Flinn Elementary School Professional Learning Communities March 28, 2009 April 4, 2009.

Flinn Elementary School Flinn Elementary School Professional Learning CommunitiesProfessional Learning Communities

March 28, 2009March 28, 2009

April 4, 2009April 4, 2009

Quote of the DayQuote of the Day

““It has become increasingly clear that if we It has become increasingly clear that if we want to improve schools for student learning, want to improve schools for student learning, we must also improve schools for the adults we must also improve schools for the adults who work within them.”who work within them.”

Smylie, M.A., & Hart, A.W.(1999). Smylie, M.A., & Hart, A.W.(1999). School School Leadership for Learning and Change: A Leadership for Learning and Change: A Human and Social Capital Development Human and Social Capital Development PerspectivePerspective

To create a professional learning To create a professional learning community, focus on learning rather community, focus on learning rather than teaching, work collaboratively, than teaching, work collaboratively, and hold yourself accountable for and hold yourself accountable for results!results!

How we began…How we began… Professional Learning Communities were introduced Professional Learning Communities were introduced

and and extensive facilitator trainingsextensive facilitator trainings began at our school began at our school during the fall of 2007.during the fall of 2007.

It began as a county initiative in 2007 with the It began as a county initiative in 2007 with the support of support of TeachFirst.TeachFirst.

We chose six PLC Facilitators (Teacher Leaders) to We chose six PLC Facilitators (Teacher Leaders) to be part of our School Leadership Team. Our school be part of our School Leadership Team. Our school consists of 38 staff members.consists of 38 staff members.

PLCs were created using the vertical teaming method.PLCs were created using the vertical teaming method. All instructional staff members, including All instructional staff members, including

Kindergarten Aides are members of our PLCs.Kindergarten Aides are members of our PLCs.

PLC GoalsPLC Goals

Consider our Strategic Plan, areas of Consider our Strategic Plan, areas of weakness, and our specific school needs.weakness, and our specific school needs.

Provide an open forum for all staff so that Provide an open forum for all staff so that everyone has a voice, a say in our school everyone has a voice, a say in our school culture, and better understanding of what we culture, and better understanding of what we want to accomplish as an entire staff.want to accomplish as an entire staff.

Increase teacher awareness and Increase teacher awareness and implementation of new classroom strategies.implementation of new classroom strategies.

Improve student learning.Improve student learning.

Goals for Effective Professional Development:Goals for Effective Professional Development:

Establishing and sustaining an effective site-based Establishing and sustaining an effective site-based professional development framework using PLCs.professional development framework using PLCs.

Building instructional leadership capacity at the site Building instructional leadership capacity at the site level.level.

Increasing teacher learning and use of instructional Increasing teacher learning and use of instructional strategies.strategies.

Increasing student learning.Increasing student learning.

Building BackgroundBuilding Background

Each PLC must have a general focus that Each PLC must have a general focus that reflects a goal in your school’s Strategic Plan.reflects a goal in your school’s Strategic Plan.

Last year the goal we focused on was “To Last year the goal we focused on was “To increase student achievement in reading.”increase student achievement in reading.”

Our topic to assist us in meeting this goal was Our topic to assist us in meeting this goal was to increase and improve reading to increase and improve reading FLUENCY.FLUENCY.

PLC ExpectationsPLC Expectations

All PLCs are expected to meet twice monthly.All PLCs are expected to meet twice monthly. Attend all PLC sessions for your group and be on Attend all PLC sessions for your group and be on

time to all meetings.time to all meetings. Work cooperatively with all other members of your Work cooperatively with all other members of your

PLC.PLC. Use selected activities and strategies in your Use selected activities and strategies in your

classroom and be prepared to discuss how your classroom and be prepared to discuss how your students responded to them.students responded to them.

Facilitators will reflect on meetings through an online Facilitators will reflect on meetings through an online summary program.summary program.

County Level InformationCounty Level Information

One reason our PLCs are so successful is One reason our PLCs are so successful is because our county has provided the staff because our county has provided the staff development necessary to assist us in guiding development necessary to assist us in guiding the school level programs.the school level programs.

County administrators read and comment on County administrators read and comment on summaries to reinforce accountability for all.summaries to reinforce accountability for all.

They place an emphasis on practicing They place an emphasis on practicing strategies in the classrooms and bringing them strategies in the classrooms and bringing them back to share during PLCs.back to share during PLCs.

First PLC MeetingsFirst PLC Meetings

Began as a whole group to discuss “ground Began as a whole group to discuss “ground rules and expectations”.rules and expectations”.

Created an image as a whole group before Created an image as a whole group before breaking up into individual PLCs.breaking up into individual PLCs.

Purposefully made to be comfortable and Purposefully made to be comfortable and simple for all.simple for all.

