portfolio – Learning Stories…

What is a Student-Led Conference?

27th March 2024 shemogani Leave a comment

Student-led conferences are a celebration of learning that involves the student and the family. On this day, students take ownership of their learning and share their learning journeys and progress with their families. The SLC’s encourage students to think and talk about their learning with knowledge and confidence. Students use a Student-Led Conference Passport, to help them navigate through the day.

Student-Led Conferences

10th April 2019 shemogani Leave a comment

‘The learning belongs to the students, not the teacher. We are supporting our students to take ownership of their learning and to be able to think and talk about their learning with knowledge and confidence. When students know how they learn best and are able to reflect on their learning, they are able to advocate for themselves.’ (Parent Survival Guide to Student-Led Conferences, NIS)

The PreK-K1 Student-Led Conference is a special day in the school calendar. Throughout the year, the students have decided what learning stories they would include in their ‘treasure box’, that showcase their growth, learning and general development.

It is a special day for the teachers, as they watch the students take ownership over their learning. In order to do this with purpose and confidence, they first practiced this task with a friend.

https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/1111151903830765568

The students are provided with a guide to help them navigate through the day’s activities.

The Treasure Box – Portfolio

At this station, students shared their portfolio boxes with their parents. These boxes are a treasure chest of learning. Students can go through the items they have treasured through the year, while reflecting on their experiences.

The Name Game

At this Literacy centre, the students followed a guide to build, write and create their name using blocks, paper, card and writing tools.

Estimation Station

At this centre, the students completed an estimation and measurement activity.

https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/1107931145692299264

The Weave

The students have been working on a weaving project in the classroom. At this centre the students were invited to complete the weave with their families.

https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/1111782766679490561

Musical Centre

The students have been excited to share a special song in Mandarin. This centre invited families to join in as the students sang along to the song.

https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/1118133101647974400

SLO’s

share their learning with peers and parents in a reflective process (SLCs)
communicate in different ways

Student-Led Conferences

5th April 2018 shemogani Leave a comment

Student-Led Conferences is a celebration of learning. On this day, students take ownership over their learning and share their learning journeys with their family. The SLC’s encourage students to think and talk about their learning with knowledge and confidence. Students use a Student-Led Conference Passport, to help them navigate through the day.

Student-Led Conference Passport

Suggested Questions and Conversation Starters

How is this connected to what you have learned before, what you already know, or could already do?
Is this learning too hard, too easy or just right?
Do you enjoy this learning? Why?
What do you think you do well?
What helps you learn?
Who helps you learn?
What gets in the way of your learning?
What do you do if you’re stuck with your learning?
What will you be learning next?
What makes this classroom a safe and focused place to learn?
Do you participate in class discussions and activities?
Is there something you wish your teacher knew about you?
Do you work well with a partner?
Are there times when you prefer to work alone?
What strengths or weaknesses do you bring to group projects?
Who do you sit with at lunch?
Is there someone in your class that you wish you knew better?

Conversation after the conference…

I am pleased to see your effort in…
I am proud of your improvement in…
I know you sometimes have difficulty with…. what would you like to focus on to help with that?
I can help you by…
How might I help you?

Stations are set up in the classroom to facilitate these discussions.

Student Agency: Share portfolio/work samples with parents at conference.

Station 1

At this station, students will share their portfolio boxes with their parents. These boxes are a treasure chest of learning. Students can go through the items they have treasured through the year, while reflecting on their experiences.

Station 2

Station 2 is a literacy centre. The students can choose to build their name using blocks or stamp their name on card. As as extension, they can build other known names or words.

Station 3

At this station, students can choose from a variety of Maths games. The station encourages students to explore concepts of number, shape, pattern and measurement.

Station 4

At station 4, the students are invited to grow a plant with their family. They need to follow the steps to complete the task.

Station 5

Mandarin Station

At this station, students can share their seed story or sing a song in Mandarin.

Station 6

Can you find my hands?

What do you use your hands for?
Are they a special part of your body? Why?

The students reflected on how they use their hands. At this station, the parents can read through the reflections, and identify their child’s hands.

: “I wash my hands, I play with my hands in the house.”

: “My hands has stripes, they look like a caterpillar. I can take stuff by my hands, I can brush my teeth by my hands.”

