#KchatAP (Kindergarten Chat Asia Pacific) is a monthly chat originally started for Early Childhood Educators in the Asia Pacific Region. Topics of discussion focus around best practices and support systems in early learning environments. Whether a classroom teacher, specialist, coach, or administrator, we hope you'll come discuss how we can enhance early education for your youngest learners!
Sorry... technical glitch. Hello everyone. Welcome to this week’s #KchatAP. As a way of easing in to the conversation, introduce yourself, school or location, and share a word or phrase that describes your view of Student-Led conferences (SLCs) in the early childhood.
#KchatAP I'm Pana in Taipei and although SLCs are an opportunity for Ss to share learning, it's also a valuable learning experience in itself when it's authentic!
From a letter to parents about #SLC: At UNIS Hanoi, we believe that children are in charge of their learning and we give them many opportunities to know that they are capable and that they can influence what happens to them. #KChatAP
A1: Fill in the blank: The purpose and/or benefit of student-led conferences (SLCs) in early childhood is for S's to share their knowledge with parents, show parents how they learn #KchatAP
Here the 4-5 yr olds took their own photos of what they decided they wanted to share with parents, they cut and pasted them onto their plan #SLC#agency#kchatap
Q2: Ss sometimes become shy or close up when surrounded by parents/adults waiting for them to to talk. Visual guides help, Parent prompts to help their child, and sometimes a video prepared ahead of time gives them something to show with less pressure to talk #KchatAP
It's so fun to watch those language learners come alive in their mother tongue, isn't it? Do you see a different engagement with the parents too (knowing they can speak in the language they are most comfortable?) #KChatAP
I think that SLCs are wonderful, but just like we teach parents how to talk to their children when reading together, sometimes they also need guides for how to help their child share ideas. What were some of the opinions on this at your school? #KchatAP
This year was the first year that ECE children participated in SLCs. We had about 60 parents come to a presentation about them and teachers modeled what SLCs look like. What each person's role is and what parents can do right (or wrong!) #KChatAP
Students meet with their parents, in the homeroom class for 30-40 minutes. Up to four conferences may be taking place during each time slot - this creates a quiet yet vibrant energy in the room and is less intimidating for students rather than presenting on their own.#KchatAP
Does your school have a 3-way conference session at all? I know some schools debate a time at SLCs where the student, parent, and teacher chat about goals. What is it like for you? #KChatAP
I totally agree even I don’t do SLC. I think it’s like when parents come to Parent conferences, they make a choose of what language they use, for example Chinese then we get an interpreter. #KChatAP
I will put questions out on the centers for parents to ask their child, translated into the languages of the classroom (Chinese/Korean/Spanish). This way they will know how to dig deeper
How does your school educate the parents for these types of transitions? I think the video that @catherine_leam talked about is awesome, but I'm interested in other ideas. #KChatAP
In reply to
@annlopez1981, @PanaAsavavatana, @catherine_leam
A3: my space is open during conferences for Ss to come share something they do in my class. It is interactive: usually make make or build something together. I don't have the chance to prep Ss for it, but if they choose to come they usually know what they want to share #KchatAP
The specialist component is crucial. Our Ss are so lucky to attend schools with specialist teachers. Allowing the students to share their learning there validates the work that the specialists do as well as shows that the school focuses on whole-child. #KChatAP
I tried it this year. I asked the Ss what do you want to show off to your parents, I made a list, and then I photographed those areas around the room for them to choose from. There was a blindfolding/senses game they wanted on the list. So cute! #KChatAP
So far it hasn't, I just throw the materials out and they share! Sometimes I sit with families to get kids to go a bit deeper so their parents understand what the kids are doing :P but none need help demonstrating! #KchatAP
I’m not really sure how SLC is communicated in the Elementary, but when our PreK division has something new, our Director offers parent workshops, such as learning about learning stories. #KChatAP
In reply to
@teach4Travel, @PanaAsavavatana, @catherine_leam
I tried it this year. I asked the Ss what do you want to show off to your parents, I made a list, and then I photographed those areas around the room for them to choose from. There was a blindfolding/senses game they wanted on the list. So cute! #KChatAP
I always ask them, the set up the room according to what they want to share. I have them look at portfolios but no need to 'practice' what they do daily!
As a parent-teacher myself, I think it's fun to do something different with my kids. I hear them read at home, I see their developing math skills, but I don't really hear them play different instruments or know how bad I am when trying to shoot a free-throw with them. #KChatAP
You may not have this problem...but what do you do to encourage parents who are on their phones or not really engaging with their child to participate? #KchatAP
We pre-play these moments out with the kids. My assistant and I play mom and kid and the "parent" gets a phone call. The kid practices things they can say. This year was the first one I had with NO phone interruptions! It was beautiful! #KChatAP
We pre-play these moments out with the kids. My assistant and I play mom and kid and the "parent" gets a phone call. The kid practices things they can say. This year was the first one I had with NO phone interruptions! It was beautiful! #KChatAP
At my last school, the Design/Tech Coach used an open-space area for a Makerspace. Some students came to show their parents what they do while others just played around while their siblings were going to the conference with their parents. It helped keep siblings at bay. #KChatAP
It's wonderful when parents understand the purpose of the SLC :) I think that the videoing is ok, I've had excited parents taking videos of their child explaining their Lego robot and how it works. I don't mind that. I've also had parents who text and check FB :/ #KchatAP
I will guide Ss to ask parents questions. I will also step in and model to parents how to ask the questions or play the activity. Have not really had this problem, yet. I have had an aunt do the SLC and video it to share with mom
Eek. I had a parent Skype in one year. The father got called away unexpectedly so he Skyped in to the SLC with the kid and the mom. Super cute. #KChatAP
Do you think the school wants make moves to change this? As a specialist children CHOOSE to bring their parents to my room so they really want to share something! It's wonderful for the kids :) #KchatAP
Some schools have push-back as parents can't (read: don't want to) devote much time. I know that when my own kids were in ECE and ES, my husband and I would take 2 hours. We'd try to double-up specialists... but families with 3 or more kids... it's hard! #KChatAP
Yes... my parting thought is: Thanks @PanaAsavavatana for letting me host this conversation. And thanks to all the participants and lurkers. It was great to have you here with me on my maiden voyage! I hope I didn’t screw it up too much! #KChatAP
