Patricia Zamora pzamora@eisd.net Powerful PLCs Building the Collaborative Culture of a Professional Learning Community at Work Patricia Zamora pzamora@eisd.net

The Power of Professional Learning Communities “The most promising strategy for sustained, substantial school improvement is building the capacity of school personnel to function as a professional learning community.” -McLaughlin, 1995 The path to change in the classroom lies within and through professional learning communities. Jennifer James - cultural anthropologist shared in her writings Telling Our Stories, she examines the stories that we have told ourselves and why that makes us resistant change.

What’s the Story? So what’s the story that we have told ourselves as educators. The story we have told ourselves is to buffer ourselves and close that door. “I wish they would just give me my key, my kids and ______” Or those notorious classrooms with the paper on the door?

Barriers to a Learning Community A professional norm of teacher isolation

What is a PLC? Clarity Precedes Competence “It is hard enough to explain what complex idea means for action when you understand it… It is impossible when you use the terms that sound impressive but you don’t really understand what they mean.” -Pfeffer & Sutton, 2000, p. 52 Video on Girth – emphasize using key terms in common language is powerful in the change process.

Traditional School Structures Independent Kingdoms K Individual Kingdom 1 2 3 4 5 You’ve heard it before and you may hear it again. “Weve done PLC’s” This is nothing new. Or we schdule a team to do a book study, or they say ok its our “PLC Time, but then it is back to their isolated offices or classrooms. Traditional schools focus on teaching, but in PLCs focus is on Learning.

Organized into isolated groups on an infrequent basis Psuedo PLC Structure Individual Kingdoms Organized into isolated groups on an infrequent basis Kindergarten Group First Grade Group Second Grade Group Third Grade Group Fourth Grade Group Fifth Grade Group

Professional Learning Community Defined An ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. PLCs operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-embedded learning for educators. ( DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2010) We learn together

Interdependent Collaborative Teams The PLC Structure The PLC Structure A cohesive school organized into Interdependent Collaborative Teams united by the PLC Foundation Kindergarten Group First Grade Group Second Grade Group Third Grade Group Fourth Grade Group Fifth Grade Group SHARED PURPOSE: Ensuring high-levels of learning for all students SHARED VISION: Creating structures and culture to ensure all kids learn COLLECTIVE COMMITMENTS: Clarifying how each individual will contribute to achieving the vision SHARED GOALS: Identifying indicators to monitor progress Vertical Dialogue The solid foundation is layed and shared by all. “this is the purpose of our school” Then the vision, then the next step our collective commitments that will dive our daily work. No more isolated offices and classrooms.

Characteristics of a Learning Community Shared mission, vision, values, and goals Collaborative teams are focused on learning Collective Inquiry into best practice and current reality Action Orientation and experimentation Commitment to continuous improvement Results Oriented - DuFour & Eaker Analogy I would like to share – three different people want to loose weight. One joins weigh watchers, but continues to eat the same same way. #2 Signs up for a gym and attends 1 hour a week, same eating behavior. #3. eats healthier and builds in exercise to their lifestyle. ( life style change) How long do they have to do it? Forever same concept it is ongoing continous improvement – forever.

What is Collaboration? A systematic process in which we work together interdependently to analyze and impact professional practice in order to improve our individual and collective results. (DuFour, DuFour, & Eaker, Getting Started: Recruiting Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities, 2002) But the key here is what are we collabarating about? What are we focusing on? Halloween picnic, dress code, tardy policy, social , decorating? Vs…

The Focus of Collaboration Collaborative cultures, which by definition have close relationships, are indeed powerful, but unless they are focusing on the right things, they may end up being powerfully wrong.” -Fullan, Leading a Culture of Change (2001)

Our Current Reality Individually, silently and honestly assess your campus current reality

The Critical Question is…. “Not “Do we collaborate?” but rather, “What do we collaborate about?”

Step One in Building the PLC Process: Build Shared Knowledge A cardinal rule: Professional Learning Communities always attempt to answer critical questions by first: BUILDING SHARED KNOWLEDGE – engaging in collective inquiry – LEARNING together. The first step is to “learn together” Using the standards in a collaborative study.

Seven Keys to Effective Teams Embed collaboration in routine practices of the school with a focus on learning. Schedule time for collaboration into the school day and school calendar. Focus teams on critical questions. Make products of collaboration explicit. The norms are stated as commitments to act in certain ways. Make sure that every one participates no on is passive. Begin and end every meeting with commitments.

To Help Teams Build the Capacity of Teams, Address….. Why: Rationale How: Process What: Common Language, tools, templates, materials, resources, examples When: Timeline Guiding Questions Criteria for clarifying quality of each product Tips and suggestions

Seven Keys to Effective Teams Embed collaboration in routine practices of the school with a focus on learning. Schedule time for collaboration into the school day and school calendar. Focus teams on critical questions. Make products of collaboration explicit. Establish team norms to guide the collaboration. Pursue specific and measurable team performance goals. Provide teams with frequent access to relevant information. The norms are stated as commitments to act in certain ways. Make sure that every one participates no on is passive. Begin and end every meeting with commitments.

Only WE Can Create A New Story “The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves. We are the ones we have been waiting for.” -Elders, Arinzona Hopi Nation, 2001

Resources www.allthingsplc.com www.go.solution-tree.com/PLCbooks