The Practice of Authentic PLCs
Part I: The Context for Authentic PLCs
Introduction and Format
Hello Titans!!
Much like last year, we will utilize online tools to share and communicate during our learning this summer. Please make sure you have created a Slack account and have joined the TMSLeadership Slack page. We will use the #bookstudy channel for communicating specifically about this book.
I'm looking forward to learning with you!
Kim
Chapter 1: The Business of PLCs
Chapter 1 shares the evolution of PLCs over time. The three main tasks:
1. Looking at student work and teacher work.
2. Designing quality common formative assessments.
3. Reviewing and responding to data.
The image above can be found on page 11. It is a powerful image to share with teachers to drive home the point that the PLC process is not linear or sequential - it's a fluid process that ebbs and flows to meet the needs of the PLC within those 3 main functions.
How do you think your departments will respond to this flow chart?
The bottom on page 12 states, "PLCs are not so much a thing, as they are a culture." Is the culture at Tidwell such that we can truly collaborate with one another? Across grade levels and content areas? What are potential barriers to this type of collaboration?
Agendas are a key part of the PLC process. How do the steps listed on page 15 compare to how we already function in PLCs?
1) Begin with review of norms.
2) Hear update from person who presented work at the last meeting; sharing changes based on feedback.
3) Task (review student work, problem solve a dilemma, text-based discussion, write common assessment, review data, plan for intervention or design common unit)
4) Debrief task process.
What role do you see the principal playing in PLCs?
Chapter 2: What to do First?
In reading pages 19-24, where do you see Tidwell being in the process of building the foundation for collaboration?
What are the benefits of using group norms? Is there a protocol in Chapter 2 that you see being beneficial to you department PLCs?
Engaging in common readings as a PLC has two powerful benefits:
1) produces common knowledge
2) set a tone of seriousness and scholarliness
Share a recent professional article that you might utilize with your department.