Developing professional learning communities appears to hold considerable promise for capacity building for sustainable. Professional learning communities at work and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. A dual capacitybuilding framework for familyschool partnerships this report from the u. People use this term to describe every imaginable combination of individuals with an interest in educationa gradelevel teaching team, a school committee, a high school department, an entire school district, a state department of education, a national professional organization, and so on. Everything you want to know about professional learning communities can be found in this book. What do professional learning communities look like and how do they function. Online learning communities and teacher professional development. Professional learning communities plc are regional, industryspecific communities for cte teachers to connect and communicate, in order to enrich their industry knowledge and enhance the overall progress and success of their students. With space for eight class periods, this process book helps collaborative teacher teams address crucial, teacherspecific plc concepts.
Communities of continuous inquiry and improvement over the past several decades,both the public and education professionals have been vocal in their demands for new programs and practices in education. It has been interesting to observe the growing popularity of the term professional learning community. In fact, the term has become so commonplace and has been used so ambiguously to describe virtually any loose coupling of individuals who share a common interest in education that it is in danger of. Understanding the basics of a professional learning community. A handbook for professional learning communities at work is a significant rewrite from the first edition of 2006. It offers educators specific, practical recommendations for transforming their schools into plcs so their students learn at higher levels and their profession becomes more.
The small groups of teachers, versus one large faculty meeting, are used to focus in on student achievement, as well as the teacher behaviors that bring about changes. The 28,500 members of the national association of elementary school principals. The organisation of many schools makes it likely that professional learning communities may be. Building a professional learning community community based on hords five dimensions as well as wenger 2002 et al. The first session introduced the concepts of a plc and was facilitated by the principal. Many of our communities offer free edwebinars with ce certificates for attending live or viewing on demand. Related resources building trust in collaborative learning communities coteaching tips better book study groups. Professional learning communities plc and how to use. Once you begin the journey, you will never go back. A professional learning community plc involves much more than a staff meeting or group of teachers getting together to discuss a book theyve read. Hord and ed tobia drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in community to raise the professional stature of educators. The plc has a highly coordinated, sequential system of interventions in place. Professional learning communities characteristics, principals, and teachers 2009. The art of learning together professional learning communities provide a structured environment to break out of your classroom.
This is the book that introduced me to the concept of a professional learning community. Throughout the school year, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools will dismiss early for professional learning community time. Louise stoll is past president of the international congress for school effectiveness and improvement and visiting professor at the london centre for leadership in learning, institute of education, university of london and university of bath. The reader should be aware that the literature selected for. Put simply, plcs improve teaching, which improves student results, especially for the least advantaged students. Books about professional learning communities reclaiming our teaching profession 2011 by shirley m. Developing teachers through professional learning communities. Professional development and professional learning communities because professional learning communities include teachers with diverse. Professional learning opportunities should not be treated as if they were a test that were all cramming for with only minutes left to study. Professional learning communities plc are not a new idea. Ccs made the plc the basic framework for instructional planning and reflection in 2010.
Online learning communities and teacher professional. Revisiting professional learning communities at work. About plcs all things plc powered by solution tree. Learning forward standards for professional learning. A plc is made up of a schools professional staff members who continuously seek to find answers through inquiry and act on their learning to improve student learning. Because a district is focused on constant learning from both students and staff, teachers are provided training on an ongoing basis, making sure. Why are such learning communities important for both staff and students. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. This plan book combines 40 weekly planning pages and space for eight class periods with ideas and activities to help teachers and their collaborative teams work together to address crucial, teacherspecific plc concepts. A handbook for professional learning communities at work. A handbook for professional learning communities at work third edition by richard dufour, rebecca dufour, robert eaker, thomas w.
This book explores the unique experiences of a sister school network in canada and china contextualized through the lens of the reciprocal learning project. It is often used in schools as a way to organize teachers into working groups of practicebased professional learning. Hord and ed tobia drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in. Explore the world of edweb to get advice from experts, share ideas and resources, and discover ways to. Assessments given by teacher teams who teach the same content or grade level those with collective responsibility for the learning of a group of students who are expected to acquire the same knowledge and skills dufour, 2010. She was a codirector of the effective professional learning communities eplc project. The phrase professional learning community began to be used in the 1990s after peter senges book the fifth discipline 1990 had popularized the idea of learning organizations. Rebecca becky dufour, med, served as a teacher, school administrator, and central office coordinator. Best practices for professional learning communities. Utilize three corollary questions to guide their work as a plc. Professor john hattie a professional learning community plc in schools involves collaboration, sharing and. This researchbased sequel to leading professional learning communities focuses on the practical process of implementing, improving, and sustaining plcs.
It brings together what a longtime practitioner can see and sense. Drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in community to. Plcs look different depending on the group, school, or district that is working together. Instead, a plc represents the institutionalization of a focus on continuous improvement in staff performance as well as student learning. Nzpf conference 3 july 2008 dr cheryl doig powerful professional learning communities 3.
Learning communities in practice anastasia samaras springer. This book provides the practitioner with a stepbystep guide for establishing and benefitting from professional learning communities. As a former elementary principal, she helped her school earn state and national recognition as a model professional learning community at work and as a national blue ribbon school. As the former principal and superintendent of adlai stevenson, a 4,000student suburban high school, richard dufour helped the school become one of the most recognized and celebrated schools in america.
