Is a PLC a More Efficient Way to do Things for Teachers?

Last week, my building principal asked me an important question: “Is a professional learning community (PLC) a more efficient way to do things for teachers?”  My answer was a strong YES….here’s why….

I have had the opportunity to attend two conferences that focused on the implementation of the Professional Learning Community process.  The first conference took place in California in July and the second location was a November event in Ontario, Canada.  Both events strengthened my belief in the PLC process and prepared me to help shape this process at Athena.  Before I attended the conference in July, I’m not sure that I would have answered “yes” to my principal’s question.  I think its easy to view the PLC process as just another initiative that your district is making you do.  Make no mistake, this process could definitively be a waste of time if not truly endorsed and supported by teachers and administrators.  This is the difference between “doing” PLCs and “being” a PLC.

The PLC process is “an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve” (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2010, p. 11).  My PLC meets bimonthly to discuss best practice, analyze common formative assessment (CFA) data, and focus on student learning.  The CFA data is analyzed to determine which students need additional time and instruction on a certain topic and to identify the teaching strategies that proved to be effective.

Two (of many) reasons why I endorse the PLC process are that I believe in the 3 big ideas that drive the work of a PLC and the 4 critical PLC questions.  These essential pieces of the PLC framework are clear and powerful ways that serve as the foundation to my educational practice.

The 3 Big Ideas that Drive the Work of a PLC:

1. The purpose of our school is to ensure all students learn at high levels.
2. Helping all students learn requires a collaborative and collective effort.
3. To assess our effectiveness in helping all students learn we must focus on results–evidence of student learning–and use results to inform and improve our professional practice and respond to students who need intervention or enrichment.

The 4 Critical PLC questions:

1. What do we expect students to learn?
2. How will we know when they have learned it?
3. How will we respond when they don’t learn?
4. How will we respond when they already know it?

Please comment below!  I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

 

PLCs at Athena Middle and High

Athena Middle and High School collaborate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).  The PLC process is “an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve” (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2010, p. 11).  This process is sometimes refered to as the PLT (Professional Learning Team) process.  The PLCs/PLTs are divided by subject or topic and meet bimonthly to discuss best practice, analyze common formative assessment (CFA) data, and focus on student learning.  A CFA is an instrument that is used by all members of the PLC in order to inform both the teacher and the student of the student’s progress (DuFour et al., 2010).  The CFA data is analyzed to determine which students need additional time and instruction and to identify the teaching strategies that proved to be effective.

Some things to remember when implementing the PLC process:

Three Big Ideas That Drive the Work of a PLC

1. The purpose of our school is to ensure all students learn at high levels.
2. Helping all students learn requires a collaborative and collective effort.
3. To assess our effectiveness in helping all students learn we must focus on results–evidence of student learning–and use results to inform and improve our professioanl practice and respond to students who need intervention or enrichment.

Four Critical Questions of the PLC Process

1. What is it we expect kids to learn?
2. How will we know when they have learned it?
3. How will we respond when they don’t learn?
4. How will we respond when they already know it?

Please let me know the great things that you are doing in your PLCs.  If anyone wants help in moving their PLC to the next level, please LET ME KNOW as I am happy to help.

For more information visit http://www.allthingsplc.info/.