JP Pohl
Conferencing with students


I used to conference with my students, but as usual in education we got away from the practice and I put conferencing on the back burner. But now its back and I can say that I have missed it! I conferenced a lot with my students during PRIDE and found the information very helpful in guiding my classroom instruction. I enjoy listening to all my students read. However, I have to be truthful and say that I neglect my high level group. I find it very difficult to get to that group because they are such great readers; reading fluently, using all strategies as well as expressive voices. When we do meet, every other week, they blow me away with their fluency and their comprehension of the stories. I feel as though my lower level groups "need" me more to be their cheerleader, to emphasize and promote those reading strategies that we use in the class daily.

For me, another integral part of conferencing is note taking. Again, I have found that my notes provide guidance and support in my classroom instruction. I can quickly glance at the notes and know who continues to struggle with certain skills and during our small group instruction, I can assist those students a little more in hopes of bringing them up to speed and in turn  becoming better readers.