As an active stakeholder in the development of Michigan’s Professional Learning Standards and Policy, Learning Forward MI (LFM) stays committed to ensuring that every Michigan educator engages in effective professional learning every day. Learning Forward Michigan is the state affiliate of the international organization Learning Forward (formerly the National Staff Development Council). Our mission is to build the capacity of leaders, (both teachers and administrators) to establish and sustain highly effective professional learning.
News/Blog
The creation of a collaborative culture requires skillful leadership
By Dennis Sparks
Teacher isolation is so deeply ingrained in the traditional fabric of schools that leaders cannot simply invite teachers to create a collaborative culture. They must identify and implement specific, strategic interventions that help teachers work together rather than alone. —Richard DuFour
If the goal is quality teaching in all classrooms for the benefit of all students, then it is essential that principals and teacher leaders create a high-performance culture which has professional learning and meaningful teamwork at its core.
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Why professional reading is necessary, but not sufficient
by Dennis Sparks
In some school systems a particular book takes hold for several months and everyone seems to be reading and talking about it. The following school year it is another book, and so on.
The ideas and practices recommended in those books are seldom deeply understood, and seldom implemented, no matter how substantial and important they may be.
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Teach to Lead
by Cynthia Carver, Oakland Schools
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Denver “Teach to Lead” Summit. For two and half busy days, roughly 100 teacher leaders from 26 states gathered to learn, to create, and to be inspired. One week later, I am still reveling in the sense of possibility that grows when teachers are given voice and agency. I truly feel honored to have been included.
The biggest problem in professional development is…
by Dennis Sparks
The biggest problem in professional development is that administrators and teachers significantly underestimate the amount of effort and time required to create the new habits of mind and behavior that are necessary to provide high-quality teaching and learning for all students.
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Listening to Teachers
by Cynthia Carver, Associate Professor, Oakland University, LFM Past President
Earlier this year, I submitted a blog post titled “Defining Teacher Leadership: A Needed Conversation.” In that post, I argued the importance of taking time to talk with stakeholders about their understandings – of teaching, of learning, and of leadership – as a critical first step to elevating teacher leadership at the local level. The importance of this conversation was made very clear to me just a couple of weeks ago.