But, theres a new element of plcs and their ability to improve teaching. Instead, professional learning should resemble a variety of unique threads that make up the fabric of an educators professional career. Cormier, ron and olivier, dianne, for the annual meeting of the louisiana education research association. Professional learning communities, or plcs, are school. A professional learning community plc consists of a group of teachers, administrators, or both who work together in an effort to learn more about a particular topic such as how charter schools operate or to acquire a specific set of skills such as those associated. Understand how learning communities can impact school improvement. Benefits of a plc professional learning communities create many benefits, not only for students, but for the entire staff. As the former principal of boones mill, a 400student rural elementary school, rebecca dufour helped her school receive. The authors, sometimes known as the 3rs of professional learning, are among the nations foremost authorities on applying plc principles in the real world of schools. May 16, 2016 learning by doing has been our guidebook on the journey and helped us to understand and move from knowing to doing and finally being a professional learning community. A handbook for professional learning communities at work second edition by richard dufour, rebecca dufour, robert eaker, thomas many 2010 the second edition of learning by doing.
Early childhood learning solutions early learning book. It offers educators specific, practical recommendations for transforming their schools into plcs so their students learn at higher levels and their. Department of education and southwest educational development laboratory describes a framework for schools embracing families as true partners in education and. I encourage you, read this book and answer the call to action. This study guide is a companion to the book learning by doing.
Professional learning communities at work plan book. The idea of improving schools by developing professional learning communities is currently in vogue. Standards for what principals should know and be able to do was created by the national association of elementary school principals in partnership with collaborative communications group. In fact, the term has been used so universally that it is in danger of losing all meaning. The power of professional learning communities 1st edition by richard dufour editor, contributor, robert eaker editor, contributor. Professional learning within communities requires continuous improvement, promotes collective responsibility, and supports alignment of individual, team, school, and school system goals. By richard dufour the term professional learning community is used to describe every imaginable combination of individuals with an interest in education. Professional development we participated in an esl book study on the book 50 effective strategies for the esl learner two years ago. It is a mustread for anyone interested in building capacity for sustainable learning and the ability to harness your community as a resource for change. Lakeville area public schools plc handbook page 11 modi. Professional learning communities one of the most underused resources available to educators is the community of colleagues with whom they work, geoffrey caine and renate n.
We took part in a differentiated instruction book study on differentiated instruction in the mixed ability classroom this year. Reach the highest standard in professional learning. It should be something that we desire and seek out, not dread. Jessie the research is replete with cries for principals to become instructional leaders in their buildings. A guide for professional learning communities at work by kim bailey and chris jakicic.
Mount vernon school district 20142015 all in developed in conjunction with the stle 2 grant between the mount vernon school district and manhattan college graphic and slogan developed by claudia carmona and casandre laurent plc representatives from pennington dr. Professional learning opportunities and the teachers they. A handbook for professional learning communities at work is a. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. History and purpose of professional learning communities.
Part of a groundbreaking 7book series, codeveloped by learning forward and. Effective professional learning communities questions. The following section on the history and purpose of plcs is taken from learning by doing by dufour, dufour, eaker, and many 2006. This book study was organized to meet once a week for a total of six sessions.
A handbook for professional learning communities at work third editionstudy guide. Teacher education in professional learning communities lessons. The reason professional learning communities increase student learning is that they produce more good teaching by more teachers more of the time. Using these parameters the search provided only 10. Jun 17, 2015 professional learning opportunities should not be treated as if they were a test that were all cramming for with only minutes left to study. Mar 01, 2007 louise stoll is past president of the international congress for school effectiveness and improvement and visiting professor at the london centre for leadership in learning, institute of education, university of london and university of bath. Books about professional learning communities sedl.
Chapter 2 setting the stage for common formative assessment. Explore the world of edweb to get advice from experts, share ideas and resources, and discover ways to improve teaching and learning. Professional learning communities plcs have been recognised as having the potential to raise the quality of teachers, teaching and student learning through structured teacher collaboration, and. This 10th anniversary sequel to the authors bestselling book, professional learning communities at worktm. A big picture look at commitment to the success of the plc. Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students occurs within learning communities committed to continuous improvement, collective responsibility, and goal alignment. A prolific author and consultant, he was recognized as one of the leading authorities on helping school practitioners implement the professional learning communities at work process in their schools and districts. Appropriate for groups at all stages of plc development, this field book helps educators improve plc operations by facilitating individual and group development and growth. Identify the key attributes of professional learning communities. Richard dufour, edd, in a distinguished career spanning four decades, was a publicschool educator, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. A professional learning community plc is a method to foster collaborative learning among colleagues within a particular work environment or field. Professional learning communities is key international reading for education professionals, school practitioners, policymakers, academics and research students. This book gives new and veteran teachers alike the basics of why to use the plc, as well as how to set up the professional learning community to benefit all. The most extensive, practical, and authoritative plc resource to date, it.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Framework for facilitating a professional learning community. It is an illumination of an exciting path to a constantly improving instructional community. When members of your school collaborate in an intentional and consistent manner to support student learning. Mar, 2012 throughout the school year, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools will dismiss early for professional learning community time. How are learning communities introduced and developed in schools as a new organizational arrangement. Professional learning communities at work plan book solution. Caine write in strengthening and enriching your professional learning community. A handbook for professional learning communities at work, 2010. Assessment occurs during the learning process, and the results will be used to help students continue to learn. This recent book not only provides a comprehensive description of professional learning communities and how they work, but also includes examples and case studies of professional learning communities in action.