Conferring: The Art and Agony of Letting Go

Conferring: The Art and Agony of Letting GoChrista PhillipsResource/Inclusion TeacherInman Intermediate SchoolWhen a writing conference works well it is a beautiful thing. You talk with a student, get a dialogue going, make a suggestion, and exit.

-Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi Writing Workshop: The Essential GuideTesting the WatersThe purpose of the writing conference is to fix the students piece of writing.I always have plenty of time to confer with each student.My students always come prepared with questions or concerns about their writing.I always keep thorough records to help plan my future writing instruction.My Personal Roadblocks to Great ConferencesMy perfectionism and pleaser personalityOverwhelmed by how much my students needeasier to teach to the piece of writing than to the writerMy teaching philosophy and/or expectations differ from those of the regular education teacherSpecial education backgroundIgnorance

Central QuestionsHow can I give my students the support and help they need without taking over?

What are the teachers and the students roles during the conference?

The Art of ConferringTeacher initiates the conference by asking about the students writing. Questions should be conversational. Nurture a genuine connection through eye contact and body language.Praise something early on.

Conferring cont.Student sets the agenda for the conference by describing the work that he is doing and by responding to teachers questions in the conversation. The student also asks questions about the piece that focus on his specific weaknesses.**Try to guide the student to talk about his challenges with the process of writing instead of just the product. Use writers talk.

**Prior to the conference the student has to do some work!

Now You Try!You will have an opportunity to have a conference this afternoon. Choose one of your pieces that you would like to share.

Come up with 3 questions/concerns that you would like to discuss with your mentor.Important!Teach students how to prepare for conferences, how to become an internal critic; model for them. Immerse them in writing language so they can focus on the process of writing and understand and participate in the conversation more fully.Fishbowl conferences for them so they can develop clear expectations. Or allow them to eavesdrop on other conferences.

Conferring cont.Read the piece of writing.Either the student reads, or the teacher can read to allow the student to hear it in a new way. You dont necessarily have to read the entire piece. You can read just the part where the student has questions/difficulties.Conferring cont.Teacher listens to students concerns and decides on one particular skill, technique, or strategy that will best help the student. Provide or refer to mentor texts. Refer to mini-lessons. Keep anecdotal records to use for later instruction.

Conferring cont.Student listens carefully to teachers feedback and instruction and asks questions as needed to clarify. The student should make notes to help guide them as they go back to continue work on writing.My students arent cooperating!Some students really dont know how to ask for the help they need. You will have to guide them with your expertise and further questioning.

Using the student example on the center of your table, create a list of questions that you would ask this student.

The Agony?Which part of the writing conference seems to give you, as a teacher, the most trouble?

How do you think you can improve this?

Things to Remember!When we finish the conference, we should be able to name one thing we taught to help the student become a better writer.

The student should be the one holding the pencil and writing on his paper!

The bottom line is the student decides if or when to use your advice.

Final ThoughtWhen we read a childs writing, we can always tell what needs to happen to the piece to make it better. If we were to do just that, help the student make this piece better, we will have changed the writing not the writer. It is our job during these conferences to teach the writing strategies that will help the writer not just for this piece, but for all future writing.

Judy Davis and Sharon Hill The No-Nonsense Guide to Teaching Writing ResourcesAnderson, Carl. Assessing Writers. Heinemann, 2005.

Anderson, Carl. Hows It Going?: A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers. Heinemann, 2000.

Davis, Judy and Sharon Hill. The No-Nonsense Guide to Teaching Writing. Heinemann, 2003.

Fletcher, Ralph and JoAnn Portalupi. Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide. Heinemann, 2001.

Lane, Barry. After the End: Teaching and Learning Creative Revision. Heinemann, 1993.