On Saturday, September 9, the newly trained coaches from this summer's cohort gathered at the U of H Hilton for our first on-going training session. This is a departure from support events that we've held in years past. Instead of hosting stand alone clinics, we are treating the new coaches like their own CFG and trying to build ongoing relationships and model CFG practices throughout the year.
During breakfast, the participants and facilitators responded to this Chalk Talk question: What have you done to start a group?
Obed volunteered to facilitate Connections and we did a new icebreaker called "Finding Commonalities." All the winners got a book, compliments of the Houston A+ Challenge, for their own professional libraries.
We then got to the "meat" of the day. The four facilitators had picked 4 different articles or sets of articles and 4 different protocols to use. The participants could pick the article that most appealed to them.
Mary facilitated a discussion of "Through the Lens of a Critical Friend" by Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick. Using the "Marvin's Model" protocol Donna's group discussed a series of personal essays by John Pieper: "Into the Light--Reflections from a New Coach," "Apples and CFGs in Harmony: A 'Core' Curriculum," and "Serendipity." Michaelann's group read "Seventeen Reasons Why Football Is Better Than High School" by Herb Childress, and Carolyn's group read "Taking Time to Tend to the 'Good'" by Betty Bisplinghoff. Of course, each group learned something different, and I learned that people really appreciate choices.
Questions:
1) How has the CFG training helped in your starting your CFG?
“The training always remotivates me and my thought process.”
“provided tools and protocols that could easily be used.”
“We have used CFG in our leadership and team meetings. We have used protocols and consultancies. They have helped our leadership work more efficiently.”
“The training of the se of protocols has helped form successful CFG’s.”
“This training is helping me make connections as PLC’s are being implemented through HISD. The use of protocols standardizes the way meetings and issues are approached and makes it easy for me to be of one mind.”
“Still in planning, but today was helpful.”
“Well, it would have been impossible to even think of trying to start w/o the training. But, it gave me confidence and patience to ‘just do the work.’”
“Good processes for conversations & planting seeds—I get to practice the protocols.”
“The CFG Training has helped provide possible solutions to a dilemma that I have faced. I have new ideas to use to overcome roadblocks I faced in implementing a CFG.”
“Having several of us trained has helped start us on the same page—given us a strong picture of what it looks like.”
2) What new learning has occurred for you today?
“The most helpful thing for me was the Consultancy. I learned that I don’t need to be bashful. I can just put myself out there to advance and nurture CFG work. I am going to ‘plant more seeds’ and see what happens.”
“I learned I do have the capacity to say ’NO’ to situations—as long as to offer alternatives.”
“affirmation
few new protocols”
“I am more open to sharing and speaking within this group—I feel safe! Trust is here!”
“By reading ‘Lens of …Critical Friend’ I learned the process of how to be one.”
“Consultancy provided me with some ideas and confidence for introducing CFG’s to staff in October.”
“Great new protocols that I’m going to use immediately”
“The Commonality Exercise
A new protocol—Marvin’s Model
I met more new people”
“I learned a new protocol Marvin’s Model. I also learned that Disney World has a program that pays for CFG Training for Outstanding Teachers.”
“a new protocol
awareness of all of our challenges in implementing (some more, some less than ours)”
3) If you could have any additional support or materials, what would you need to be successful?
“CF all the time”
“require principals and A.P.’s to be trained!”
“Maybe a newsletter with examples of success stories from the use of CFG’s”
“I need handouts (pamphlets), pins and any other knickknacks to stir up interest in CFG between now and October meeting.”
“Perhaps more links to articles and activities on the newsletter?”
“Any CFG brochures available?”
“I would like to see sample agendas for initial meetings. I would also like to know good articles to review or books to do a book study on.”
“If the other coaches at my school agreed, a consultant to meet with us to help work out some of our issues”
4) Would you want to be a part of planning the additional meetings?
“You all do a great job
Can we vary the snacks—chips and chocolate would be nice”
“Wouldn’t mind doing the icebreaker! let me know!”
“Yes, if it does not conflict with any other meeting I have J”
“Not necessarily; but not unwilling J”
“With rehearsals 4 days a week and my other new duties—MAYBE!! Could we do an email ‘whip around’ planning session(s)?”
“Not at this time”
“Yes”
“no time to do that”
Housekeeping
5) Are you receiving the CFG newsletter?
“No, my email changed”
“Yep I get it and it’s great.”
“receiving but haven’t had time to read and enjoy”
6) Any topics you want or additional info.
“more on establishing a ‘trusty’ CFG”
“multiple CFG’s with limited coaches”
“Let’s do ‘Happy Hour’!!”
“Thanks y’all I needed recharging”
“Not right now, just keep the great info coming.”
“not sure—maybe ideas of activities other groups have done—(it might be there already)”
Other reflections
“—Working with a co-facilitator is great—working with 1+3 is awesome. Allowed for choice of participation and facilitation. Also—more styles (moves) to incorporate or ‘steal’ from J
--Also pointed out the consistency of training. We (this group of facilitators) maintained the quality and level of what CFG intended (my understanding).
--I really liked doing the chalk-talk the way it was done and the choice of articles and their (specific) relevancy.”
“I thought today’s workshop was vey rewarding for us all. It is interesting to facilitate with everyone together. I liked the idea of allowing the members to decide which article they wanted to read and be given the chance to experience different protocols. It was also valuable to hear them bring their dilemmas. Good workshop
I was beginning to settle in to review the upcoming agenda for the next CFG session and found reading the reflections motivating and helpful.
I also need to remember to reconnect to their needs not just the organizational agenda.
Michaelann
Posted by: Michaelann at October 21, 2006 07:15 AM