Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

Learning Teams Leadership & PLCsAction Planning

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Describe concepts related to professional learning communities, learning teams and distributed leadership

Identify how to change the way that professional development is thought of and conducted

Describe various strategies for building instructional capacity and improving student achievement

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The core mission of formal education is not simply to ensure that students are taught but to ensure that they learn.

- Richard DuFour4

What is a professional learning community?

Getting Started PLCs: Introduction

http://www.allthingsplc.info/tools/samples.php

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What is your definition of a professional learning community?

Review voicethread submissions: http://voicethread.com/share/1328446/

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Characteristics of PLCs

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PLC framework: 1.A solid foundation consisting of

collaboratively developed and widely shared mission, vision, values and goals

2.Collaborative teams that work interdependently to achieve common goals

3.A focus on results as evidenced by a commitment to continuous improvement

Source: Getting Started by Robert Eaker, Richard DuFour, & Rebecca DuFour 8

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (PLC)

MISSION VISION VALUES GOALS

WHY? Why do we exist?

WHAT? What must our school

become to accomplish our

purpose?

HOW? How must we behave to achieve our

vision?

HOW WILL WE MARK OUR

PROGRESS?

FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE

COMPELLING FUTURE

COLLECTIVE COMMITMENTS

TARGETS AND TIMELINES

Clarifies priorities and sharpens

focus

Gives direction Guides behavior Establishes priorities

Source: Learning by Doing by Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, & Thomas Many, 2006 9

Learning Teams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=H9O8VOfOx_E

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Small Group Activity: Select a facilitator, reporter, recorder and timekeeper

Group 1 = Identify the key principles of learning teams

Group 2 = Identify how learning teams benefit schools

Group 3 = Identify how learning teams are similar to PLCs and how they are different

Large Group Activity: Reporters from each small group will share responses

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Six learning team principles & practices:

1.Shared values and goals2.Collective responsibilities 3.Authentic assessment 4.Self-directed reflection 5.Stable settings 6.Strong leadership support

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Getting Started PLCs: Resources & Leadership:

http://www.allthingsplc.info/tools/samples.php

Large Group Activity: Using a modified final word protocol,

identify major themes from the article entitled Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning

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Effective leaders: Provide direction and influence

Focus on improving teaching and learning

Promote collective leadershipCreate a school-wide focus on goals and expectations for student achievement

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Benefits of PLCS

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Reduction of isolation Increased commitment to the mission and

goals of the school Shared responsibility for student success Greater job satisfaction and higher morale Lower rates of absenteeism (Hord, 1997) Sustained school improvement efforts (DuFour

& Eaker, 1998)

Source: http://www.centerforcsri.org/plc/literature.html

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WORKSHEET A, CONT.

Current State Desired State Professional Learning Communities 20 Assessment of student learning

is primarily an individual teacher responsibility. There is a little collaboration with almost no focus on analysis of student work.

Assessments are developed in common, shared and analyzed to improve results. Teachers meet regularly to discuss student work and revise instructional practices.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 21 Professionalism equates with

autonomy in practice. Getting better at what you do is an individual responsibility. Improvement occurs as an outcome of individual interests and efforts.

Professionalism equates with shared practice. Improvement strategies include observation of teaching practice, modeling, coaching, benchmarking, and other innovative approaches.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 22 Teachers meet on a collegial

basis to discuss curricular issues and popular teaching strategies in an improvement vacuum with little emphasis on looking at student work.

Teachers meet on a collaborative basis, as a community of practice, with the clear focus on improving the practice of instruction through reviewing and studying student work.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 23 Professional development is

based in the workshop which is episodic and disconnected to school goals and vision.

Professional development is based in the workplace and is embedded to day-to-day practice and linked to student and school goals where content coaching is a key element.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

72 – NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP \

WORKSHEET A

Small group activity: Using the PLC gap analysis worksheet, determine how the creation of or maintenance of a professional learning community can be incorporated into your action plan.

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www.polleverywhere.com In a word or phrase, describe today’s

RISL experience: To: 22333 Subject: 29692 and your message

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The remaining RISL sessions will be held in the East Conference Room (School Services Building) on: Thursday, January 13 from 8:00-4:00

Friday, January 14 from 8:00-12:00Happy Holidays!

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