For years now I have done Student Led Conferences. The students have a little booklet that they go through with thier parents. We go through it the day before at school so the kids know exactly what to do. In the booklet there is a checklist of the things they are to do with their parent or visitor and they include things like: serve coffee and cookies to your guest, have them give you a spelling test, do the Calendar activities with them, fill out a comment sheet, give them a tour of the school and class. The last time I did this, last term, I had 100% attendance and not one parent wanted to meet with me! The parents that do have concerns had met with me before this time so that they could spend the confernece time with their child...it's all very relaxing and the kids love to show off their work. I have done this with grades 2-4.