Ocoee Middle School January 5, 2015 Instructional Coach PLC Takeaways… January 5, 2015

Professional Learning Communities “A team of people working interdependently to achieve a common goal for which each member is mutually accountable.” “Working collaboratively to improve teaching skills and the academic performance of students.” “Improving the skills and knowledge of educators through collaborative study, expertise exchange, and professional dialogue.”

Professional Learning Communities Work of collaborative teams in a PLC must revolve around the four critical questions: What is it we want our students to learn? How will we know if they are learning? How will we respond when individual students do not learn? How will we enrich and extend the learning for students who are proficient?

PLCs - Takeaways Agendas for PLC meetings  Keep focused/know purpose. A PLC giving an overview of PLCs – Rick DuFour “We can make a difference: Our schools can be more effective. Improving our knowledge is the key to improving our schools. Significant school improvement will impact teaching and learning.” Great idea! Assuring common goals & affirming purpose for PLC time. Guest speakers – Lee University Professor discussing ‘shifts’ in instruction. Adding higher layer of Bloom’s--Conceptual understanding, analysis, synthesis, ‘think more’. Adding writing to student expectations. Self-regulation… Encouraging to hear same perspectives that are being promoted across all disciplines.

PLCs - Takeaways Common Assessments created Question #1 “What is it we want our students to learn?” Skills to enhance CORE instruction “Let’s try this method.” “This may work well.” “Let’s teach this before introducing that.” Sharing teaching strategies Question #3 “How will we respond if students do not get it?” Handouts/copies made & shared with teammates. Suggestions for instruction…

PLCs - Takeaways Shared Articles – “Engage Me or Enrage Me: What Today’s Learners Demand” “Today’s kids are not ADD, they’re EoE.” 1-self-motivated, 2-go through motions, 3-tune us out. Collaboration/Relationship building Good ole’ comradery between colleagues! Realizing support is there! Relying on one another! Playing ‘Simon Says’!

PLCs 'No Man is an Island' No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne

Kim Covington, paraphasing PLCs 'No Teacher is an Island' No teacher is an island entire of itself; every teacher is a piece of the education, a part of the learning; if a student be washed away by the curriculum, Education is the less, as well as if a standardized test were, as well as any manner of thy colleagues or of thine own were; any student’s failure diminishes me, because I am involved in educating. And therefore never send to know for whom the learning tolls; it tolls for all. Kim Covington, paraphasing

PLCs Thanks OMS for being a true TEAM member in the Professional Learning Community process. Let the presentations begin…