1. EFFECTS OF CHILD-COMPILED PORTFOLIOS AND CHILD-LED CONFERENCES 1
ABSTRACT
This research explores the possible benefits of child-compiled portfolios and child-led family
conferences for 4- and 5-year-olds’ social-emotional development. Its framework stems from
current research surrounding portfolio assessment in early childhood settings, success of student-
led conferences in older grades, and self-concept in young children. Seven preschoolers and their
parents participated, all of who belonged to the same classroom. Over the course of six weeks,
children were asked to choose samples of their own work to compile a portfolio, sharing the
progress with their classmates. Children’s choices and related reasoning were recorded; over
time, the participating children began to offer more specific reasons for choosing portfolio work
samples, showing an increase in their overall awareness of learning and ability to reflect.
Children’s reasons for choosing work fell into eight categories: general appreciation, social
relationships, labor, task accomplishment, goal setting, new experiences, curiosity, and memory
making. Older children tended to use task accomplishment as their main reason for choosing
work, while younger children tended to use general appreciation as their main reason for
choosing work. Children also tended over time to participate more actively in sharing meetings
with one another, showing an increase in their self-confidence. After the five weeks, children
used their portfolios to lead their own parent-teacher conferences (now referred to as family
conferences). Children and parents were interviewed about the child-led conference structure and
attitudes were positive. Parents reported increases in self-confidence, awareness of learning, and
ability to self-reflect in their children based on their experiences with the child-led conference.
Children also reported a preference for leading the family conferences.
Keywords: preschool, portfolio assessment, child-led conference, family conference, self-
concept