Prepared for the Professional Learning Community Members of WEST NEWTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL by Dan Mulligan, Ed. D., flexiblecreativity.com, January 2016 Focus on Learning Build a Collaborative Culture Excellence for ALL Students E VERY D AY. E VERY S TUDENT. N O E XCUSES. “Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.” ~Dr. Seuss

P ROFESSIONAL L EARNING C OMMUNITY Continuously Refining Our Craft Do the best you can until you know better. “Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.” ~Dr. Seuss Then when you know better, do better. Dr. Maya Angelou

Resources to Share page 2

1. Create an Environment for Learning – –Helping students know what is expected of them, providing students with opportunities for regular feedback on progress, assuring students they are capable of learning content and skills 2. Helping Students Develop Understanding – –Integrating prior knowledge with new knowledge – –Procedural knowledge: constructing a model of the steps required of the process and practicing its variations; using the process or skill fluently or without any conscious thought 3. Helping Students Extend and Apply Knowledge – –Moving beyond ‘right answer’ learning to an expanded understanding and use of concepts and skills in real-world contexts. McREL, 2012 Framework for Instructional Planning McREL, 2012

Think Pad is a resource designed to: provide evidence of understanding and participation during student-to student dialogue facilitate student reflection on their thinking

Work collaboratively (e.g., construct viable arguments, critique, agree) to identify key words that capture the essential elements of a functioning thriving Professional Learning Community with fidelity. Enjoy working with your new best friend. Attributes of a thriving PLC

Mission Statement We will provide an exemplary education for all students. Vision Statement We will provide a learning environment focused on enabling students to become globally competitive in a constantly advancing society.

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Tiered by Product and Learning Style page 25

YOUR WORD

Click on the arrow to start and stop spinner.

Research-Based Instructional Strategies page 25

H ELPING S TUDENTS D EVELOP U NDERSTANDING ( INSTRUCTIONAL P ERIOD ) Assessing for Conceptual Understanding (These are…These are not) Suggestion from Research: Open (begin) with the rigor… …but rather than rigor…scaffold the experience for students to foster rigor with nurturing…

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If you want a learner to truly understand and own essential knowledge, expand your exploration from ‘what it is’ to also ‘what it is NOT’. page 8

? ? ? ? How can you use the Where do I belong? structure to support your role as teacher/administrator? A = bh Opposite sides equal 1 right angle Right Triangle 4 sides 3 sides 4 right angles A = ½ bh Rectangle One side is the longest

O PEN T ASK AND C ONSTRUCTED R ESPONSE page 48

O PEN T ASK AND C ONSTRUCTED R ESPONSE

The Power of Our Questions

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Second Question ELA

Second Question MATH