Professional Learning Communities/Learning Teams

1. Professional LearningCommunities/Learning Teams

2. 2009-2010 NFP Schedule Changes Approved by the BOE • Instructional day is from 8:20–3:00 PM • Arrival time still begins at 8:00 AM • Dismiss at 2:00 PM every Wednesday • Dismiss at 12:30 PM on 8 Early Release Days (also on Wednesdays) • These 8 ER days are: 7/22; 8/12; 9/2; 10/21; 12/2; 2/17; 3/10; 4/21 (6 per track)

3. So Why the Changes??? • To allow Teachers time within the school day to engage in PLC’s • Benefits Professional Growth • Benefits student learning

4. Professional LearningCommunities • The case for operating schools and districts as PLCs is compelling: • supported by research; • proven in practice; and • grounded in common sense.

5. WCPSS Definition of Professional Learning Community/Learning Team A learning team is made up of members who regularly collaboratetoward continued improvement in meetingstudent needs. Using data, professional experience, and best practice, the team works toward realizing a shared vision for a better learning environment.

6. NFP School-wide PLC definition • The Professional Learning Community at North Forest Pines Elementary is a collaborative culture that focuses on student learning using relevant data and timely intervention to ensure that individual students are challenged to maximize their learning potential.

7. Professional Learning Communities – the overall focus! Answer the questions: • What do we want each student to learn? • How will we know when they have learned it? • What will we do when they don’t learn it? • What will we do when they have learned it?

8. What exactly are we doing on Wednesdays??? • Examples of PLC work include: • Creating and scoring common assessments • Establishing Essential Learning Outcomes • Talking with teachers from other grade levels to develop consistency across the school • Professional Book Studies • Student intervention (remediation and enrichment) discussions • Sharing best practices • Analyzing student assessment data • Measuring student progress towards learning goals

9. What are we NOT doing??? • Having an Extended Lunch • Staff Meetings • Parent Conferences • Leaving Early • Working in Isolation

10. According to the experts,PLCs… • Reduce the isolation for staff. • Encourage staff members to share responsibility for students. • Increase teachers’ understanding of their content. • Create more satisfaction, higher morale, and lower rates of absenteeism among staff members. • Encourage greater commitment to making significant and lasting changes.

11. Also according to the experts, PLCs… • Decrease student dropout rate. • Result in lower rates of student absenteeism. • Cause larger gains in math, science, history, and reading. • Reduce student achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds.

12. In summary… Members of professional learning communities and learning teams: • Focus on learning. • Work collaboratively with colleagues to improve student achievement and to improve the use of best practices. • Are willing to hold themselves accountable for the success and failure of all students.

13. Options on Wednesdays We have a few different options for you to consider on Wednesdays if interested: • Y Wednesdays after school program • $414 + $25 reg fee for YMCA members • $496 + $25 reg fee for Non-members • KidzArt – see table in lobby for more info • All year long – cost is $15 per week – classes last for 1 hour • Mad Science - see table in lobby for more info • 4 week program – 4 sessions offered during year - $57.50 per program – classes last 1 hour

14. Finally, a reminder from Rick DuFour… Collaboration by invitation doesn’t work; it has to be embedded in the culture of the school.” Rick DuFour