1. Professional Learning Communities Creating powerful and effective learning for teachers and students

2. It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. - Charles Darwin

3. Let’s Take a look at What Used to Happen! We had data We shared data We complained We cried We agreed that we needed to improve We went back and taught more of the same, in the same ways we always had!!

4. Suddenly we realized… THIS IS NOT WORKING!!! No Real Improvement!! The Horse is Dead!!! Time to Dismount!! Common advice from knowledgeable horse trainers includes the adage, “When the horse dies…dismount.”

5. Okay.. That seems simple enough… However, we didn’t always follow that advice! Instead, we chose from an array of other alternatives: Buying a stronger whip Switching riders Appointing a committee to study the horse Creating dead horse riding standards

6. We All Want to Experience….. Achievement—Success Connection—Feeling a Part of a Group Significance—Making a Difference But changing what we have always done is sometimes frightening—and sometimes a little work!!

7. Just maybe we need to ….. Clean out the barn and reorganize the stables Develop a training course for riding a dead horse Get an advocate for the horse Blame the horse’s parents.

8. Let’s begin with our District Goals…. All schools will earn a grade of an A or B by 2007-2008 All schools will earn a grade of A by 2009- 2010 All schools will make AYP in 2010-2011 The district will make AYP by 2011-2012

9. How Can We Do This? Create Professional Learning Communities Regularly scheduled time and focus for teachers to research, study, reflect, plan together

10. What is a Professional Learning Community? A team with an intentional focus on learning which results in continuous school improvement

11. Professional Learning Communities can also be called a Professional Study Group or Collaborative Planning Group

12. Focuses the site and individual PD on school improvement related to student performance Job embedded PD has the greatest chance of changing the tradition and culture of an educational environment Becomes manageable as collaborative teams become units of change Can be accomplished with a limited budget Avoids allowing RESISTERS to stop necessary change Provides a vehicle for proactively managing change, now and in the future! Provides a proven method for real results Why Use a Professional Learning Community?

13. Keep in mind that with a Professional Learning Community Professional Development is…… Ongoing Job embedded Collaborative Includes follow up

14. IS NOT a prescription IS NOT a new program IS NOT weekly team lesson plan meetings IS NOT a meeting focused on administration and management details A Professional Learning Community... Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX

15. Shared and Supportive Leadership Shared Values and Vision Collective Learning and Application of Learning Supportive Conditions Shared Personal Practice Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX Attributes of a Professional Learning Community (Hord, 1997)

16. Shared and Supportive Leadership Principals support a collegial relationship with teachers, share power and decision-making, and promote and nurture leadership development among staff Shared Values and Vision An unwavering focus on student learning guides decisions about teaching and learning, and promotes accountability for actions. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX

17. Collective Learning and Application of Learning People at all levels work collaboratively to solve problems and improve learning opportunities. Together they seek new knowledge and skills, as well as applying their new learning to their work. Supportive Conditions Physical conditionspersonal and professional interactions Physical conditions as well as personal and professional interactions support the work of school staff. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX

18. Shared Personal Practice Teacher interaction occurs within a formalized structure to provide encouragement and feedback on instructional practices in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX

19. Building trust & relationships Research Based—best in changing student performances Reform in learning cultures Connecting leaders, teachers, student, & others Promoting inquiry mindedness Making learning relevant Sustainable—if one person leaves, programs continue Job embedded Professional Development Professional Learning Community Louise Stoll (2004)

20. It is easy to begin….. Determine an area of study Book Study Data analysis Review of student work Review of teacher work Curriculum alignment Professional Learning Team formats Whole school Grade level teams Content area teams Vertical Teams

21. Professional Learning Communities may do any of the following: Develop school or student improvement plans using data Plan use and evaluation of instructional practices Align instructional practices with Sunshine State Standards Examine teacher work Examine student work Plan curriculum and/or classroom based assessments

22. Create a component….. Develop and submit Instructional Component to Professional Development for approval (to be available online) Complete SCPS Professional Development Inservice Activity Application Once your component has been approved…. Develop Norms for Professional Learning Community Meeting Dates Meeting Format Gathering/Ordering Materials Record Keeping (electronic PLC log available) How did PLC impact student achievement Upon completion of PLC submission of Professional Development Folder to ESC

23. What Do I Need To Write A Component….. Component Identifier Number: Title: Participants: Length of Time: 2007-2008 School Year ______ contact hours _____ independent work hour Location: In-service Points: _______ points Statement of Needs: General Objective: Sunshine State Standards: Specific Objectives: Description of Activities: Evaluation Procedures:

24. Remember……..

25. Resources Professional Learning Community https://www.t2tweb.us/Mgmt/TTC/SessionFiles/S0042- F01125.pdf https://www.t2tweb.us/Mgmt/TTC/SessionFiles/S0042- F01125.pdf Example, Ideas, Best Practices https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/Sessions.asp?SessionID=42 http://www.sedl.org/pubs/catalog/items/cha36.html http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/3855.pdf https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/Sessions.asp?SessionID=42 http://www.sedl.org/pubs/catalog/items/cha36.html http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/3855.pdf