Main Street Learners
TAKE THE LEAD
19
By Lily Parker, 5th grade MSE leader and Principal Kristi Shinn
Continuing on the Leader in Me vision, Main Street Elementary
(MSE) students took the lead with student-led conferences during
the 2013 conferences. Last October, MSE student leaders in kindergarten
through fifth grade informed their parents and families of
their own learning progress. Using their leadership notebooks, students
informed parents of their progress in reading, math, behavior, and leadership.
Education researcher, Rick Stiggins believes “this practice
is the biggest breakthrough in communicating about student
achievement in the last century.” Stiggins said students sharing
their educational story can be incredibly motivating for students.
WITH 99% PARTICIPATION at our conferences,
Main Street Elementary student
leader Lily Parker interviewed
R-III Superintendent Mark
Penny about his views of Main
Street’s implementation of
student-led conferences.
What do you feel is the BEST thing about
student-led conferences?
I am impressed at how students are taking
ownership in their learning. I see kindergarten
through fifth grade leaders taking charge.
How did you feel about how students explained
what they were doing in their classroom?
The students did a great job! They were very
detailed, brave, calm and cool about all that they
were learning. They showed that they were well
prepared and in charge of themselves and their
learning targets!
What role did the teachers play in the
student-led conference?
The teachers served as facilitators of
the conference if the parents asked questions.
Main Street Elementary feels student-led conferences were
a rousing success! Our students were empowered to take
the lead with their own learning. Main Streets vision of
learning and leading with PRIDE comes to life as student’s
goal set and evaluate their own learning progress. Main
Street Elementary is within their third year working with
the Leader in Me. In May 2014, Franklin Covey designated
MSE as a Leader In Me School.
How many minutes do you think a
single conference should last?
15-20 minutes is just right. Five minutes would
be too short and 30 minutes would be too long.
What TWO words would you use t