Littlefield Middle SchoolProfessional Learning Communities

LaTonya McNeill

Instructional Coach

September 11, 2013

Who’s in the Room?

My name is ___________ and

I teach ____ (grade) ________(subject). One

of the strongest convictions I have about education is________.

Today’s Objective

Understand the significance of professional learning communities for improving:

student achievementteacher practice, andoverall school culture

Professional Agreements

Speak from the heart Have a positive attitude Respect the opinions of others Give each task 100% Ask questions when you are unsure

Show What You Know

Complete the anonymous survey found at:

http://tinyurl.com/qz54tfn

Chop It Up

If this were the worst professional development you’ve ever attended, what would have happened or not happened?

If this were the best professional development you’ve ever attended, what would be the outcome?

I Know What You’re ThinkingOn a sticky note, write ONE fact, idea or personal belief about professional

learning communities.

What Are Professional Learning Communities

A group of people who take an active, reflective, collaborative, learning-oriented, and growth-promoting approach toward the mysteries, problems and perplexities of teaching and learning.

Mitchell and Sackney (2000)

Characteristics of Professional Learning Communities Shared mission, vision, values, goals Collaborative teams have an unrelenting

FOCUS ON LEARNING Collaborative inquiry into “best practice” Action oriented Commitment to continuous improvement Results oriented

Effective PLCs

An effective professional learning community has the capacity to promote and sustain the learning of all professionals in the school community with the collective purpose of enhancing pupil learning.

Louise Stoll (2004)

Professional learning

community

Working towards

sustainability

Ensuring supportive structures

Creating and

transferring knowledge

Offering learning

opportunities

Growing a learning culture Nurturing

trust and relationships

Making connections

Promoting inquiry

mindedness

In Closing

Revisit Chop It Up Activity Next Steps Feedback

http://tinyurl.com/q8wd92u

Littlefield Middle SchoolProfessional Learning CommunitiesPart II

LaTonya McNeill

Instructional Coach

September 18, 2013

Brainstorming…

Obstacles for implementing? Of those in your span of control, what can you do to address? (possibly sort into two columns)

“One student at a time” What does this mean to you in the context of student learning?

What counts as evidence of student learning? What does a focus on learning look like?

Hand in Hand, We All LearnUltimately there are two kinds of schools: learning enriched schools and learning impoverished schools. I have yet to see a school where learning curves…of the adults were steep upward and those of students were not. Teachers and students go hand in hand as learners…or they don’t go at all!

Roland Barth

PLC Non Negotiables

Time Norms SMART Goal Data as a basis for decision making Product/Evidence/Artifacts

PLC Check-Up

PLC Binder’

Meeting 1: Identify Team Norms and Roles

Meeting 2: Evaluate Data and consider Smart Goal

The Guiding Questions for Every PLC

Teams focus on key questions: What do we want our students to know

and be able to do? How will we know if they know it? What will we do if they don’t know it? What will we do if they come to us

already knowing it?

Component 1: Establishing, Maintaining, and Evaluating Team Norms and Roles

PLC Binder, “Procedures” Tab- pp 6: Developing Norms (protocol)

- pp 7: Example Team Norms

Norms Practice Activity- Write your top 3 expectations for teamwork on three

separate post-its in “We will…” format. Please stay positive!

- When you are done, pass your post-its to one group member. This person will read the norms out loud to the group.

- After this person has read each one, the group should categorize the norms into similar themes.

- When your group is done, raise your hand.

Component 1: Establishing, Maintaining, and Evaluating Team Norms and Roles

Team Member Roles

- Suggestions: Handout

Kagan, The Dozen Cooperative Learning Roles

Reminder: Every member needs a role.

Component 2: Establish and Evaluate Progress Towards SMART Goals

PLC Binder, “Clear Targets” tab- pp 6: Team SMART Goal-Setting Plan (protocol)

AND

- pp 7: SMART Goal Worksheet (protocol)

Consider referencing your CSIP goal(s)

Component 3: Use Protocols to Move Through the 3-Week Cycle

PLC Binder, “Logistics” tab-- pp 1: Three Week PLC Cycle (protocol)

Step 1 Target (Learning Objectives) Step 2 Instruction (Lessons and Activities) Step 3 Collecting data (Formative Assessment) Step 4 Analyzing data (PDF: Data Protocol)

What do we do with the students who have not learned the target?

Step 5 Determine new target (Begin @ Step 1)

Component 3: Use Protocols to Move Through the 3-Week Cycle PLC Binder, “Logistics” Tab

-- pp 2-3: PLC 3-Week Cycle Log (protocol)- To maintain as you go- Deliverable at the end of the 3-week cycle

-- pp 4: PLC Agenda and Meeting Log (protocol)- To fill out each meeting- Deliverable after every meeting

* Digital copies are on the Shared Drive* Deliverables may be emailed or printed for your Supervisor* Keep a copy for your team.

Component 4: Celebrate Successes PLC Binder, “Procedures” Tab

-- pp 2: PLC Tasks and Products (Section 1) -- Plan specific celebrations for your team

Do not overlook, or underestimate, the importance of the celebrating the successes in your work as a team!

“ Specific goals should be designed to allow teams to achieve small wins as they pursue their common purpose. Small wins are invaluable to building members’ commitment and overcoming the obstacles that get in the way of achieving a meaningful, long-term purpose.”

(Katzenbach & Smith, 1993, p. 54)

Checking for Understanding

Turn to a partner: Can you identify the 4 components of a PLC meeting?

1: Establish, Maintain, and Evaluate Team Norms and Roles.

2: Establish and Evaluate progress towards SMART Goals.

3: Use protocols to move through the 3-Week Cycle.

4: Celebrate successes

Application: Agenda Items and Deliverables to Begin Today Item 1: Establish (or Evaluate) Team Norms

deliverable: Developing Norms protocol

Item 2: Establish (or Evaluate) SMART Goal(s) for this semester deliverable: SMART Goal Setting Plan deliverable: SMART Goal Worksheet

Item 3: Step 1 of the Three Week Cycle Outline Identify objectives and write common formative

assessment for use within first three weeks deliverable: Step 1 of the 3-Week Cycle Log

Item 4: Schedule or plan criteria for a specific team celebration

Assessment of Objectives

Can you identify the four components of running every PLC meeting?

(thumbs up/down) Do you feel confident in your ability to apply

these structures to your PLC during PLC work today? (thumbs up/down)

Can you answer the Essential Question? How will you ensure that the work gets done in

your PLC?

For more information…

www.allthingsplc.info

Any member of the Admin Team, Gwen (room 123), Laura (our Instructional Coach), or anyone with her/his hand up…now

Please don’t hestiate to ask if you need help about any one of the components or steps!

Have a great year!