Sixth International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education: Connecting Research and Practice Across Contexts

Paper/Best Practice Session (1 hour)

Not language Specific

One-Way Second/Foreign Language Immersion
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion

Pre-K
Elementary (K-5)

Learn how elementary students can take ownership in showcasing oral and written language proficiency to parents and others. Techniques for sharing proficiency for all levels of elementary immersion students will be discussed. Examples appropriate to varying age groups will be demonstrated and handouts will be available.

Parents of elementary immersion students are anxious to know how their children are progressing in the target language. Many, but not all, immersion students are tested in language proficiency, and these scores are shared with parents, but many times parents are unable to correctly interpret these scores. It is important for students to have an arena where they can demonstrate their proficiency in both oral and written language. This session is designed to instruct teachers on how to set up and facilitate a student-led conference during traditional parent/teacher conferences.

A student-led conference is designed to allow each student to showcase what has been learned in the classroom, both academically and linguistically. The responsibility falls to the student to take ownership of the learning that has taken place. The teachers' role in a student-led conference is minimized during the actual conference, but teacher preparation for the conference is critical. 

There are many positive outcomes of the student-led conference such as:

* Students demonstrate their language skills by speaking and reading in the target language, allowing parents to see what their child can do linguistically

* Students carry on meaningful conversations with parents about their school work and language acquisition, instead of listening to the teachers talk about these issues

* Students take ownership in their own education

* Goals can be mutually agreed upon between parents and students long before meeting with the teacher(s).

* Conferences are generally longer in duration, however, multiple conferences can be held simultaneously which reduces teacher stress

The Davis School District has encouraged all 74 immersion teachers and 68 English partner teachers to transition from standard parent/conferences to student-led conferences in the past 3 years. The feedback from teachers and parents has been overwhelmingly positive.