Student+Led+Conferences

Conferences will be student led. This means that the students in each class will be responsible for leading the conversation held with parents and teachers. Use the document below to help you organize your thoughts and guide the conference. It is expected that students will reflect on their performances in class, and be able to articulate on specific strengths and areas for improvement. Ideas for discussion appear below, however the conference will not be limited to only these areas as they are meant to be individual for each student.

Conferences will discuss students' skill levels in the following areas and topics...

English language skills: reading comprehension, writing (ideas, development, focus, elaboration, word choices, fluency, conventions), speaking skills (confidence, articulation, pronunciation) Organization and preparedness: work completion, late work, efficiency, effort and level of understanding AR reading outside of school/during free time and at home Behaviour: focus, attention, levels of distraction Technology use: for personal organization, critical and creative thinking, discipline regarding misuse or abuse of technology privileges Participation: discussions, effort, individual and group work Collaboration: group work skills, communication, active listening, respect, equal effort, productivity level in class

Conferences will NOT discuss any of the following topics as they do not pertain to our students' academic goals at KIS...

--Grades or specific assignment scores; check Powerschool prior to conferences for an updated progress report (however a student's grade may be discussed if it directly relates to any of the specific skill areas mentioned above) --Hogwon/academy attendance, hogwon reading lists, Vocabulary lists other than those given in class for novel studies, SAT/P-SAT exams; these are entirely outside KIS --Academic goals outside KIS: boarding school, English camp, speech/debate/essay contests --Comparing a student's level of performance, grade, or reading level to other students in class or at the school; each student's academic progress is different and they are not compared with others, only their own skills as demonstrated in class --Reading lists: every student's individual reading list exists at his/her own Accelerated Reader. Students must choose to read whatever he/she wants on their own in order to improve reading levels. Lists of suggested books are not provided in order to encourage students' enjoyment and ownership of reading for pleasure.

Thank you
 * STUDENTS MUST BE PRESENT AT THE ASSIGNED TIME OF THEIR CONFERENCE. Teachers will not discuss a student's academic performance, goals, interests and concerns without the student and parents present together.
 * Please visit every teacher in blocks A-G; club block teachers are not visited during conferences; some cross-over teachers will be in the HS conferences in the G building conference hall, be sure to visit all teachers of the current semester.
 * Conferences are not mandatory; if unable to attend during the assigned time, please DO NOT show up at a different time as that will take time away from those who are scheduled for that particular hour. Parents should simply e-mail teachers (and CC: their child as well) if they are unable to attend and have a conference via email.