How To Help Deal With Student Led Conferences During Busy Holiday Seasons

The fall season in a primary classroom is full of excitement: pumpkins, costumes, and projects everywhere you look! Between the special activities and the changing seasons, it can be hard to find a quiet moment to focus on anything else.

​Yet right in the middle of all that fun, many teachers are also preparing for student-led conferences. Balancing assessments, report prep, and parent meetings during this busy time can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

If you use some of the activities that you planned for the different special days, it is possible to gather important material to use. You can also use something like My Learning Journal to help kids prepare ahead of time.

Get a free copy here

In the school where I taught, many times the district would schedule the conferences right around Halloween. Crazy, right? That's what I used to think, but in some ways I can see why they did it. The few days before and after Halloween, the kids are hyped up from the excitement and the sugar, so it's hard to focus on work for a long period of time.

With conferences scheduled throughout the day, the kids only need to be at school for a short amount of time, and they are more likely to focus if their parents are with them. Using the student-led conference format allows the child to direct the time with their parents, and the teacher meeting is only a small amount of time during the conference.

Preparing for these conferences doesn’t have to add extra stress. In fact, with a little planning, they can fit naturally into what you’re already doing in class. The key is to start gathering student work early and let the children practice explaining what they’ve learned. That way, when conference day arrives, they’re ready and excited to share.

I’ll admit, at first, I used to dread having student-led conferences right in the middle of all the fall excitement. But over time, I realized how valuable they were, not just for assessment, but for building confidence. There’s something special about watching a child proudly share their work, explain what they’ve learned, and talk about what they want to get better at next. Parents love hearing their child’s perspective, and the students walk away feeling like real partners in their learning.

Fall conferences don’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and the right tools, like my Student Led Conference Templates And Materials, you can help your students take the lead, stay on track, and make the process enjoyable for everyone. Once everything’s set up, you can relax a little and enjoy the moment watching your students shine as they share their learning journey.

So carry on with your fall celebrations and use them as a springboard for activities to share with parents during the student led conferences. You've got this!

Related Posts