my classroom,” the fifth-grader says on the video. “Take a look around, and make yourself at home. Grab a snack, and let Mrs. Hoback and I tell you about me.”

Bria went on to say she’s kept track of her own work and progress and that she has set goals to boost her performance in math and reading. She also spoke about how she plans to achieve those goals. 

“I will pay more attention when (my teacher) gives examples on main ideas and themes,” she said. “I will study my multiplications when I get home three days a week.”

While the two-and-and-half minute video played on the whiteboard, Voll smiled and looked back at her daughter. Bria—typically outspoken—sat quietly and blushed.

When the video was over, Hoback was ready to chat and answer questions.

“This is amazing,” Voll said. “In the past, Bria would just sit in the back of the room. She would not have much of a voice while I sat there and talked to her teacher. This was very different and unique. I love hearing her tell me what’s going on and watching her be an active participant.”

Hoback, a 13-year teaching veteran, decided to change the way she conducted parent-teacher conferences after attending a district retreat over the summer led by Jamie Thornsbury, a fourth-grade teacher at Farmer Elementary. 

Jamie Thornsbury holds a student-led conference with Michael and Tanya Blair and their daughter at Farmer Elementary

Wheeler Elementary Principal Penny Espinosa attended the same retreat and came back to the school almost as excited as her teachers.

“To see the kids take ownership of their learning is very powerful,” Espinosa said. “The big benefit I see is everything leading up to the conference. They know exactly where they are, and they know exactly where they need to be. I think the best is yet to come with this.”  

This year, each of Wheeler’s fifth-grade teachers conducted student-led conferences. They spent the first six weeks teaching and sitting down with each student to talk about his or her strengths and preparing him or her for the conference.

Parents unable to attend the conference are sent a copy of the video so that they can still see the presentation.

Thornsbury, who has been conducting student-led conferences at Farmer for the past three years, said the student-led conferences allows students to “take responsibility of their own learning.”

Michael and Tanya Blair were among several parents who attended a conference at Farmer on Tuesday. Their daughter, Kailey, is in Thornsbury’s class.

“I think it’s great,” Michael Blair said. “She gets to tell her own story, and it also allows us to see—in a different way—that she’s reading, writing, and speaking.”

Hoback says she plans to continue the student-led conferences and hopes more teachers across the district will see the value of them.

“This has been the most relaxing Parent-Teacher Conference Day I have ever had,” she said. “I usually leave exhausted. But because the kids are doing so much of it, I just get to brag afterwards.”

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