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Why is mutual respect important in teaching
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In the 21st century, teachers are always adjusting to new methods of instruction to make a positive change in the school environment and make a difference in student learning. More and more schools are now creating professional learning communities because they understand that these communities bring success in achieving effective goals. Effective goals foster both the results orientation of a PLC and individuals and collective accountability for achieving the results (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, (2010). The purpose of a professional learning community is not simply to ensure that students are taught well, but to ensure that they can learn and be independent citizens of society. When members of an organization understand the purpose of …show more content…
Some of the characteristics of a professional learning community that are essential to establish success in school are promoting a collaborative learning culture and establishing a trusting environment where teachers share knowledge. In this type of learning communities, teachers understand the value and the benefits that bring working collaboratively with others in the school environment. As teacher leaders, we need to have initiative and be risk takers to make a positive change in the school environment. We all know that students learn differently; therefore, teachers need to provide different type of assessments to meet their needs and develop new interventions for students that struggle in the classroom. For this reason, it is very important for all teachers to understand the importance of being proactive in initiating improvement and not wait for others to implement the positive change (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, (2010). In this essay, I will emphasize an introduction to learning communities, personal beliefs, discuss the different rules and school’s stage of …show more content…
My proposal was to find new ways on how to help the school solve some issues affecting the school environment in establishing a professional learning community. In addition, these issues are also affecting student learning in many ways because we are supposed to be the role models for all students. The proposed agreement that I shared with school-based team and colleagues was focused on implementing critical elements to create a better learning community. My school-based team and I agreed that we must have initiative and be proactive in initiating improvements or changes in the school environment (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, (2010). Some of the weak areas in our school that we agreed to improve were establishing effective, productive communication among teachers creating more staff developments and working more in teams during meetings. In addition, provide critical information to the administrative staff on the importance and benefits of establishing a professional learning community in the school so they can provide more opportunities for teachers to work collaboratively with other colleagues during staff meetings, workdays and weekly meetings so they can establish trust in the school environment. Another area of improvement in the proposal that I
I can help my teachers be professional learners by using observation and evaluation processes, like those found in Danielson’s model, to promote self-assessment, reflection on practices, and professional conversations with them. The Framework can help me have honest, reflective conversations with the teachers about their instruction and I can use it as a guide to help all involved in professional development decisions. In other words, I can use such teacher evaluation models to promote active engagement and encourage professional growth in all
Shortly after our session began, Dr. Hooper asked us to give a short “elevator speech” designed to provide others with a glimpse of the nature and work of the PLC groups we are leading in our schools and departments. As each of us shared our thoughts, one recurring theme emerged – time. Most students stated finding the time to meet with their PLC was difficult. Some said their PLCs were frequently cancelled. Others indicated they wanted to ensure the PLCs they were leading made the most of teachers’ time. A few shared their creative scheduling tips. As we progressed through the day, we learned that a strong learning organization has effective instructional leaders who develop school and teacher schedules that maximize instructional time and provide educators with job-embedded collaborative professional learning opportunities. Even though administrators are faced with competing initiatives, priorities and the day-to-day demands involved in teaching and leading schools, leaders should make professional learning communities a priority. Vescio’s (2006) review of the literature indicates when teachers participate in learning communities: (1) Student achievement scores improve over time as a result of the focus on student learning; (2) Teaching practice is impacted positively; and (3) Teaching and school culture improve because teachers become more collaborative and empowered. Learning communities can encompass multiple learning levels ranging from a classroom community of learners, to teachers, to parents, multiple schools, and district-level departments. Dr. Hooper shared an effective practice of a school administrator who formed a learning community with his cafeteria workers.
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.
...). 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.
Professional development activities focused on this initiative continued throughout the school year as well as the sharing of successes during faculty meetings. Pressure was put upon teachers who did not adapt to the new vision. The principal would observe in those teachers’ rooms more frequently and hold additional conferences with them. Eventually, a couple of the “NoNo” teachers retired. By following the Eight Step Process of Successful Change (Kotter and Rathgeber, 2006), our school victoriously integrated
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.
