Small Impromptu Conference

Learning Activity

In a small impromptu conference, the adult acts as the facilitator, not a disciplinarian.  All students involved in the incident have the chance to say what happened from their perspective, explain how they were involved, and decide what needs to happen to make it right.  

A small impromptu conference is:

• A questioning technique (using affective questions) that helps to quickly resolve lower-level incidents involving two more more people.
• Allows everyone involved to answer a series of restorative questions (affective) in front of each other.
• Encourages those involved to talk to each other, express their feelings, and think about the impact of their behavior.

Small impromptu conferences should:

• They take place as soon as an incident occurs.
• Elicit long term change.

After reviewing the videos how do you think you can incorporate small impromptu conferences in your practice with students who need support in resolving an issue or conflict?

Resources

This video is of two students (who had an incident at recess) participating in a facilitator-guided Small Impromptu Conference at St. Liborius Primary School.  

The fist scenario in this video from Jefferson County Public Schools shows how a teacher uses restorative processes to facilitate a Small Impromptu Conference with two students who had an issue in line.