Students led conferences!
By Yaque Chavez and Gracelynn Trump
October 25, 2013
South Bay is having students lead conferences--which means you, the student, have to talk to your parent about your grades and how you acted in school. They are coming up soon, so get prepared. Talking to your parents about school work is scary if have bad grades and end up getting in trouble, but on the other hand. if you have good grades, you might end up having a sweet surprise.
Elizabeth Jennings, an 8th grader at South Bay Middle School did student-led conferences last year.
“It was scary because I didn't have the best grades, and I had to tell my parents how I was slacking at school,” she said. “It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but this year will be better because i have wonderful grades.” Last year, it wasn't the best experience for her, but this year, her parents will be proud of her.
Caitlyn Nolen, a 7th grader, has never done this before but she said, “ I'm not scared because I have good grades. I am nervous though’.” She said she's not afraid to do it, but she is afraid to talk to people.
Katie King, the English teacher at South Bay Middle school, has only done this once as a teacher and she said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to reflect on their effort and plan for the rest of the year’.”
She is trying to say that this is the time to shine in front of your parents and show them what kind of person you are in school, and these conferences can also let students focus on anything they need to change.
I interviewed Paul Meyers, South Bay’s principal, about why we have student-led conferences.
“They are a great way to take ownership of their education,” Meyers said. “And it provides the student an opportunity to share what they have learned with their parents.”
Middle school students only have one mandatory conference per year, while the rest of the school has three.
“We only have one conference because we only need one. It is important at beginning for them to set goals and get good handle on what they need to do.” Meyers said.
The rest of the school doesn’t have student-led conferences. Meyers said it is like that because, “School just kind of happens for Kindergarten through 6 grade and they feel like teachers “just give them grades”. When they are in Jr High, they earn their grades.”
But what do parents think of the conferences? I interviewed Rachael Trump, parent of Gracelynn Trump, about what she thinks.
“I think they are a great way for students to be responsible and a major part of their conference,” Rachael said.
Some parents talk to their student all the time about their school work, and others prefer to talk to the teachers. Rachael said, ”I talk to my student every day about her work so we are on the same page daily about what she needs to do but I would like to hear from the teacher about how they think she is doing.”