Professional Learning Communities

602 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Factors influencing the development of professional learning communities

2. Developing Professional Learning Communities
Extensive research has been done on the topic of professional learning communities also known as PLC’s. It is a concept that has also recently received considerable attention. PLC’s have joined teacher leadership and empowerment as another key initiative for many schools and districts. Yet another hot topic or buzz word that is popular, but few seem to really understand. Richard DuFour (2004) commented, “The idea of improving schools by developing professional learning communities is currently in vogue. People use the term to describe every imaginable combination of individuals with an interest in education-a grade level teaching team, a school committee, a high school department, an entire school …show more content…

He stressed, “The rise or fall of the professional learning community concept depends not on the merits of the concept itself; but on the most important element in the improvement of any school-the commitment and persistence of the educators within it.” (DuFour, 2004) Linda Darling-Hammond shed light on what it is needed in order to support the success of professional learning communities within schools. She feels very strongly that time is a major issue that inhibits the effective implementation of PLC’s. Darling-Hammond suggests, “In order for such teaching communities to exist, schools need to allocate time to teachers during the work week to collaborate, whether in grade-level or department-level teams or a combination of both.” (Collier, 2011) She also emphasized the need for an “open-door policy where there are people in and out of each other’s classroom.” (Collier, 2011) Teachers should have opportunities to share information and work samples and observe each other engaging in instruction. According to Linda Darling-Hammond, “Schools that are able to provide the time for teachers so that they can collaborate with peers and develop communities can look forward to a variety of benefits” (Collier, 2004) She stated the following as benefits to this

Show More
Related

  • Transforming Public Education: The LEAP Initiative

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Laura Jimenez’s article “The Next Frontier of Education Reform” was a well thought out article about the possibility for a new program called LEAP or LEarning Together to Advance Our Practice to help improve the failing system of improving our public school educators. Jimenez uses accurate data to show the reasons behind the need to reform educator professional development and shows different examples of how this could be accomplished. She largely looks at the DC public school system’s IMPACT and the newly created LEAP projects.

    Read More

  • The Great Teacher Question: Beyond Competencies By Edward R. Ducharme

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    One aspect I believe all schools should have is the element of safety at school. A student cannot efficiently learn without first feeling safe. In Joan Lipsitz and Teri West’s What Makes a Good School? they say, “In high-performing schools, the adults work together to provide a web of emotional and social support for the students, not just in the services the school provides but in the attitudes and relationships the adults establish with students” (Lipsitz & West, 2006 p. 83). Schools should not only provide services such as counseling, or food to take home to support their mental and physical safety, but ensure that the teachers employed at the school are making meaningful relationships with the students so they feel safe within the classroom. Another common theme seemed to be the idea of teachers working together, which I think is a great idea as someone who is a future teacher. In the article Piece by Piece: How Schools Solved the Achievement Puzzle and Soared, Karin Chenoweth states, “The point of teacher collaboration is to improve instruction for students and to ensure that all students learn” (Chenoweth, 2009 p. 116). Other than all the schooling that teachers receive a major way of how they learn to teach is through their own experience. Sharing experiences with other teachers can help to modify lessons, or to share out ideas that will better prepare a teacher for their own class. Thus ensuring that students get an education that has been improved upon to become even more beneficial to

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Collaborative Professional Development In Student Education

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 21st century, more educators are working collaboratively with other teachers to enhance their learning and promote their professional growth. Some schools provide professional development workshops so teachers can learn new teaching strategies to become better educators while others schools lack these professional workshops. There are still few individuals that do not believe that working collaboratively makes a difference in student learning and as educators, we must respect their opinions (Knight, 2008). As educators, we must make sure to establish a partnership with other teachers to promote learning and make a difference in student learning. According to knight (2008), working collaborative with other teachers is very critical for

    Read More

  • Inquiry Project: Classroom Community

    1685 Words  | 4 Pages

    We can all agree, educators and future educators alike, that teaching students is so much more than just presenting information to them. There is more to learning than only speaking. We’ve all had those teachers who were brilliant in their subject area, but not brilliant in making the students know the information. These are not true teachers; they are only smart. They teach in one way only, and doesn’t believe in individualized instruction, even though we all know that “low-income students and students of color tend to feel less “connected” to their schools than affluent and Anglo students, and that older students feel less connected than younger ones” (Schaps). As a future educator, sometimes I fear that I will become like one of these teachers, and I want to make sure that each of my students enjoy coming in class to learn, and is able to apply what they’ve learned to their unique lives. So for this inquiry project, I’ve decided to focus on classroom community. I believe that every great teacher establishes this concept in his/her classroom; without this concept, learning cannot happen. In this paper, I will define classroom community, discuss different ways to implement it in every classroom, and show the results of making an effort to keep it in your classroom.

    Read More

  • Classroom Transition Plan

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    They can use allow students to role play different situations and show students how to appropriately respond to different scenarios. They can also view videos that show positive friendships. Teachers can also provide opportunities for social interaction in the classroom. This can include class interviews where students interview each other to find out interests and information about students in the class. Teachers can also use cooperative group work to allow students to work with each other and get to know each other in the process.

