michigan coalition of essential schools welcome to the critical friends groups november 1, 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Welcome to the
Critical Friends Groups
November 1, 2013
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Welcome,
Introductions
Michigan Coalition of Essential SchoolsOutcomes:• Develop an understanding of Critical
Friends Groups• Examine research and evidence to
support Critical Friends Groups• Identify the main components of Critical
Friends Groups that improve teacher practice and student achievement
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
•What are Critical Friends Groups?•Why are they critical (essential) to improving student achievement?
•How are they developed & sustained?
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
“In order to be a high performing school, regular and frequent opportunities for peer collaboration must be formally provided as part of the school structure.”
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools• Turn to someone next to you and
share with them what peer collaboration looks like in a high performing school
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools“Research indicates that high performing
schools have an effective Professional Learning Community that regularly practices the Cycle of Continuous Improvement”
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Critical Friends Groups• Collaborate as Professional Learning
Communities in a variety of small groups
• Provide ongoing job-embedded professional development
• Train teacher leaders as facilitators
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools• Engage in authentic conversations and
work examining data and using the Cycle of Continuous Improvement
• Follow specific protocols to support these conversations and include examining student work as an important source of data
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools“Using Critical Friends’ groups and
protocols, we were able to focus our attention on student work in a guided, systematic way. This had a profound effect on our PLC work as well as instructional planning and preparation.”
Brenda Cook, Teacher, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Why Critical Friends Groups• CFG’s explicitly and intentionally change
instructional practice & impact student learning.• CFG’s use procedures and protocols that align
with the Statewide System of Support for Priority & Focus Schools
• Teacher Teams engage in the phases of Data Dialogue using CFG protocols and the Instructional Learning Cycle
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
CFG’s align w/ SPR 40 Key CharacteristicsI. Teaching for Learning-Processes used to plan,
monitor, reflect, and refine curriculum, instruction, and assessment
II. Leadership-Staff engages in collaborative inquiry focused on continuous improvement to increase student learning
III.Personnel & Professional Learning-Staff participates in learning teams and collaborates to analyze student work
Michigan Coalition of Essential SchoolsIII. (cont’d) CFG’s provide professional learning
that is needs-based, aligned, job-embedded, and results-driven.
IV. School & Community Relations-Staff collaborates to strengthen family & community relations
V. Data & Information Management-Staff collaborates to derive information from data and make decisions to increase student achievement.
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
How are CFG’s developed & sustained?
Trained teacher-leaders and facilitators• Train the Trainer Model builds capacity of
teacher-leaders to facilitate • Networking and collaboration with other
schools and districts has added benefits
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools• Aligned with MDE Professional
Development Standards and endorse Learning Forward (NSDC) standards
• Needs-based, aligned, job-embedded, and results-driven professional development
• Relevant to the day to day work• Data Driven
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Authentic dialogue and work• Data analysis/data dialogue• Focus on teaching practice and student
learning• Building capacity provides sustainability• Day to day challenges/successes
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
Small groups – varied types• Grade level• Content teams• Interdisciplinary • Teachers choose the group that will give
them quality feedback on their instructional practice
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools• Builds the capacity of teacher leaders and
distributes leadership• Improves Teacher Practice and alignment
of curriculum, instruction, and assessment• Requires Collaboration• Uses Cycle of Continuous Improvement• Drives decisions through Data
Dialogues/Digs - LASW
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
“The collective efficacy of the teachers in a school is a better predictor of student success than is the socioeconomic status of the students”.
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools“Ultimately, these trainings were most efficacious in
developing teachers' capacities to work together; learning that took root through Critical Friends Groups often spread broadly across the faculty and the processes began to show up in faculty meetings unrelated to SLC and in teachers‘ classrooms as they worked with students. CFGs gave teachers in many schools a voice among diverse colleagues and were instrumental in developing shared understandings, purpose, and mission about the grant.”
Michigan State University Independent Evaluator
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
• Q & A • Debrief• Next Steps
Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools
MCES Contact Information
Jim Bodrie: 231-730-7007, [email protected] Karen Miller: 269-967-2086, [email protected]