Critical+Questions

=Ten Critical Questions =

The Critical Questions for Team Consideration worksheet "directs the team's attention to issues that impact practice and, thus, student achievement. Second, it calls upon the team to generate products that flow directly from the dialogue and decisions regarding those issues. One of the most effective ways to enhance the productivity of a team is to insist that it //produce.// In this case, it must produce artifacts related to the team's collective inquiry into the critical questions focused on learning." DuFour __Learning by Doing__ p.99

Each team will use the questions as a survey of the team's progress. They will create a timeline for "completion of team products." Then, the team will select one question that will be their focus for the year. The team lead should post quarterly progress reports on this page of their wikispace.


 * 1) Have we analyzed student achievement data and established quality measurable team goals that we are working together to achieve? If yes, what are they?
 * 2) Is each member of our team clear on the intended outcomes of our course in general, as well as the specific outcomes of each unit?
 * 3) Have we aligned the outcomes of our course to state goals and to high stakes tests such as the CST's and CAHSEE State exams?
 * 4) Have we agreed on how to best sequence the content of the course to help students achieve the intended outcomes?
 * 5) Have we taught students the criteria we will each use to judge the quality of their work and have we provided them with examples?
 * 6) Have we agreed on the criteria we will use in judging the quality of student work in key areas of our course such as writing, speaking and projects?
 * 7) Have we developed congruent summative assessments that help us assess the strength and weakness of our program?
 * 8) Have we established the proficiency level we want all students to achieve on our summative assessments?
 * 9) Have we developed congruent formative assessments that help identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students?
 * 10) Have we identified content and/or topics that can be eliminated so we can devote more time to essential curriculum?

An example of the timeline is found in DuFour __Learning by Doing__ p. 99 [|Critical Questions Worksheet] Sample Critical Question Progress Report: