The power of ownership—letting students lead parent and teacher conferences

November 10, 2010

This interesting blog post on School Spring describes a growing trend of student-led conferences.

“For years the process of parent-teacher conferences has been the same,” it writes. “The teacher hurriedly telling a parent about their child’s progress (mostly meaning their grades and participation in class) and not much time, if any, for discussion.”

It mentions an article from Education World that describes a growing trend toward conferences instead led by students, increasing the sense of ownership on the part of students and elevating them to a more equal status with the adults.

If the role of student can be successfully expanded into conferences, could it be elsewhere in the schooling process, as well?

Image: Student leading conference at McGraw Elementary, in Ft. Collins, CO