Lord of the Flies Part II: CCS Conferences with Students

Previously mentioned, Susan Turley gave a diagnostic assignment in which students were asked to present about a theme in Lord of the Flies in small groups.  These presentations were to gauge students current levels in a variety of areas including: writing, speaking and listening and analysis of literary and non-fiction texts.

After the presentations, Turley gave each of the students a copy of the CCS for grade bands 11 and 12.  Students then sat down with their group members, combing through the standards and assessing the presentations to see which standards they had addressed, missed or mastered.  They used the following scale to mark next to the standard:

• + : Mastery
• check mark : Did it
• check mark – : Tried it
• – : Not addressed

After students had discussed the standards in groups, the designated “project leader” sat in the inside of the two concentric circles of chairs in the classroom.  They were asked to share a “mastery level” standard and discuss “what they felt they had done well” to capture evidence of this standard.  They were also asked “Why they felt they had done this well.”  Afterward, they were prompted to share, “Where they felt they fell short.”  Turley reviewed her notes as students shared and gave her feedback.  She also asked prompting questions to the other students such as:

• What do you all think?
• Does anyone disagree?

Ultimately, Susan asked the group what grade they would give themselves on the project for the final outcome, stressing the fact that this information was to explore their own reflection and not utilized by her to determine a final grade.