Conferring Made Simple: Tips Every Teacher Needs

Hey Reader,

Conferring with readers and writers doesn't have to feel overwhelming!

Experts agree there are 5 key steps to a successful conference:
Research • Decide • Compliment • Teach • Link

The challenge? These steps can feel time-consuming—unless you know how to simplify them.

Here’s how to make conferring quick and effective:

✅ Research – Get to know your reader or writer. Use past notes, portfolios, and quick prompts like:
“What are you working on as a reader?” or “Show me your writing work you are most proud of.”

✅ Decide – Choose one thing that will help the reader or writer move forward. Keep it simple and actionable.

✅ Compliment – Be specific and genuine about what the reader or writer is doing well right now.

✅ Teach – Demonstrate, explain, or coach the strategy so the reader or writer can apply it independently.

✅ Link – Connect the teaching to future reading or writing. End with prompts like:
“Next time we talk, I’ll ask about…”

📚Which brings me to...

Conferring doesn’t have to be time-consuming—just focused and intentional.

Ready to simply your conferences?

This conferring toolkit will help you document a students progress over time in reading and writing.

With a quick reference of what you have seen in the student throughout the month, it will be evident how the student is working towards his/her literacy goal and help you plan your next reading or writing conference.

These forms were designed around the conferring concept of:

Research • Decide • Compliment • Teach • Link