Conducting reading conferences with your students is an important part of reading workshop. A teacher-student reading conference takes place during independent reading time within your reading workshop block. During this quick one-on-one meeting time, the teacher listens to the student read, they discuss the book that they are reading through discourse about the reading strategies that the student is using, and the teacher compliments the reader and gives them a suggestion or tip to use as they continue to read. By conferring with your students you are giving them one-on-one time devoted solely to improving their individual reading skills. It is reading differentiation at its best! Reading conferences allow students to get tailor-made individualized mini-lessons suited just for them!
It is important to make the most of the time that you have for your reading conferences. This will ensure that the student you are conferring with gets reading strategy work that will help them get stronger as a reader.
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Here are some ways that I have found that work for me to make the most of your individual reading conference time.
Grab a reading workshop kit for FREE below.
Here are some ways that I have found that work for me to make the most of your individual reading conference time.
Be Organized

Be Prepared

Be Positive

Be Present: Leave Your Voice Behind
I love using these reader take away cards to help students stay on track while they independently read. (Read about how I hold students accountable during independent reading time HERE.) I use them in two different ways. The first way I use them is during our reading conference. I will take quick notes on each card as we speak, including a compliment and a suggestion. When I leave, the reader gets to keep this card. They can use it as a bookmark, keep it in their reading folder, or staple it to their reading notebook page. When students forget their focus or goal, they can take out the card and remember our conversation during our conference and “hear” my voice once again coaching them along. I also use these reader cards on days that I did not meet with a student to confer, especially if a few days have passed. I will collect student notebooks or activity pages and correct it, and fill out a reader card with a compliment and suggestion just as if we were having a conference. When the student’s work is returned, they will see the reading card and know exactly what they are doing well and what they need to focus on as they continue to read. These cards are a great way to keep track of your conferences, too! See these reading cards HERE.
Reading conferences must be planned and purposeful, just like all of the other elements of reading workshop. Read more about planning for reading workshop HERE. These tips and strategies will help you to make the most of the time you have to confer with your students. If you are looking for more tips, check out the professional reading book: Conferring with Readers*. I love this book and refer to it often! It is a great professional read to help you understand the ins and outs of reading conferences.
How do you organize your reading conferences? Share below!
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