Participated in trust and team-building Participated in trust and team-building activities.activities.

Scenario of a Beginning PLC in Scenario of a Beginning PLC in ActionAction

Discussions revolved around Something ELSE Discussions revolved around Something ELSE we are being required by the county to we are being required by the county to implement as well as when are we going to implement as well as when are we going to find the TIME to conduct these meetings and find the TIME to conduct these meetings and implement these activities within our implement these activities within our classrooms?classrooms?

What is the point of all of this?What is the point of all of this? I can do other, more important tasks during I can do other, more important tasks during

these meetings and still listen.these meetings and still listen.

PLC MeetingsPLC Meetings Each PLC must have a specific focus. Each PLC must have a specific focus. School Administrators and PLC Facilitators meet School Administrators and PLC Facilitators meet

monthly to develop the topics and agendas for each monthly to develop the topics and agendas for each meeting. meeting.

PLC summaries, written by the facilitators, cover PLC summaries, written by the facilitators, cover what was accomplished at each meeting and then can what was accomplished at each meeting and then can be used as minutes to begin the next meeting.be used as minutes to begin the next meeting.

5 minutes before the end of every meeting, the 5 minutes before the end of every meeting, the facilitator asks, “What exactly have we decided here facilitator asks, “What exactly have we decided here today?” Record so everyone can visually review.today?” Record so everyone can visually review.

The The summariessummaries make the teachers accountable for make the teachers accountable for holding their meetings.holding their meetings.

Role of the School AdministratorRole of the School Administrator

To participate in county level PLC trainings.To participate in county level PLC trainings. Meet with facilitators to plan school-based Meet with facilitators to plan school-based

meetings and trainings.meetings and trainings. Provide time and materials for PLCs to meet bi-Provide time and materials for PLCs to meet bi-

monthly.monthly. Provide support and assistance to facilitators if Provide support and assistance to facilitators if

members are uncooperative.members are uncooperative. Conduct walk-throughs to observe what is being Conduct walk-throughs to observe what is being

accomplished during meetings.accomplished during meetings. Read and comment on summaries.Read and comment on summaries.

Logistical and Procedural Details Logistical and Procedural Details about our PLCsabout our PLCs

How will they be organized, who will they How will they be organized, who will they include, and how many members will each include, and how many members will each PLC include?PLC include?

How often and for how long will we meet?How often and for how long will we meet? What will the focus of our meetings be?What will the focus of our meetings be? What resources will we have for our PLC What resources will we have for our PLC

meetings?meetings? Creating a common definition of the PLCs role Creating a common definition of the PLCs role

in our building.in our building.

FacilitatorsFacilitators

Set the professional tone, structure, and work Set the professional tone, structure, and work ethic of the PLC.ethic of the PLC.

Affords teachers a natural leadership role.Affords teachers a natural leadership role. Makes everyone part of the solution to a Makes everyone part of the solution to a

problem.problem. Serve as a role model for all staff.Serve as a role model for all staff. Provide excitement and energy for all staff to Provide excitement and energy for all staff to

relate to while trying new instructional relate to while trying new instructional strategies.strategies.

FacilitatorsFacilitators

Behave in a neutral, objective and non-judgmental Behave in a neutral, objective and non-judgmental manner.manner.

Guide teachers in instructional conversations built around the Learning Cycle

Communicates in a way that is well received.Communicates in a way that is well received. Read the underlying dynamics of the groupRead the underlying dynamics of the group Stays on a subject or task until it is completed.Stays on a subject or task until it is completed. Displays professionalism and self-confidence.Displays professionalism and self-confidence. Uses questioning versus telling skills.Uses questioning versus telling skills. Balances contributions among all group members.Balances contributions among all group members.

A PLC in ActionA PLC in Action

Teacher Buy-In

When teachers take responsibility for improving learning for all students in the school, they move from “how I do things in my classroom” to “how we do things in our school,” changing the culture from “me” to “we.”

The structure of PLCs become groups of teachers coming together to engage in building a sustainable, school-wide instructional framework, using research-based Instructional Strategies to improve student learning across the whole school.

Conditions Required to Sustain Successful PLCs

Important Points to Remember: Develop a common language Learn from each other Develop action plans Reconvene and reflect Find the time to meet regularly

Barriers to SuccessBarriers to Success

Absence of TrustAbsence of Trust Fear of ConflictFear of Conflict Lack of CommitmentLack of Commitment Lack of AccountabilityLack of Accountability Inattention to ResultsInattention to Results

Continue to revisit these issues and address Continue to revisit these issues and address them if necessary.them if necessary.

