Student-led conferences and three-way conferences

Student-led conferences and three-way conferences are a conversation between the student, their parents/whānau, and their teacher.

Students share their learning progress and achievement, often using selected pieces of work in their e-portfolio or learning journal.

The student is actively involved in the learning and reporting process, reflecting the intent of The New Zealand Curriculum.

Student-led conferences

• The student takes the central role during discussions.

• The teacher acts as the facilitator and prompter where necessary.

The teacher is involved but is not necessarily sitting with the student and parents all of the time. There might be four or five groupings of parents and students discussing their work in a classroom. Some schools set up stations, often for the younger students, where students and their parents move around looking at different aspects of learning.

Three-way conferencing

• Student, parents/whānau, and the teacher sit together and discuss the student’s learning, with the student taking an equal role.

This is a conversation between students, parents/whānau, and the teacher. It is a conversation about what the students are learning at school rather than what they are doing at school.

• The role of the parents is to listen to their child, ask questions and encourage the student to expand and explain information further.

• The role of the teacher is to facilitate and lead the conversation about the student’s learning and prompt the student when needed.

• The role of the student is to share their learning with their parents and reflect on the progress they have made so far this year.