Three-Way Conferences
7.3 Establish and maintain respectful collaborative relationships with parents/carers regarding their children's learning and wellbeing
What is the purpose of Three-Way Conferences at Camdenville?
*Gives students ownership over their learning
*It's more reflective than traditional parent-teacher interviews
*Provides clear path from improvement
*Builds partnership between school and home
*Reflective of CPS - student voice and choice
*Positive reflection - growth focus
What is the structure of a Three-Way Conference at Camdenville?
1. Teacher briefly introduces the process.
2. Student talks about the work or learning they are particularly proud of and want to share with their parent/caregiver. Have 2-3 relevant work samples available for student to talk to (either on paper or Seesaw).
3. Student talks about their goals, why they have chosen them.
4. Teacher talks about what strategies at school will help them achieve their goal.
5. Teacher/student asks parents/carers what strategies at home might help achieve the goal. Complete these on the Goal Setting sheet. (K-2 can highlight useful strategies that will help them achieve their goals on the strategies sheet as well.)
6. Teacher asks student if there’s anything else they’d like to share.
7. Student asks parents/carers if they have any questions and thanks them for their time.
How do we work with students to prepare them for the conference?
1. Students engage in Circle Time activities exploring things they feel they have improved, succeeded in, are proud of or do well at school. They complete the “I am good at” section on the Goal Setting sheet. They identify 1-3 pieces of work they want to share with their parent/caregiver or record what they are going to talk about.
2. Students discuss specific aspects of their learning and emotional/social development that they could improve. Teachers model how to turn this into a goal - including specific targets eg “To use efficient strategies to add three digit numbers together.” Or “To always use full stops and capital letters in my writing.” Or “To tell my friends when something they are doing is upsetting me.” Or “To listen to other people’s ideas when working in a group” Etc.
3. Students write their goals on the Goal Setting sheet.
4. Go through what will happen at the three-way conference. Get students to practice talking about their learning, their goals, asking if their parents have any questions and thanking them.
Three-Way Conference Tips
*Be prepared to suggest strategies to use at home.
*Provide an opportunity for students to practice - without making the conference seem scripted.
*It might be necessary to redirect parents to arrange a separate meeting to discuss issues outside of the goal setting process.
*Encourage the use of SMART goals when students are setting goals
*Provide suggestions to students around strengths
*Students might choose an aspirational goal if wellbeing goal isn't a priority
*Parents may want to reschedule the 3WC at a later date - try to stick to the 10 minute format.
*Prepare students without the conference seeming performative
Resources
Accessing 'the school interviews' platform
Goal Setting templates saved in Faculty - Teacher - Three-Way Conferences
