WHAT IS A CRITICAL FRIENDS GROUP.ppt

Who developed the Critical Friends Group Concept? ? The Critical Friends Groups (CFG) concept was developed by the National School Reform Faculty (NSRF), a program conceived of by the Annenberg Institute of School Reform (AISR) at Brown University in 1995. WHAT IS A CRITICAL FRIENDS GROUP? ? A Critical Friends Group generally range between six to twelve teachers and administrators who commit themselves to two years of learning to work together with the aim of establishing student learning es and increasing student achievement. A Critical Friends Group works together to... ? establish and publicly state student learning goals. ? help each other think about better teaching practices. ? look closely at curriculum and student work. Critical Friends group is …“ Teachers Helping Teachers to Improve Student Learning. ” The Atmosphere is... ? one of mutual trust and freedom from fear. Critical Friend s ? Teachers whose relationship is such that they can sit down with each other's work (lesson plans, classroom observation notes) on the table between them and talk about the work - its strengths, weaknesses, what can be improved, and suggestions for how that might be done. Each Meeting ? The responsibilities for developing professional development plans and activities for CFG meetings is done by each group. ? Within each of the groups teachers identify their individual professional development needs. ? Each group will discuss those needs and concerns in detail. Small groups... ? sharing activities and ideas foster a sense mon purpose at the same time honor differences in their members' styles of teaching and learning. Critical Friends …? create a collegial culture within their groups, one that promotes close reflection on practice and student work. Are Administrators involved in CFG ’ S? ? In schools where changes in teachers' thinking and practice occur, principals are publicly supportive of the CFGs and are CFG Membe