Littlefield Middle School Professional 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 achievement  teacher practice, and  overall 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:

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 Thinking On 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

Littlefield Middle School Professional Learning Communities Part 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 Learn Ultimately 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 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 ed 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… 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!