Partnership via Virtual Open House Building Home and School Partnership

Building Home and School Partnerships Through Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences

Dr. Michael Allen, Principal

On October 1 and 2 elementary school students, parents and teachers came together to celebrate student learning during the October Student-Parent Teacher Conferences.

If you had never participated in a conference with your child present, you might have asked, “What is this all about?” or “Why are children being included in conferences?” You might even have wondered when you would get a chance to “really talk” with the teacher about your child. We too asked these questions and spent a great deal of time researching and discussing the benefits to ensure that our teaching/learning/assessing/reporting process is at the forefront of current educational theories and practices. Conferences which include the child have been used for many decades and their efficacy for promoting optimal student outcomes has been well documented over time.

At ISB, we believe that children are in charge of their learning and we give them many opportunities to know their capability besides realising that they can influence what happens to them. Students, parents and teachers come together to discuss all areas of the child’s behavior and learning with openness and transparency, so that children continue to feel empowered and responsible for their behavior and learning.

During the annual Student Led Conferences in March, students will lead all aspects of the conference. This Student Led Conference format has a different look and feel than the October student-parent-teacher conferences. During each 45-minute time slot there will be 3-4 families in the classroom, creating a more relaxed environment and giving parents more time to engage in the presentation of their child’s work.

Benefits of Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences for Students

Some of the documented student benefits of Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences include the following:

• Accountability for their learning • Ownership of the learning process • Increased commitment to school work • Increased interaction between child and parents • Increased independence • Ability to self-assess • Increased confidence and self-esteem • Development of leadership skills • Fostering of organizational, communication and critical thinking skills

Benefits of Student-Parent-Teacher conferences for Parents

Some of the documented parent benefits of Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences include the following:

• Active participation in your child’s learning • Better understanding of your child’s learning successes and challenges • Forum for parents to have a voice that is heard by teachers and children • Improved communication between home and school • The creation of a forum for you to talk with your children productively and positively