Student writing conferences is a great time to really get to know your students as writers. And I mean in a very intimate kind of way. You want to get to know what their strengths are as a writer, what they already know, and what they don’t know how to do yet. Yes, you should certainly give your students a writing assessment. This will give you a lot of information about them as a writer. It will also help you know what to teach in your one on one conferences and small groups. But there are other ways that you can get to know your students as writers that are NOT a formal assessment.
The first way you can get to know your students as writers on a very intimate level is through individual writing conferences with students. Now, there are lots of different methods of one on one conferences. I've actually used nine different methods over the past, oh my gosh, 16 years I've been in education. Just to name a few there are:
Have you used these before? Let me know on Facebook or in the comments below how these conferences are going. I’m here for you, teacher friend!
One of my favorite student teacher writing conferences in writing workshop is the Compliment Conference. It’s so easy and super quick. You can deliver a compliment conference in one to two minutes. That's why I love them because they're so focused on what each of my students already can do and what their strengths are as a writer.
I always do Compliment Conferences the first week when I'm launching a new unit, or at the very beginning of the year. I pull up right next to them and say:
“Hey, what are you working on as a writer? What are you most proud about in your writing piece right now?”
It's just so intimate and they can share the things that they are proud of and I can celebrate with them. I'm also taking some really, really good notes on all these compliments so I can use them later. You definitely will need to have a student writing conference form, aka a good note taking system to collect that data and track those compliments every step of the way.
The main purpose of a Compliment Conference is to just pick one compliment and share that with them. Build them up as a writer focusing on their strengths. Of course please share these compliments with their families and how much they're growing as a writer too. They’ll love to hear them.
The second way to get to know your students as writers is through their hopes and dreams. This is something that I do at the very beginning of the school year. You have probably already done it. Ask them what their hopes and dreams are as a writer.
What do you want to get stronger at as a writer?
You can turn it into this fun hands-on project and hang them up around the classroom. Then talk about these hopes and dreams in a goal setting conference. Goal setting conferences are where you can come alongside your students and be there for them every step of the way. You can even tell them:
“Now that I know what your hopes and dreams are as a writer, I’m going to do everything I can to teach you the best writing strategies that’s going to help you get there the fastest. I want you to see some massive writing growth… like you're going to be shocked at how much you grew as a writer this school year. I can’t wait to see it!”
When you take their hopes and dreams and connect them with goal setting conferences, you can really get to know them as writers.
The third way to really get to know your students as writers is through peer to peer observations. This is where you can come alongside a partnership or writing club and just observe. You're not coaching in, or giving them another strategy. You are observing and taking some good notes on what you notice. Sometimes students act or respond one way when meeting with you. But when they're with their peers; they sometimes respond differently. This is the time where you can just take a step back and just observe them in a partnership or writing club.
Have you tried partnerships and writing clubs with your students yet?
Or how about sign up groups or student-led writing conferences or small groups?
Check out Jennifer Serravallo’s newest book, “Teaching Writing in Small Groups” to get started with all sorts of different writing group types. We did an awesome summer book study on this book and you can grab all the bonus video training and resources absolutely FREE right here.
Have fun, teacher friend, getting to know your students as writers on a more intimate level. Mixing up your teaching methods and doing a balance of one on one conferences and small groups is key to meeting ALL your students’ needs even if their needs are all over the place.
If you’re looking for even more FREE training, strategies, and resources on student writing conferences and small groups; come on over to my Facebook page and grab my Conferring With Readers and Writers Like a Pro Guide. This guide will give you the 9 must haves to reach ALL your students through 1-on-1 conferences and small groups every single week. Have an awesome year, teacher friend!!!
Remember this is the year to grow into your writing teacher greatness!