    Read More

  • Building Culturally Responsive Family Paradigms

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    With that being said, the shift from separation, to remediation, to collaboration, each made advancements that improved the quality of education provided to children. In my ideal classroom, parents will be welcome to visit and volunteer, and communication between myself as the teacher and the parents will be my pleasure. I recognize that when parents feel involved in the classroom, they are more likely to provide additional support at home. I know that communication between myself and my students’ parents will help me to understand each student’s unique background, allowing the best possible support to each students’ needs. I hope that my future classroom will reflect the collaboration

    Read More

  • Closing the Achievement Gap of Multicultural Education

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...). Professional community and closing the student achievement gap. Advocating for What’s Right: A One-Day NEA Symposium on Critical Issues for Educators. Presentation conducted from Harvard University, Washington, D.C.

    Read More

  • Professional Learning Communities

    2708 Words  | 6 Pages

    Traditionally, teacher development typically occurs through trial and error in the isolated confinements of each teacher’s classroom with some periodic whole-group professional development (Goddard & Goddard, 2007). Within the past few decades, many schools and districts, including ours, have considered and experimented with Professional Learning Communities (PLC) as an alternative framework in guiding a more efficient development program for their teachers. PLCs are focused on enhancing student learning through developing teacher practices. The concept of PLC relies on using structured collaborative sessions amongst teachers within the school to build internal capacity. Through PLCs, teachers critically reflect on current practices, brainstorm solutions, and obtain help and advice from others in a supportive growth-oriented environment over an extended period of time (Vescio, Ross, & Adams, 2008; Nelson, 2009; Scher & O'Reilly, 2009; Bolam, McMahon, Stoll, Thomas, & Wallace, 2005). The theory of change guiding PLCs holds that by providing teachers with targeted support from within the school community, as oppose to hiring additional outside experts, professional developments can become for efficient. Implementation of effective PLCs requires intentional effort, school-wide and possibly district-wide restructuring of teacher schedules, and additional resources. For schools considering implementing PLCs, it is important to understand the logic of action and the benefits of PLCs as it relates to teacher improvement and increased student achievement.

    Read More

  • Personal Learning Community

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Detail the steps you will take to establish your role in your new learning community. The first thing to implement is continually remained focused on the endeavor at hand. A learning community is a definite path to bring dreams and aspirations into existence. I plan to take the advice of the Dr. Stanley in the video about to expect during the residency and establish connections with my classmates and others in the doctoral program (Laureate Education, 2012).

    Read More

  • Instructional Improvement Plan Analysis

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Schmoker and DuFour, the most powerful learning results while taking action; the goal is not perfection but taking action to improve learning. Once established, a professional learning community should move toward action within a month. Following whole school overviews in August focused on current data, development of school mission, rationale and purpose of a professional learning community, team building, and establishing logistics of professional learning community meetings, professional learning community teams will move toward action of professional learning community development by

    Read More

  • Young Adolescents And The Middle School

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    Teachers, administrators, and parents should work together to strategize different techniques of teaching and relating to the students.... ... middle of paper ... ... In my first years of teaching, I plan to get a better understanding of my school community and the surrounding community, so I know where and how to get support for my students.

    Read More

  • Teacher Reflection Paper

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    We spoke about the children in the classroom who have personalities and learning styles that are unique to them. Building a relationship with each child, gives her the opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge to create lesson plans that are relatable to their personalities and learning styles. Her association with the children impacts their feelings of safety and security which relates to their ability to interact and learn in the classroom. Another advantage my cooperating teacher spoke about is the fact she has known many of the children since they were babies. She has witnessed them grow, develop personalities, and learning

    Read More

  • A Critical Thinking Of Teaching

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...I believe through the use of critical thinking, communication with students and parents and showing the creative side of learning the collaboration within colleague would be enhanced. I know from my prior experience within the classroom as a substitute that without some collaboration the students are at a disadvantage. One memory stands out the most when collaboration is mention is when I was subbing for a ECE Teacher in a regular learning classroom, while the teacher was giving the rest of the students their assignments I was working one on one with a ECE student that needed the extra help in order to fulfill their task. The teacher and I collaborated on the questions that the student had left to complete before moving on to their homework. Through the use of collaboration the student was able to complete their task and be on the same task as the rest of the class.

    Read More

  • Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

    1625 Words  | 4 Pages

    Successful inclusion presumes that “no one teacher can or ought to be expected to have all the expertise required to meet the educational needs of all students in the classroom.” Therefore, collaboration, and cooperative teaching are recognized as essential for effective inclusion programs. (Leonard, L. & Leonard, P., 2003). Below discusses the importance of collaboration and cooperative t...

    Read More

  • Vision Of Education Essay

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    We have a responsibility to cultivate a sense of community and belonging. The quote, “It takes a village to raise a child”, rings true in so many ways. Education is a collaborative effort that needs leadership and a strong vision. Co-operation among all stakeholders is essential. A community is an essential extension of a school. Relationships between a school and its’ community, whether educational, entrepreneurial, co-operative or charitable, should not just be encouraged but pursued.

    Read More

More about Professional Learning Communities

Open Document