• Several days prior to the conferences children role-play all phases of the student-led conference presentation, practicing the dialog they will share.  Student partners take turns playing both the child and the parent.  They switch partners and present to their 4th grade reading buddies.  By the time parents come the child knows just what they will say and do.
• Children practice making introductions so when they first come in the classroom they can bring their parents over to the teacher and make introductions.
• Prior to the conference the child selects one or two “Just Right: I Can Read” books from their book box or song chart that he will read to parents. (Some teachers prefer having a tape recording of the child reading.) A child may also choose to read song and rhyme charts
• The teacher places the child’s work and portfolio on one of four conference tables when the parent and child first come in.
• Children enjoy taking their parents on a tour of the room to read the walls and do activities to demonstrate their skills in selected math, science, and literacy centers. 
• Consider taking a photo of the parent and child during the student-led conference.  This can be sent home in a “thank you for coming” card to each parent.
• End the celebration with juice and healthy treats.  Children make favorite cookies in class (see Chewy Yum-Yums recipe).  You may want to have copies of the recipe on the snack table for parents to take home.
• Parents are asked to reflect on the conference and write something positive to their child.  This is saved and the teacher later reads it to the child, and adds it to their “Memory Box”.
• Consider having photo montages in the hall and around the room showing children engaged in project learning.  Some teachers videotape children performing language and have that available for parents to see while waiting in an adjoining room (or in the hall) for their conference time to start.
• As the child and family leaves, thank them for being “parents as partners” in their child’s learning.  Encourage their continued daily commitment to “laugh and sing, talk and explore nature, and read and write” with their child every day over the summer.

Teachers who give children responsibility for their own learning will find student-led parent conferences a powerful way to celebrate the child as a learner.  When ongoing authentic assessment and student goal setting is woven into the life of the classroom, these conferences become a powerful affirmation and celebration of learning for the child and their family. N.E.

A special thank you to Barb Sagen, Debbie Rowley, Patti Kuedel, Lisa Young, Jennfier Foster and Celeste Starr for their contributions on Student-Led Conferences in Kindergarten.