Let the Children teach Us c/12-14

In chapter 12, it discusses that as educators we should let children lead conferences. It mentions that children have many different things to teach us. It reminded me of parent teacher conferences we recently had. At the school I do my field experience at, they are trying to involve the students more and let them lead the conferences. However, I wasn’t able to experience it but I know that teachers are preparing children to lead conferences. This chapter was written so that teachers will know how to help children speak and ask relevant questions.
In the following chapters, they also discuss why conferences are important to be conducted. It mentions that when the child talks, the child will learn. Also, when the child talks, the teacher can help. The chapters also contain ten common questions asked about the conduct of conferences. One of the many questions that interest me was “what do I do when the piece had major problems and the child thinks it is good the way it is?” I learned that the teacher must first ask the child why he or she thinks its good. It is important to understand what the child has written and why it was written the way it was. If it still has problems then perhaps the teacher should say that he or she doesn’t understand a certain part. It will help the teacher and student produce a better piece by working together.