Student-Led Conferences: Teacher Observations

A few years ago in our middle school we began holding student- led conferences with parents instead of the traditional teacher/parent conference. I love observing our students discuss their progress with their family members, show work samples with pride, and explain data numbers in reading and math. The last two days we held student-led conferences in the afternoons. The staff is available to answer questions and at first it was hard for me to sit back and let students conduct the conferences. Now it is a favorite time for me. I loved these observations today:
A recently widowed father sitting patiently with his son at his first conference and saying, " It is going to take me awhile, but I am going to figure all this out."
A mother tearing up when her daughter read a poignant poem written about her grandpa.
Another mother beaming from ear to ear exclaiming, "I knew it would all come together one day!"
One student had her parents undivided attention as she explained a novel she had recently finished.

Every conference doesn't have a happy ending, but we had an excellent turnout and even had parents sit in for other students' absent parents. I have learned that students love to have undivided attention from family members. When given time and an audience, middle school students all find positive things to share about their school experiences.

Sherman Creek Overlook

Right before I turn off Highway 20 to Inchelium-Kettle Falls Rd. there is a great overlook I love to check out to see what the snow and trees are doing. I stopped there over the weekend.The creek is still covered with ice and snow.Snow is peeking through the trees.
A sign of green on one branchand many others as more signs of spring are showing.

Familiar Phrases

I attended a poetry writing workshop at a conference on Saturday. We did a prompt that involved a list of "buzz" words connected with a proverb, adage, or familiar phrase.

flickr photo by Amy Watts

Familiar Phrases

"For crying out loud" has a familiar ring

As pans banged on the stove.
Mother's wonderings arose above the whir of the washer.
Did you lick those beaters and put them back in the dough?
Did you sterilize that needle before removing that sliver?
Did you wipe your boots before walking on these floors?
Did you spray the blackberry stains on your new shirt?

"Better safe than sorry" is the warning
that clacks around in my head.
Don't get close to the cliff.. you might fall off,
Go gargle with salt water... you may lose your voice,
Spin slowly so you don't end up sick,
Cradle your sister's head when you pick her up.

Around the corner by the orchard my car
left the snowy road
spinning around to again face north.
Her voice was a whisper I heard in my ear,
" Don't ever drive when the roads are slick."

by inlandempiregirl

Weekend Snapshots: February Moves Into March

What a joy to be able to walk through parts of the yard as the snow pack begins to melt. The statue of the girl reading is now peeking out after a long hibernation. A warm part in one flower bed is giving early life to daffodil bulbs. The cranesbill and snow in summer have turned green as the morning sun brings them back to life. The two fairies in the wedding garden are illuminated by the afternoon sun. My spring bouquet did not come from the garden yet, but a bunch of tulips and daffodils from the store sure gave us hope of what is to come.

To check out more weekend photos go here.

Sibling Assignment #56: The Roots of My Theater Life and Sunday Scribblings: Time Machine

Raymond Pert gave the sibling assignment this week.

Write about an experience you had in the theater that helped you grow into a better person. You will soon find his here and Silver Valley Girl's here.



Throughout my school years I performed on many stages. Between school and church programs, plays in high school, and events for Camp Fire Girls I loved to get up in front of people. The picture above shows my first production. Traditionally, in the spring each kindergarten class did a program to end the year. Ours was centered around the Mother Goose characters and I am the student in the front row third from the end on the right in the lovely, flowing lavender dress with the hat. I was Mother Goose. Some of the other students were my visitors so they didn't depict Mother Goose characters, but you can figure out what other students are portraying. I narrated us through a series of Mother Goose songs like Ten Little Indians, Oh Do You Know the Muffin Man?, and Lazy Mary.



I loved playing the part of Mother Goose. We were performing on the old Junior High stage that later was the lunch room and study hall when I attended school at that location. Looking back now at this picture I realize thirteen of us finished high school together. There was also an afternoon class that contained other friends that finished all twelve years of school with us. Many of us are also still friends today.


How did this part make me a better person? It was the first time I felt confident, helpful, and in charge. The teacher invited me to come back in the afternoon to rehearse with the other class. I was allowed to help with props with my friend Jay ( whom I knew from Sunday School). Feeling nervous is not what I remember. What comes back to me is how much I loved being on the stage performing and helping with the behind the scene production before the play.


Looking at the picture that Billy Hope photographed forty-six years ago it is amazing how much of this comes back to me. Being allowed to wear that beautiful, bright lipstick was significant. I don't know where that lovely dress came from, but lavender was my favorite color and I was thrilled to wear that ensemble. You can see the glasses in my hand that I wore to complete my creation of the character of Mother Goose.


It also made me a better person because I was immersed in Mother Goose and nursery rhymes, poetry, songs, and books that began my lifelong love for reading and writing. The roots of my life with reading and performing the written word began that year in kindergarten , but has continued to grow and mature all through my life. I haven't been up on a theater stage performing lately, but many of the skills carry me through my teaching each day.



You can find other Sunday Scribblings on Time Machine here.

Photo Hunt: Party

Our Australian Cattle Dog Shelby waited in the gazebo last fall wondering when the garden party was going to begin. To find other photo hunters using party go here.