Coalition of Essential Schools Northwest | Online Registration Center

Critical Friends Group
Beginnning Coaches Seminar

Dates: August 23-26, 20010
Cost: $500 per person.
Location:Jackson High School
1508 136th St. SE
Mill Creek, WA 98012 - Map
Time: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Clock hours and credits available for an additional cost

Description: This is a 4-day workshop that will prepare teachers, administrators and other school staff to coach or participate effectively in a Critical Friends Group.

What is a Critical Friends Group?
A Critical Friends Group (CFG) brings together six to ten teachers within a school over at least two years, to help each other examine and reflect on their own classroom practice and make changes in it. After a solid grounding in group process skills, members focus on designing learning goals for students which can be stated specifically enough that others can observe then in operation. They work out strategies to move students toward these goals and collect evidence on how those strategies are working out. In a structured setting of mutual support and honest critical feedback from trusted peers, they then work to adapt and revise their goals and strategies. CFG members bring to the table student work, teacher lessons and units, case studies of students, classroom dilemmas, etc. Using structures called protocols, CFG members help each other "tune" their practice by analyzing these artifacts and issues.

Quotes from CFG Training participants:

"This has been the best professional development experience I have ever had in my 20 years in education."
"I plan on implementing the strategies I have learned next week."
"I never knew how important it is to collaborate with my peers, I learn so much from their wisdom."

For additional information or questions, contact Holli Hanson-Moore at holli@cesnw.org

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CESNW Seminars

Beginning Critical Friends Group Coaching (August 23; August 24; August 25; August 26, 2010) $500
This is a 4-day workshop that will prepare teachers, administrators and other school staff to coach or participate effectively in a Critical Friends Group. CFG’s help bridge the professional isolation that too often prevents us from using the wealth of knowledge that exists in our own colleagues to help students learn. This workshop will present the research base and philosophical goals for CFG’s then move on to the practical ways to operate and structure CFG’s in your school. You will leave with a toolbox brimming with protocols and activities and a plan for starting CFG’s at your site.

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How this works

Critical Friends Group
Beginnning Coaches Seminar

Registration form

Step 1 (of 2): What are you registering for?

CESNW Seminars

Step 2 (of 2): Tell us about yourself

Or, you can cancel this registration.

Online Registration Center

How this works

Critical Friends Group Beginnning Coaches Seminar

Registration form

Step 1 (of 2): What are you registering for?

CESNW Seminars

Step 2 (of 2): Tell us about yourself

Or, you can cancel this registration.

Critical Friends Group
Beginnning Coaches Seminar