STUDY GROUPS MOVE TEACHING AND

LEARNING PLANS FORWARD

Study Groups…

IMPORTANT VEHICLES FOR ACHIEVING CHANGE;

FOR ANALYZING DATA, INCLUDING STUDENT WORK;

FOR REALIZING GOALS OF A TEACHING AND LEARNING PLAN;

PROVIDE A FORUM WHERE TEACHERS CAN ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE CENTRAL TO THEIR OWN STUDENTS’ LEARNING;

ENABLE TEACHERS TO CONDUCT ACTION RESEARCH;

Study Groups…

PROMOTE CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT IN A SCHOOL;

SUPPORT LEARNING COMMUNITIES, AND

BREAK DOWN TEACHERS’ ISOLATION.

Study Groups…

“Unlike professional development designed by others, study groups provide a forum where teachers can address issues that embody values relevant to their own students’ learning.”

--Judith Warren Little

 

 

GROUPS MAY BE COMPOSED OF 4-6 TEACHERS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A COMMON TOPIC

– TYPICALLY A SINGLE GRADE LEVEL OR A DEPARTMENT WORKS WELL

Study Groups…

BEST ORGANIZED AROUND SPECIFIC TOPICS OF IMPORTANCE TO PARTICIPATING TEACHERS

EXAMPLE:

AROUND UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS IN MATH OR SCIENCE STANDARDS 

AROUND ASSESSING FOR STUDENT UNDERSTANDING

Study Groups…

STUDY GROUPS’ WORK EVOLVES OVER TIME, AND IS USUALLY SEVERAL MONTHS IN DURATION IF NOT 1-2 YEARS.

THE GROUP MIGHT START WITH A DIFFICULT STANDARD,

THEN LOOK AT STUDENT WORK, CONSIDER ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS,

AND ASK WHETHER THE WORK IS APPROPRIATE FOR A CERTAIN GRADE LEVEL

FOR INSTANCE,

ADMINISTRATORS’ SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL

Administrators’ Support…

PRINCIPALS CAN BE THE INITIATORS

PRINCIPALS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUPS

STUDY TEAMS BUILD RAPPORT, TRUST, AND SUPPORT.

IT’S ALL ABOUT LEARNING

STUDY GROUPS ARE ABOUT TEACHER AND STUDENT LEARNING, NOT MANAGEMENT

PROCEED WITH A PLAN

PREPARE TO USE DATA, AS IN STUDENT WORK AND TEACHERS’ ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

ADEQUATE TIME

IS KEY

MEET ONCE A WEEK IF POSSIBLE

DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

TAKE TIME FOR IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS.

GROUP INTERACTION SKILLS

GOOD INTERACTION SKILLS ARE VITAL AND CAN BE PRACTICED

SUCCESSFUL GROUPS BELIEVE THAT EACH MEMBER CONTRIBUTES

VALUE RISK-TAKING AND CREATIVITY

ARE ABLE TO DISCUSS DIFFICULT TOPICS.

STRUCTURE AND PROTOCOL ARE

CRITICAL

SAW’s EVIDENCE TO EXCELLENCE PROCESS PROVIDES A HELPFUL STRUCTURE

‘CRITICAL FRIENDS’ MODEL GUIDES INTERACTIONS.

SAW ONLINE SEMINARS PROVIDE ANOTHER OPTION…

THREE WEEKS IN DURATION AND ASYNCHRONOUS

PROVIDE GUIDED INTERACTION ON TOPICS

– INQUIRY LEARNING

– UNDERSTANDING, AND

– ASSESSMENT.

MOVING FORWARD WITH GOALS FOR

YOUR SCHOOL

How can your school implement important changes for increased student learning?

How can study groups help?

How can a K-16 vision help?o Content Learning

o Clear goals for graduation and college level work

SOURCES

Designing Judgment, Assessing Children’s Work in Mathematics, Jean Moon

Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics, Loucks-Horsley, et al.

Eisenhower Clearinghouse, Ideas that Work

More Sources

Learning Teams, NSDC Tools for Schools

Study Groups, NCREL Pathways