Happy Dancing....

I seem to have done an incredible amount of happy dancing this week.  It all started when we looked at some fraction assessment, then topped it off with an IKAN assessment.  Not only have we made incredible progress, we have really sharpened our focus and we are able to identify gaps, fill them and celebrate.  And celebrate we do... there was a whole lot of happy dancing - even some on the chair (to music.... very interesting choice of music though class).
We have been preparing for our second round of student led conferences and the work that goes into preparing is AMAZING.  The learners are clearly able to identify their successes and challenges and verbalise what they need to do to help themselves and what support they need.  
I looked back on my blogpost after the first round and reflected on our journey. 
In line with feedback received from the first round families were offered three options for the student led conference:

1. Fully student led
2. Student led, then time for parent/teacher discussion
3. Parent/teacher discussion only.

Interestingly I had a range of these options, all for varying reasons.  

So, tonight the second round began...

If I thought the last sessions were MAGIC, I really don't have words for tonight.  The confidence of the learner to share their learning with their family amazes and inspires me.  The learners actually know how they learn, where they learn best, when they can share their learning and when they need support.  I am totally in awe of them all.  By no means were all the conferences easy, perfect or totally straight forward - but they were all firmly focussed on the learner and the needs of the learner.  

I love student led conferences! And I love the way the learners set up the class for the conferences...

P.S. check out the 'almost complete' bottle bivy in the background....

Student led conferences...

I just have to share the MAGIC of my day - student led conferences.  For years I have wanted to explore three way conferences and this year I have begun this very exciting journey.  A HUGE thank you to Claire Buist for an initial outline to enable the learners to reflect on their learning and prepare to lead their learning conference.  We have reflected on where we are at, what we can do to help ourselves with our goals, what our family can do to help and what our teachers can do to help.  We also added a reflection on our favourite learning space for different learning areas and times. 
Yesterday we had an awesome time sharing our learning conference with a friend and coaching each other to success.  This afternoon I asked the learners to set up the class ready for the learning conferences...  How cool is this...  Don't you just love the touch of the table cloth and vase?  How cool is it that the learners were able to share their space with their families.  

The MAGIC began with the first learner and carried on through to my last session.  I am in awe of the learners.  I wish I had asked for permission to video at least one of them, but as I didn't I will try and share the MAGIC in written form. 
The level of maturity of the learners amazed me.  The learners invited their family into the class and welcomed them to sit and share their learning story.  I am in awe of the confidence of the learners to share their journey.  They discussed their successes and their challenges and asked for support.  
In a way I felt almost redundant tonight.  I felt like a spectator at times, but I know the hard work that has gone into the preparation is so worthwhile.  The learners are active in their learning journey.  They are empowered to identify their learning journey, their successes, their challenges and encouraged to break the learning into manageable chunks.
I am in awe of the discussions.  I listened to learners sharing the privileges of learning, the benefits of setting up, choosing and working in various learning spaces.  I listened to the learners challenging themselves, challenging their families and challenging me to support and encourage them and also extend them.  
What a true privilege it is to work with such highly tuned learners.  I wish someone had taken the time to sit down with me and discuss my learning style or preferred learning spaces.  I am intrigued with how intune these learners are and I am welcoming another round of learning space ideas.