1. Professional Learning Community Rolling Green Elementary January, 2012 Rolling Green Elementary January, 2012

2. What is a Professional Learning Community?

3. Professional Learning Community … Educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2006 … Educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2006

4. PLC … / PLCs operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-embedded learning for educators.

5. What are the characteristics of Professional Learning Communities? / Shared mission, vision, values, goals / Collaborative Culture focused on learning / Collective Inquiry into best practice & current reality / Action Orientation / Experimentation / Commitment to Continuous Improvement / Results Orientation. / Shared mission, vision, values, goals / Collaborative Culture focused on learning / Collective Inquiry into best practice & current reality / Action Orientation / Experimentation / Commitment to Continuous Improvement / Results Orientation.

6. BIG Ideas of PLC / WE accept learning as the fundamental purpose of our school & therefore are willing to examine all practices in light of their impact on learning.

7. / We are committed to working together to achieve our collective purpose. We cultivate a collaborative culture through the development of high-performing teams.

8. / We assess our effectiveness on the basis of results rather than intentions. Individuals, teams, and schools seek relevant data and information and use that information to promote continuous improvement.

9. PLC’s Essential Questions / What should students know and be able to do as a result of this course? / How will we know that the students are learning? / How do we respond when students do not learn? / How do we respond when students already know? / What should students know and be able to do as a result of this course? / How will we know that the students are learning? / How do we respond when students do not learn? / How do we respond when students already know?

10. What should teachers do when they meet in learning teams? / Focus on the needs of students / Analysis of best practices / Collaborative problem solving / Focus on the PLC essential questions / Focus on the needs of students / Analysis of best practices / Collaborative problem solving / Focus on the PLC essential questions

11. Collaborate on the RIGHT Things / Collaborate on the / Right / Issues / To / Impact / Child & / Adult / Learning / Collaborate on the / Right / Issues / To / Impact / Child & / Adult / Learning

12. “Educators create an environment that fosters mutual cooperation, emotional support, and personal growth as they work together to achieve what they cannot accomplish alone.” DuFour and Eaker (1998), Professional Learning Communities at Work