Redesigning Bearfield for a Whitewater World!! Will Professional Learning Communities be our kayaks? Choose your kayak.....

“Fix the system, don’t blame the people.” Deming Deming

What is our current system of student learning in our schools?

The New System is - Professional Learning Community It has three big ideas: It has three big ideas: Ensuring that all students learn Ensuring that all students learn A culture of collaboration and shared meaning A culture of collaboration and shared meaning A focus on Results A focus on Results

A PLC Team is a System Its mission or purpose is to ensure that all students learn through the collaborative, interdependent practice of teachers. Its mission or purpose is to ensure that all students learn through the collaborative, interdependent practice of teachers.

Collaboration : What happens when teachers begin to collaborate? Changes in – Changes in – Practice Practice Language Language Relationships Relationships

An Important Question The fact that teachers collaborate will do nothing to improve a school. The question is not “Are teachers collaborating?” but rather, “What are teachers collaborating about?” DuFour et al. DuFour et al.

PLCs challenge our old definition of learning Old Definition - To thoroughly grasp what an expert knows Old Definition - To thoroughly grasp what an expert knows Expanded Definition - Learning is “sense making”; a process that leads to knowledge Expanded Definition - Learning is “sense making”; a process that leads to knowledge

Clarify essential outcomes by grade or course Clarify essential outcomes by grade or course Develop common assessments Develop common assessments Establish targets and benchmarks Establish targets and benchmarks Analyze assessment results Analyze assessment results Plan for interventions for students Plan for interventions for students Improve instructional practice (lessons) based upon assessment data Improve instructional practice (lessons) based upon assessment data Collaborate About What?

Since we are what we do, if we want to change what we are, we must begin to change what we do. Allen Wheelis Since we are what we do, if we want to change what we are, we must begin to change what we do. Allen Wheelis

PLC’s Will be Bearfield Primary’s Kayaks... Everyone get on board.... Everyone get on board.... We are all headed in the right direction.. High Student Achievement in ! We are all headed in the right direction.. High Student Achievement in !