: “My hands touch stuff because they pick stuff up. I can make my fingers wiggle. I can shake my hands when I dance. I like to do swimming with my hands, you make your hands open wide. When I wake up I go to breakfast and I start to eat and I move my hands, because I eat when I am hungry. I like to make Lego’s with my hands.”

: “I use my hands to use a fork. I can make liquid monsters. I can play with toys. I can put on shoes with my hands. I can wipe my bottom after I go to do a poo. I can wash my hands.”

: “I like my hands because I can build something. I can eat and drink, when I have a cup in my hand, and I can drink some water. They help me play. I use it for holding mummy because I need to go to the city because I like to go to the city. My hand helps me give toys to my friends. Sometimes I use my hands to do bad things like hitting. I have to use them to tell the bees to go away. I share with my hands. They help me put my bag on my back.”

: “I like playing with my hands. I like drawing with my hands. I like making something with my hands. I use to touch something. I use my hands to hold the book and to read.” “My hands have lines. I can draw and write by my hands, I can dress up by my hands. I also can tidy up with my hands. I can open the door with my hands.”

: “My hands are skinny, I can catch the stars with my hands. I can draw by my hands, I can play with my hands.”

: “You can grab things. I can play with sand and touch sand. I can climb. I can put on shoes with my hands. I can do a handshake. I can draw with my hands with crayons and coloured pencils. I can eat our snacks with my hands. Hold my water bottle. I use my hands to wipe my bottom and I can wash my hands.”

: My hands are for grabbing things. So, I can pick up Lego’s. When I have little ‘awees’ then they heal, like a cut on my finger. I can cut paper, or play games. I can use my hands or fingers to do that. Last time I had blood on my hands and my mum helped it go away. I bumped into something because I was walking when I closed my eyes, then I tripped and hurt my hands. My hands help me get up and I need them for climbing and holding a ball. I can’t walk all by myself so my mum holds my hands, because when I was a little baby I had a carriage now I hold hands.”

: “My thumbs are bigger than Tyler’s. My other fingers are thinner than Tyler’s. I can play as dog with my fingers. I can put things back by my hands. I have dimples on my hand.”

: “I took a picture of my hands because we need it. I hold the trains and play with my hands. I hug my mummy and daddy and little brother with my hands. I like my hands because we can take the toys and play. We can play with the bead frame with my hands. It makes me happy because the books are like the computer. With my hands, I can play with dominoes.”

: “My hands have fingers, I can take stuff with my fingers. I can play with the toys by my hands.”

: “My hands help me pick up stuff so if I need to do something I can pick it up and do something. They help me pick up the knife and fork so I can stab it into the food and eat.”

: “When I was two years old, then I was a little girl and I was a little baby. When my hands got blood in them they hurt. And then I put on a plaster, a big one. I need my hands to eat food and vegetables and dinner.”

: “My two hands are so big. It is so beautiful. I touch the train with my hands.”

: “When my fingers close, it looks like rectangle. When my fingers open, it looks like square. I can grab things by my hand. I can help others with my hands. I can touch something high with my hands.”

: “There are lines on my hands. My hands help me eat and drink. When you don’t have any hands then you cannot eat. You cannot play if you have no hands. When I play in water with my hands, then they look like a sausage. I cannot read books if I have no hands because I cannot turn the page.”

: “I like to make things with my hands. I use my hands to tell other people things that I don’t like. I like to play computer games with my hands.”

SLO’s

share their learning with peers and parents in a reflective process (SLCs)
communicate in different ways

Student-Led Conferences

11th April 2016 shemogani Leave a comment

One of the most important days in an IB school is the day we celebrate learning through Student-Led Conferences.

The students have been busy sorting through their activities, samples of work, writing and photographs, and reflecting on their learning through their portfolios. They share their portfolios with their peers while reflecting on past experiences and learning. They discuss their challenges, exciting moments and share stories of growth.

On this special day students sit with their families and share their personal journeys with pride and confidence. Teachers watch in awe as students take the lead, demonstrating and communicating their greatest achievements and personal stories.

Seesaw

28th October 2015 shemogani Leave a comment

Mr. Tom came in to class to introduce the new app @Seesaw. Seesaw is a student-driven digital portfolio. The app is simple and easy to use and will be a great way to share student learning with parents. The students are excited about using this app to record their learning journeys.