The approach leerKRACHT implements in participating schools is based on three pillars: the lessons learned from successful educational improvement in systems with great educational performance, knowledge from the corporate world on how to create a 'continuous improvement' culture, and the experience our foundation has gained in working with hundreds of schools over the past 4 years.
The approach centres on creating a continuous improvement culture in a school, in which all teachers collaborate to improve the quality of education. Creating this culture uses four instruments used on a weekly basis: 1) teachers asking students for feedback, 2) teachers visiting each other’s classrooms and giving feedback, 3) teachers preparing lessons together and, 4) teachers holding 'stand-up' meetings using an improvement board. These 'stand-up' meetings we 'imported' from companies using 'LEAN' of 'Agile/Scrum' improvement techniques.
We introduce this culture in schools in cohorts of around 10 teachers at a time. Such a group of teachers builds mutual trust whilst starting to work with the four leerKRACHT instruments. Once they experience success a new cohort of teachers start. At the end of the 1st leerKRACHT year all teachers participate. The teachers are supported by the school principal and a coach. This 'field work' in the school is complemented with get-togethers with teachers and principals from other other leerKRACHT schools in the same region. These fora aim to celebrate success, share experience and jointly solve problems. After the first year, leerKRACHT supports the school for a 2nd year to help solidify and grow its new culture, then our support stops.