Conference+Transcripts

The last section of the book consists of transcripts of different kinds of conferences. As you read through them, reflect on how they can help you.

I find the transcripts of the various methods helpful. I envision returning to this section as a review to better prepare my conferences with students. As I was reading through the transcript on the demonstration method, I was reminded of having a text of my own that is marked up with Post-its. How effective to be able to flip right to the book. One thing I learned at the Home Grown institute this summer is to put tabs that relate to a skill in one place in the book. For instance, if the sticky note is about conferring it will always be in the lower corner of the book. Post-its showing another skill would be in a different place. This is another goal of mine, to have texts (mostly ones I’ve read to the class, but some of my own personal ones) marked up and in my conferring toolkit. I’m thinking I should have a duplicate copy of the book so I can read one aloud and then have one for conferring purposes. I’m also thinking that I want to be able to use one book for multiple purposes so I can reduce my materials and students are really familiar with the text. As Bobbi pointed out, it’s so important to restate the teaching point a few times so that it sticks with the student. Sara Sabourin Conference Transcripts from Bobbi Friend – The conference transcripts are helpful to me in reminding me that conferring is not an exact science. I will not take to time to record my conferences word for word, but it is helpful to see some of them just like it was great to see them modeled during readers workshop. The transcripts also remind me that the conferences need to be short and the teaching point needs to be restated three times during the conference. Also, the conference styles and teaching methods that are shown are extremely helpful. It is important for me to be reminded that effective conferences can occur in many formats and styles. The most important point is that we use the conference for the valuable teaching that we should be using it for.
 * Respond Here:**

I agree with Bobbi that it was helpful to see the various conference types highlighted to get a clearer picture of how each is meant to be conducted. I especially like that conferences on moving students to the next level and following up on a previously taught skill were included since these are conferences that will be happening on a regular basis in the classroom. The conferences presented in this chapter also give a sense for how quickly a conference moves along. I don’t expect to be quite as efficient in my beginning of the year conferencing, but know that I will improve with practice throughout the year. Stephanie Cooper

These transcripts help by giving me a "practice script" to use until I gain more confidence and experience. They also reinforce the structure of the various conferences that we have been reading about. Short, explicit instruction and coaching, and getting the students back to independent reading where they immediately practice the new information. I will need to keep in mind that that I need to take notes of my conference strategies so I can hold my students accountable for previous teaching and we can revisit that teaching to see if it was effective.Mike

The conference transcripts helped me quite a bit also. I appreciate being able to read them, picking up on language to use in my own conferring. I am very nervous about how to start these. Watching videos of conferring helps a lot, so for me, this is just another way it is being modeled to me. I didn't realize it while reading, but Stephanie and Bobbi are right, these are short. That all goes back to my time management issues. Stick to the point and move on. I am hoping to boost my own confidence by rereading these when it gets closer to school time, giving me a format to follow. It took a while for writing conferring to fall into place. With time, I will get better and better at reading conferences as well. TGaribay Reading through the transcripts the one thing that popped out at me immediately was that they are short, and the point of the conference is mentioned at least three times. While using conferences in writing, I find it hard to keep them short and I envision the same challenge in reading. I liked reading the conferences that showed how to move students from one level to another as my students tend to get stuck at a level and I like the concrete ways to help move them along. Sue Ronning