Through exploring multiple learning theories and reflecting on my own teaching beliefs, I have developed my own theory of learning. As I developed my theory, I wanted to consider what it takes to be a highly effective teacher. An effective teacher must have mastery of instructional strategies, classroom management, classroom curriculum design, and use assessments as feedback (Laureate Education, 2010a). By using a variety of instructional strategies, teacher’s can meet the learning styles of all the students in the classroom. Effective classroom management can lead to students feeling safe and more willing to take risks. When a student feels comfortable to take risk, then learning will increase and the students’ confidence will grow. Classroom management also creates order in the environment, which will allow effective learning to occur. By understanding curriculum, the teacher can target skills and causes learning to take place. Teachers need to deliberately plan lessons around standards and specific goals based on curriculum and the school’s mission (Marzano, 2010). Assessments need to be use to guide instruction and used as a “method for improvement and mastery,” (Marzano, 2010). While determining my own theory of learning, I believe that I need to consider what effective teachers demonstrate in the classroom.
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the best kind of life to lead, what a person’s goals should be, essentially how to reach eudaimonia. In the beginning of book 1 Aristotle acknowledges you cannot isolate a single feature, for each case is going to have to deal with particulars. His primary object of study is character, for he viewed philosophy of ethics with agent-centered approach. Aristotle believes “we must examine the right way to act, since…actions also control the character of the states we acquire.” (1103b30-32). However, for there are requirements needed for an action to be considered properly virtuous, compared to an action merely “in the right state”. It is the puzzle raised by Aristotle himself leading to the addition of
Professional development is a component of being a highly effective teacher. Danielson and Garmston expressed the need for teachers to continue to learn new skills, show professionalism, and complete self-reflections. The teacher, as a role model, must demonstrate a love for learning by continuing to grow and develop. The students will learn to be life-long learners when their teacher demonstrates the same skill.
In the 21st century, students must have have the complex skills needed to be innovative, collaborative, complex problem solvers, effective communicators, and self-directed (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, & Gardner, 2017). In order to provide students with the tools they need to be successful in the 21st century, teachers need professional development to learn new skills, content, and pedagogy. Professional develop provides teachers with an opportunity to grow and develop as a professional and improve student learning. In order to leverage professional development and improve student learning, districts need a strategic and effective professional development plan (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; Odden, 2011).
A teacher today needs to have an ability to relate to and create partnerships not with their students, but also families, administrators and other professionals. This ensures that all persons involved with the education of the student are on the same page. All involved then work in harmony and help each other achieve the common goal of educating the student in the best possible way for the best possible result. (Wesley, 1998, p 80)
Our nation’s education system strives through the hard work and dedication of its educators. Often great teachers, principles and supporting staff are drawn to the profession because they possess the desire to empower, inspire, nurture and watch young people grow - not only academically, but also emotionally. These people are there because they want to make an impact upon our society and the lives of whom the reach. Highly effective teachers are those who have taken learning to new heights by accelerating student learning, closing achievement gaps that persisted for decades, and promoting a mindset of change. Moreover, the presence of highly effective teachers in classrooms today continues to manifest as a result of the support from strong school leaders (U.S. Department of Education, 2013).
With the proper guidance and support, teachers can achieve academic excellence in the classroom. They follow their principal’s vision and share their goals. Teachers also serve as leaders in their classroom. They share their vision and goals with their students promoting positive attitudes in the classroom. Just like it is important for principals to respect and understand what their teachers need, students also need the support, understanding, respect and empathy from their teachers. When teachers demonstrate commitment in the classroom and set high expectations they raise the level of learning in the classroom. Teachers that work with the students and their parents to understand and meet their needs will achieve positive academic outcomes. Students engage in learning with positive attitudes and strive for high achievements. Teachers work together with their leaders to improve their teaching
School community relationship is a mutual understanding through which the school and the community link with each other for the achievement of goals of the community and school too. School is a social organization functions properly on the effective interrelationship within it and with its associate communities. An issue in a school affects the community likewise to what happens in the community affects school. This implies that the community builds its schools likewise to the schools (Sidhu, 2007). Therefore, school relation with the community is mutually interdependence.
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.