Student Wellbeing
Student Agency Conferences - A chance to reflect and set learning goals
We are looking forward to our upcoming Student Agency Conferences, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 26th March, or on Tuesday 16th April for 1JR & 3MH from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm.
These conferences represent invaluable opportunities for us to strengthen our partnership between home and school and foster a supportive environment where students can take ownership and reflect on their learning. Fostering a culture of reflection promotes a growth mindset, where students view setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than obstacles to success.
During the 15-minute conference, we invite you to actively participate and encourage your child to think deeply about their learning. Research has consistently shown that students who engage in regular reflection demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement and greater motivation towards learning. When students take the time to consider what worked well, what challenges they faced, and how they can apply their learning in different contexts, they are better equipped to make meaningful connections and transfer their knowledge to new situations.
Families can support reflective thinking by asking thought provoking questions and actively listening to their responses. This approach can support your child to articulate their thoughts, identifying areas for growth, and setting meaningful goals. We have included a range of prompting questions designed to support you to guide your child in reflecting on their learning:
- Can you tell me more about the learning task?
- What helped you with your learning in the task?
- What was it that made you proud of your work?
- What can we do to support you to achieve your goal?
- Is there anything we can do with you at home to support you with your learning?
- Why did you choose that learning goal?
- What do you enjoy most about school?
- How do you think you have improved your student agency since the last student agency conference
- Can you share with me some examples of how you've taken the lead in your own learning process recently?
- How do you set goals for yourself academically, and what steps do you take to achieve them?
- Are there any specific challenges you've encountered in your learning journey, and how have you worked to overcome them?
- What strategies do you use to advocate for yourself and communicate your learning needs to teachers?
- How do you reflect on your learning experiences and use feedback to improve and grow?
- Are there any specific areas where you feel you need additional support or guidance, and how can we work together to address them?
By encouraging your child to reflect on their learning you are nurturing resilience, perseverance, and a sense of agency that will serve them well both inside and outside the classroom. We believe Student Agency conferences are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, discuss future learning, and collaboratively set meaningful goals.
Janine Hough - janine.hough@education.vic.gov.au
Brad Ryan - bradley.ryan@education.vic.gov.au
Janine and Brad.
