1. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Welcome to the Critical Friends Groups November 1, 2013

2. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Welcome, Introductions

3. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Outcomes: 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

4. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools What are Critical Friends Groups? Why are they critical (essential) to improving student achievement? How are they developed & sustained?

5. 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.”

6. 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

7. 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”

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools CFG’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

13. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools III. (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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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”.

20. 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

21. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Q & A Debrief Next Steps

22. Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools MCES Contact Information  Jim Bodrie: 231-730-7007, Bodrie@MichiganCES.orgBodrie@MichiganCES.org  Karen Miller: 269-967-2086, Miller@MichiganCES.orgMiller@MichiganCES.org