- Houston Independent School District
- Effective Practices
- I-9 Classroom Management
- Student Conferences
OLD-Professional Development
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Effective Practices
- PL Toolkit
- PL-1 Develops Student Learning Goals
- PL-2 Data-driven instruction
- PL-3 Design Effective Lesson Plans, Units & Assessments
- I-1 Objective Driven Lessons
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I-2 Check for Understanding
- Assess Mastery
- Begin with the End
- Checkpoints
- Chunking Text
- Closure
- Cold Call
- Exit Ticket
- Graphic Organizer
- Guided Practice
- Non-Verbal Signals
- Open-Ended Responses
- Post It
- Randomizing Responses
- Right is Right
- Running Roster
- Stretch It
- Structured Peer Conversation
- Student Conferences
- Student-Generated Questions
- Teach Back
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I-3 Differentiation
- Chunking Text
- Double Plan
- Exit Ticket
- Flexible Grouping
- Graphic Organizer
- Grappling
- HOT Question
- Independent Practice
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- Post It
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- Right is Right
- Running Roster
- Stretch It
- Structured Peer Conversation
- Student-Generated Questions
- Take a Stand
- Tiered Assignments
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- I-4 Higher Level Thinking
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I-5 Maximizing Instructional Time
- 100 Percent
- Academic Posture
- Call and Response
- Cold Call
- Do Now
- Entry Routine
- Exit Routine
- Job Assignments
- Material Organization
- Non-Verbal Interventions
- Non-Verbal Signals
- Open-Ended Responses
- Pacing Tools
- Right is Right
- Stretch It
- Strong Voice
- Student Conference
- Teach Back
- Tight Transitions
- Work the Clock
- Workstations
- I-6 Communicating Content/Concepts
- I-7 High Academic Expectations
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I-8 Student Engagement
- Academic Posture
- Call and Response
- Closure
- Cold Call
- Do Now
- Engage and Connect
- Graphic Organizer
- HOT Question
- Independent Practice
- J-Factor
- Job Assignments
- Leveled Text
- Non-Verbal Signals
- Open-Ended Responses
- Product Menus
- Randomizing Responses
- Real-World Connections
- Reinforcers
- Structured Peer Conversation
- Student-Generated Questions
- Workstations
- Work Hard, Get Smart
- I-9 Classroom Management
- I-10 Classroom Climate
- Literacy Routines
- Academics
- Swivl Pilot Program
- Professional Development
Description
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Student Conferences are an opportunity for teachers to build relationships with students by addressing behavior or academic concerns, reinforcing positive traits, and examining individual goals. A Student Conference can be in a formal setting or simply a quick five-minute informal meeting. The teacher’s role during a conference is to create a safe environment, listen, and coach students.
- Identify the purpose of the student conference. This can be done by observation or by asking open-ended questions relating to the academic or behavioral challenges of the student.
- Determine a schedule for conferences. Share the meeting time, location, and duration with students.
- Establish expectations for students who are conferencing. If you are meeting with multiple students at different times, setting behavior expectations for students as well as what they should be doing while they wait.
- Explain the purpose of the meeting to the student in advance of the conference. Each conference should have a clear plan and outcome that is individualized to the student’s goals.
- Begin the conference with “Glows” and “Grows”. Solicit student’s perception of his or her area(s) of need.
- Assist students in identifying goals to address their area(s) of need and steps to reach those goals.
- Guide students to reflect on the process and newly defined goals for growth.
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Alerts
In the interest of time, teachers may rush conferences. Reflection is the driving force behind student conferences. Take the opportunity to have students create written or oral reflection. Doing so will allow the student to make deeper connections.
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Quick Tips
Both student and teacher will benefit from asking open-ended questions that will synthesize learning. Honor the student’s strengths and goals.
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Other Strategies
Conference Grouping
Depending on the purpose of the conference, the teacher may conference with a small group or individually. Small group conferences work best when students are working toward the same goal as a team.