PLCsPLCsProfessional Learning Professional Learning

CommunityCommunity

By: Emily Lehmann By: Emily Lehmann

What is a PLC?What is a PLC?

PLC stands for Professional Learning PLC stands for Professional Learning Community Community

Goal is to ensure that all students are Goal is to ensure that all students are provided a higher level of education provided a higher level of education

Strive for students to become “committed Strive for students to become “committed lifelong learners”lifelong learners”

What is a PLC?What is a PLC?

Professional Learning Communities can Professional Learning Communities can occur in any school with the commitment occur in any school with the commitment and ambition by all parties involved. and ambition by all parties involved.

Collaboration is used by the entire district Collaboration is used by the entire district to ensure that students are receiving the to ensure that students are receiving the BEST education. BEST education.

How Does a PLC work?How Does a PLC work?

Teachers, Students, Teachers, Students, Administration, parents, and the Administration, parents, and the entire community come together to entire community come together to work toward creating a successful work toward creating a successful learning community. learning community.

How Does a PLC work?How Does a PLC work?

The members of a PLC work together and The members of a PLC work together and independently to reach one common goal.independently to reach one common goal.

The goal is set with the high expectations The goal is set with the high expectations that students will receive a higher level of that students will receive a higher level of education, collaboration among educators education, collaboration among educators and administrators will occur , along with and administrators will occur , along with positive support and assistance from the positive support and assistance from the community and parents. community and parents.

How Does a PLC work?How Does a PLC work?

Teachers create common assessments to form Teachers create common assessments to form common data that can be used at a later time to common data that can be used at a later time to determine the successfulness of specific concepts. determine the successfulness of specific concepts.

Goal is for students to become proficient/highly Goal is for students to become proficient/highly proficient in all common core state standards. proficient in all common core state standards.

Those students who are not proficient in certain Those students who are not proficient in certain areas are then provided further instruction, more areas are then provided further instruction, more practice, and one-on-one tutoring to guide them to practice, and one-on-one tutoring to guide them to proficiently. proficiently.

Student learning is monitored regularly to monitor Student learning is monitored regularly to monitor student growth. student growth.

Who is InvolvedWho is Involved

Everyone is involved in making a successful Everyone is involved in making a successful PLC. PLC. Parents Parents Students Students Teachers Teachers Administrators Administrators Community Community

Each member/group has a specific role Each member/group has a specific role

How to Start a PLCHow to Start a PLC

A professional learning community can be A professional learning community can be started in any school.started in any school.

The support from staff assists in the The support from staff assists in the achievement of a PLC. achievement of a PLC.

Determine one common goal that is Determine one common goal that is attainable and accessible. attainable and accessible.

How to Start a PLC How to Start a PLC

It has been found that schools should “Work It has been found that schools should “Work with the willing” when starting a PLC. with the willing” when starting a PLC.

It is important to focus on those who are It is important to focus on those who are interested, willing, excited, and most interested, willing, excited, and most importantly dedicated to the idea. importantly dedicated to the idea.

Once the PLC is started others will pick up Once the PLC is started others will pick up the practices and jump on board. the practices and jump on board.

How to Make a PLC How to Make a PLC Successful Successful

A PLC is successful when all members are A PLC is successful when all members are working together to create a positive working together to create a positive learning environment. learning environment.

Educators must also continue learning to Educators must also continue learning to ensure that the students are provided the ensure that the students are provided the most current information and new most current information and new techniques are used to engage students. techniques are used to engage students.

How to Make a PLC How to Make a PLC Successful Successful

It is essential that department teams within a It is essential that department teams within a school work together and collaborate to school work together and collaborate to design common instructional material and design common instructional material and assessments. assessments.

The data collected from common assessments The data collected from common assessments can then be examined and used to determine can then be examined and used to determine if practices were successful. if practices were successful.

The teams use data to better then education The teams use data to better then education of the students. Collaboration is successful of the students. Collaboration is successful when teaching techniques are being when teaching techniques are being discussed and changes occur for the better. discussed and changes occur for the better.

How to Make a PLC How to Make a PLC Successful Successful

Consistency throughout the school is key in Consistency throughout the school is key in a professional learning community.a professional learning community.

Teachers should work together and meet Teachers should work together and meet regularly to discuss teaching practices, ways regularly to discuss teaching practices, ways of engaging students, and plans of meet the of engaging students, and plans of meet the common goal. common goal.

Professional Learning Professional Learning Community Community

Main Ideas Main Ideas Teamwork Teamwork Collaboration Collaboration Revision Revision Goals Goals StandardsStandards Common Common

ResearchResearch

Research has found many benefits that a PLC Research has found many benefits that a PLC can bring to a school districtcan bring to a school district The students success is no longer left on one The students success is no longer left on one

teacher. Teachers are working together with one teacher. Teachers are working together with one common goal of student success. They work common goal of student success. They work together to create the most engaging activities together to create the most engaging activities that will promote a higher level of thinking. that will promote a higher level of thinking.

Teachers and staff are brought together for the Teachers and staff are brought together for the common good of the students. Staff moral common good of the students. Staff moral increases and teachers feel a greater increases and teachers feel a greater satisfaction with the work being done. satisfaction with the work being done.

ResearchResearch

It has been found that schools that have It has been found that schools that have implemented the PLC ideas have seen implemented the PLC ideas have seen incredible changes are are “full functioning incredible changes are are “full functioning PLCs in 2.5 years” (Learning Point 2009)PLCs in 2.5 years” (Learning Point 2009)

Students have also been greatly impacted Students have also been greatly impacted by the changes of a PLC. by the changes of a PLC. Proficiency levels have increased greatly Proficiency levels have increased greatly Students become accountable and responsible Students become accountable and responsible

for their learning. for their learning.

Research Research

Case studies of three elementary Case studies of three elementary schools showed that during a five-year schools showed that during a five-year period, students from minority and low-period, students from minority and low-income families improved their scores income families improved their scores on state achievement tests from less on state achievement tests from less than 50 percent proficient to 75 percent than 50 percent proficient to 75 percent proficient. (Learning Point 2009)proficient. (Learning Point 2009)

Resources Resources

http://www.allthingsplc.info/http://www.allthingsplc.info/

http://www.centerforcsri.org/plc/http://www.centerforcsri.org/plc/

http://www.solution-tree.com/plc-at-workhttp://www.solution-tree.com/plc-at-work

http://piic.pacoaching.org/index.php/piic-coaching/http://piic.pacoaching.org/index.php/piic-coaching/mentor-blog/299-what-makes-a-successful-plcmentor-blog/299-what-makes-a-successful-plc

http://www.roseburg.k12.or.us/depts/educate/http://www.roseburg.k12.or.us/depts/educate/proflearning.htmlproflearning.html

http://www.wauwatosa.k12.wi.us/http://www.wauwatosa.k12.wi.us/fi_staff_development.cfmfi_staff_development.cfm

The End The End