Conferencing and Reporting, 2nd Edition

Conferencing and Reporting is the third book in Knowing What Counts, a series for middle- and secondary-school teachers who want to involve their students in assessment and evaluation.

Foreword by Rick Stiggins, author and educator

Conferencing and Reporting is full of practical ways for teachers to involve students in the assessment process by having students collect evidence of learning – proof – and having students communicate that proof with others. Have you ever thought there must be a better way to communicate to parents? There is! In this best-selling book, the authors have selected the top ten best ways to have students reflecting on their learning, collecting evidence of learning, sharing that evidence with others and asking for specific feedback to support further learning. This book includes detailed directions and blackline masters so teachers can begin immediately. It is often said that a village is needed to raise a child. Teachers know a team is needed if a child is going to learn and achieve. This book not only helps students learn more, it also helps parents and others come to understand what is being learned and how to best support students to learn more. In Chapter 2 the authors provide different ways for students to take part in end-of-term conferences and demonstrate their own learning. Processes and suggestions are given for Student-Teacher and Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences, as well as Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences for students with special needs. These conferencing formats OR structures are powerful companions to standards-based report cards.

Sections include:

• Conferencing and reporting are changing
• Students take a lead role
• Audiences are essential to the process
• Initiating conversations about learning
• Involving students in conferences
• Questions and responses

Includes reproducibles for teachers to adapt for their own use in schools and classrooms.

about the author

Anne Davies Anne Davies, PhD, has worked in most Canadian provinces, in American states, and overseas. She works with educators at every level—primary to post-secondary, as well as with parents. Anne is involved with schools and jurisdictions in multi-year projects, working closely with local educators. This allows her to help people find assessment-for-learning solutions that work in a specific context. Anne does sessions at home in the Comox Valley, and works with educators in various locations to provide workshops to meet local needs.

Caren Cameron Caren Cameron, M.Ed., is on leave as District Principal of Educational Programs for District #62 (Sooke) in British Columbia. She spends her time working with colleagues across North America. She has co-authored several practical books to assist busy teachers.

Kathleen Gregory Kathleen Gregory, M.Ed., teaches English in a secondary school in Victoria, British Columbia. She is also a summer-school instructor for assessment courses at the University of Victoria. Kathleen presents workshops on a variety of assessment topics and literacy strategies. Kathleen has been a district curriculum coordinator and a support teacher for classroom teachers and school teams who are integrating students with special needs. She has co-authored several books.