Reflecting on Student-Led Conferences with Middle School Students, Parents, and Teachers

Pictured above: In December, current middle school families and FSP graduates in high school reflected on their FSP experience and the transition from middle school to high school.

Middle school student-led conferences are an important tool to help students engage with their own learning journeys. Students prepared for the meeting by reflecting on their work, their strengths, and their goals. During these conferences last Friday, they shared samples of their work, reflected on their learning, advocated for their learning needs, and shared next steps.  

Here are a few reflections from teachers, students, and parents on this model now in it's fourth-year at FSP.

“Students can pick what pieces they show – and it’s so fun to see what they choose, interesting to see the themes or patterns that emerge. Student-led conferences make the most of 5-6’s developmental stage of appreciating choice and fun. I love when students choose something to share that is still in progress – these conferences are about process, not about a perfect, finished product the way a portfolio share might be.” -- Aliza, 5-6 Teacher

“I get to see how the scaffolding of 5-6 and into 7th means that 8th-grade students are reflective in a whole new way. They can engage spontaneously in a back-and-forth conversation about their own learning. Students often reference how their thinking has changed – and sometimes the conference itself seems to contribute to a change in their thinking!”-- Pete, 7-8 Teacher

“Student-led helps us learn how to speak about our own work. Speaking well and preparing well are skills we will need in many places in life!” -- Eighth-grade student

“It gives us the opportunity to show the teachers how we see ourselves, instead of them just telling us how to see ourselves." -- Seventh-grade student

“Doing this type of conference, I get more information from my parents about how they’re thinking. It makes me feel more relieved, like we’re on the same page.” -- Seventh-grade student

“Each time I’ve done this, it’s been so different. My seventh grade student was so different as a fifth grade student. My youngest has been so reluctant to speak up – and yet she really spoke up for herself and her work on Friday. Before we saw it, we couldn’t have imagined it. It was awesome to see her speaking up about herself like that.” -- Parent of fifth and seventh-grade students

“It was marvelous to see my student become more comfortable over time with taking ownership of his work. I’ve seen him do this twice, and the first time it seemed to baffle him. This time, he was so much more at ease and had so much more command of the material. It was evident he was eager to ‘show his stuff’ and I was proud. Giving the stage to the students at this age and recognizing their agency is a powerful thing.” -- Parent of a sixth-grade student