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Critical Friends Group A Critical Friends Group is a learning community of six to ten educators who collaborate regularly to improve their practice in order to improve student achievement. The members of a CFG bring student work, teacher work, and professional literature for focused analysis and feedback from their colleagues. The guidance of a trained facilitator and the use of protocols (written structures) help members develop the trust and safety necessary for both sharing their practice and offering feedback about each other's practice. Through these regular meetings that respond directly to the needs of the members, CFGs provide ongoing and collaborative professional development. RESOURCES for INFORMATION and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT National School Reform Faculty
Coalition of Essential Schools Northwest Center - As the NSRF Center of Activity for the State of Washington, the CES Northwest Center provides beginning and continuing training for CFG coaches throughout the state. Dates and locations of scheduled trainings are available on the website. Additionally, schools, districts, or organizations may arrange for trainings.
Looking at Student Work - This collaborative is an association of individuals and organizations who are involved in examining student work and its relationship to educational reform. The purpose of the collaborative is to focus on the nature of the processes used for examining student work. The website offers protocols, resources, research, and links to related sites. www.lasw.org BOOKS AND ARTICLES This list includes some top picks for individuals interested in more information about CFGs. For a more exhaustive list, including research on the effectiveness of CFGs, please consult the NSRF website. Allen, David and Tina Blythe. (2004). The Facilitator's Book of Questions: Tools for Looking Together at Student and Teacher Work. New York: Teachers College Press. Bambino, Deborah. (March, 2002). Critical Friends. Educational Leadership, 59 (6), 25 - 27. http://www.nsrfharmony.org/gene/Bambino_2002.pdf Cushman, Kathleen. (November, 1996). Looking Collaboratively
at Student Work: An Essential Toolkit. Horace, newsletter or
the Coalition of Essential Schools, 13 (2), 41 - 52. http://www.essentialschools.org/cs/resources/view/ces_res/57] McDonald, J. et al. (2003) The Power of Protocols: An Educator's
Guide to Better Practice. New York: Teachers College Press.
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