For Meaningful Sharing

(e.g. with parents during student-led conferencing)

An efficient portfolio structure is crucial for successful student-led conferences. Portfolios and journals can be used as a tool for meaningful sharing between students and their families.

Student-led conferences, in which students present their portfolios and journals to their parents, can foster a sense of pride and ownership in their learning and encourage open communication between students, teachers and their families.

Portfolios, consisting of a systematic collection of student work, serve as the centre of these student-led conferences. They help to paint a comprehensive picture of the student's growth, documenting their progress and showcasing a range of work. Portfolios also serve as a tool for organised sharing and help to promote students' independence, foster a positive self-image and encourage goal-setting and reflection.

The portfolio’s role in student-led conferencing allows students to demonstrate their learning and explain it in their own words. This empowers them to take accountability for their learning, gives them a better understanding of their progress and provides insight into parent-child and child-teacher interactions. It also fosters a deeper partnership between parents, children and teachers, keeping the focus on the student's learning.