Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools

Welcome to theCritical 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 SchoolsCritical 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 SchoolsCFG’s align w/ SPR 40 Key Characteristics

I. 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 SchoolsHow 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, Bodrie@MichiganCES.org Karen Miller: 269-967-2086, Miller@MichiganCES.org