In an effort to enhance self confidence in students and more closely tie middle school and high school curriculums, the Everett School District has implemented a new student-led parent-teacher conference into their middle schools.
“Our hope is that it will be in direct correlation with the Culminating Exhibition Projects going on in the high schools,” principal Chuck Booth said. “And that the students will learn to be advocates for their own education.”
Cathy Hainer, project coordinator for Heatherwood Middle School, said “It’s a seamless way to connect grades six through 12.”
Titled as the “Middle School Competency Project,” students are required to meet twice a month with groups of sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students and a teacher during “portfolio period.” During this time, students work towards setting educational goals for themselves, creating portfolios of their work and writing reflections on particularly challenging or rewarding projects they have finished. The work is done as preparation for the student-led portfolio presentations with parents and teachers in late May.
While the meeting is in addition to the traditional parent-teacher conference, Hainer said, “It’s not a time for parents to take charge, but for them to ask questions, listen, and celebrate the student.”
Hainer stresses that the competencies focused on in the program were still being taught before it started, but that the portfolio and student presentation will help to strengthen and highlight those skills. “These skills were already being taught, but it makes sure every student is getting the opportunity for goal setting and reflection,” Hainer said.
“When students can set and reach goals, that builds self confidence, which facilitates the student in being successful. It’s a cyclical thing.”
Because this is the first year the competency project is being used in the district, students are asked to only focus on two of the six “competencies” while the project expands over the next three years.
“It takes time to develop these skills, and to address all six competencies in the first year of the project would be overwhelming,” Hainer said.
Alice Meng, an eighth grader at Heatherwood, said she enjoys working on her portfolio because it helps her to focus on her goals.
“It’s helped me to notice what I do and how I do it, and makes me do better,” Meng said. “And I think it will help because we can take the portfolio with us and save what we do, and it could help us get into a better college or university.”
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