WHAT IS A PLC? IT’S NOT: – A workshop – A book study – A program – A meeting PLC is not a noun, it is a way of thinking!

WHAT DOES A PLC LOOK LIKE? Our school is a PLC broken into teams. We have a shared mission, vision, values and goals.

Collaborative teams focused on LEARNING

THE BIG IDEAS OF PLC! We accept learning as our purpose. Examine all practices that are best for learning. Build a collaborative culture through high performing teams. Assess our effectiveness on the basis of results, not intentions! Did they learn? How do we know?

WHY SHOULD WE COLLABORATE? Gains in student achievement Higher quality solutions to problems Increase confidence among all staff More peer support of strengths and accommodation of weaknesses Ability to test new ideas More support for new teachers Expanded pull of ideas, materials, and methods - Little (1990)

COLLABORATION “ The idea that a single teacher, working alone, can know and do everything to meet the diverse learning needs of 30 students everyday throughout the school year has rarely worked, and it certainly won’t meet the needs of learners in years to come.” - Carroll (2009)

PLC Focus on the Critical Questions of Learning 1.What do we expect them to learn? 2.How will we know when they have learned it? 3.How will we respond when they don’t learn? 4.How will we respond when they already know it?

Something to think about… “ To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe…” - Anatole France

GETTING EVERYONE ON THE BUS! BECOMING A REAL PLC!

IS CHANGE NECESSARY? “ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result” - Albert Einstein

“Get on the Bus” Video Please pay attention to each character’s attitude toward PLC.

The QUANDARY

THE REAL DIFFERENCE! Goal: Every student shall succeed Accept that change (the right change) is necessary to improve student performance Believe student interest is more important than personal interest WE FIRST! Goal: Maintain the status quo Reject any substantive change if it clashes with personal agenda Believes that self- interest is more important than student interest ME FIRST! ON the BUS OFF the BUS

ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON THE PLC BUS?

IT’S NOT ABOUT US! IT’S ABOUT THEM!