CAFE™ - Steps for Conferring Part III of III (DOWNLOAD)
When people started asking us to share what our conferences with children looked and sounded like, we had to step back and be really cognizant of the elements that created their structure. We began taking notes, writing down exactly what we were doing and saying, and e-mailing them back and forth to each other. As we poured over them, a common thread became apparent…we weren't focusing so much on what they were reading and how they liked it and when they thought they would finish, etc. (an informal conference), but had shifted to a conference that was more like a coaching session, based on the child's individual goal and strategy.
This reflection and new awareness led to a newly defined purpose and title for our conferring sessions, Coaching Toward a Target, and a remodeled conferring sheet to help us stay on target when we are in the moment. The focused, direct, purposeful, assessment-driven conferences were leading to exciting growth in the lives of our readers, and colleagues who were trying out the new conferring form appreciated the new focus, but wanted to know how long to spend at each step. It was a little like juggling to be in the moment of a conference and keep track of our timing as well, but that is where the numbers came from on the attached form.
The time frame on the "How to Confer" form located below is a guide for those who are trying to streamline their conferences, but isn't meant to be adhered to religiously. We are aware that your times will vary a bit depending on who you are working with and what you are working on, just as they do in our rooms.
Try the download below and see what you think.
Coaching Toward a Target
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