P. Lencioni: P. Lencioni: The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Personal Style Compass Point Personal Style Compass Point ActivityActivity

NORTHNORTH – – Acting – Let’s do it! Likes to act Acting – Let’s do it! Likes to act immediately, try things, and plunge inimmediately, try things, and plunge in

EASTEAST – – Speculating – Likes to look at the big Speculating – Likes to look at the big picture, the possibilities, before actingpicture, the possibilities, before acting

SOUTH – SOUTH – Caring – Likes to know that everyone’s Caring – Likes to know that everyone’s feelings have been taken into consideration; that feelings have been taken into consideration; that their voices have been heard, before actingtheir voices have been heard, before acting

WEST – WEST – Paying Attention to Detail – Likes to know Paying Attention to Detail – Likes to know the who, what, when, where, why, before actingthe who, what, when, where, why, before acting

Frayer Model Graphic OrganizerFrayer Model Graphic Organizer

DefinitionsDefinitions CharacteristicsCharacteristics

ExamplesExamples Non-ExamplesNon-Examples

Professional Learning

Community

Watching an Established PLC in Watching an Established PLC in ActionAction

Checking for UnderstandingChecking for Understanding

PLC summary reports document the PLC summary reports document the discussion and proceedings, identify action discussion and proceedings, identify action steps, and quantify where each PLC is actually steps, and quantify where each PLC is actually spending its professional development time. spending its professional development time. Principals can access all PLC Summaries in Principals can access all PLC Summaries in their building to monitor ongoing progress, their building to monitor ongoing progress, and district administrators can monitor the and district administrators can monitor the same information across all schools. same information across all schools.

Benefits of PLCs on our SchoolBenefits of PLCs on our School

The staff has become The staff has become more cohesive and more cohesive and trusting of one another.trusting of one another.

Content is not being Content is not being duplicated throughout duplicated throughout grade levels.grade levels.

Ideas are being shared Ideas are being shared and practiced among all and practiced among all grade levels.grade levels.

Benefits of PLCs on our SchoolBenefits of PLCs on our School Topics and Concepts that Topics and Concepts that

have been addressed during have been addressed during PLCs include:PLCs include:

Reading FluencyReading Fluency Formative and Summative Formative and Summative

Assessment ideas and Assessment ideas and strategiesstrategies

Checking for Understanding Checking for Understanding StrategiesStrategies

County Learning TargetsCounty Learning Targets Descriptive Feedback Descriptive Feedback

StrategiesStrategies Student mentoring programStudent mentoring program

Continued BenefitsContinued Benefits

It has given us a global sense of what is going on It has given us a global sense of what is going on in our school. We are not 6 isolated entities any in our school. We are not 6 isolated entities any longer. We have become ONE cohesive school!longer. We have become ONE cohesive school!

WESTEST and DIBELS results increased last WESTEST and DIBELS results increased last school year in the areas of RLA and reading school year in the areas of RLA and reading fluency.fluency.

This school year we have focused on KCS This school year we have focused on KCS Learning Targets, forms of assessment and Learning Targets, forms of assessment and feedback.feedback.

The Important Thing about a Spoon

The important thing about a SpoonThe important thing about a SpoonIs Is you eat with it.you eat with it.It It is like a little shovel, you can hold it in your handis like a little shovel, you can hold it in your handand and put it in your mouth.put it in your mouth.It It isn’t flatisn’t flatIt It is hollow andis hollow and It It scoops food up.scoops food up.But the important thing about a spoon But the important thing about a spoon is is that you eat with it!that you eat with it!

The Importance of a PLCThe Importance of a PLC

The important thing about a PLCThe important thing about a PLCIs ___________________________Is ___________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________and _________________________and _________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________It ___________________________But the important thing about a PLC But the important thing about a PLC is ___________________________ is ___________________________

Key Points for a Successful PLC

Building Trust Mastering Conflict Achieving Commitment Embracing Accountability Focusing on Results

Website ResourcesWebsite Resources

www.allthingsplc.comwww.allthingsplc.com www.teachfirst.comwww.teachfirst.com http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/ http://pdonline.ascd.org/pd_online/secondary_http://pdonline.ascd.org/pd_online/secondary_

reading/el200405_dufour.html reading/el200405_dufour.html

If nothing changes…nothing changes

~ Unknown

Handout ResourcesHandout Resources PLC Reflection SummaryPLC Reflection Summary Sample Agenda for upcoming meetingsSample Agenda for upcoming meetings PLC AgendaPLC Agenda Making your PLC your ownMaking your PLC your own Personal Style activity and questionsPersonal Style activity and questions Developing Norms within your PLCDeveloping Norms within your PLC Graphic OrganizerGraphic Organizer The Importance of a PLCThe Importance of a PLC Whip Around – Providing FeedbackWhip Around – Providing Feedback Key PointsKey Points

Contact InformationContact Information

http://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/flinn/http://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/flinn/ [email protected]@kcs.kana.k12.wv.us http://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/kcshttp://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/kcs