1. J. Sterling Morton High Schools
Learning By Doing
PLC/PLT Kick-Off
September 7th 2010

2. Agenda 1. PLT Handbook Overview 2. Today's Objective
Establish Team Norms
Develop/Refine Mission Statement for PLT
Write Action Agenda for Next Meeting
Lead Teacher Notes
Read over agenda.

3. PLC Handbook
5 Sections
Professional Learning Communities…What are they?
How will District 201 Approach PLC implementation?
What are the suggested timelines?
Unit Design
What do PLC Teams actually do at a meeting?
What tools will I need to get started?
Lead Teacher Notes
(Please make extra copies of the PLC Handbook)
The PLC handbook was distributed by the LSS Office.
Learning Support Services asked that you read through the handbook for today's meeting.
If you do not have a copy of the handout, I have made a few extra copies.

4. PLCs Defined
A Professional Learning Community is a group of individuals who have committed to meet regularly for an agreed upon amount of time guided by a common purpose. PLCs provide a forum for learning, assessing, planning and reflecting as a team. PLCs create a collaborative environment where teachers can share, problem solve and set goals that will strengthen teaching and learning resulting in improved student learning and outcomes. Professional Learning Communities focus on learning outcomes, indicators of success and best practice. Professional Learning Communities are a tool by which schools and teachers can continue to grow professionally through their own internal capacity
Lead Teacher Notes
Read the definition
We understand that some staff members were in NWEA M.A.P.s testing training sessions when the Office of Learning Support Services made the PLC presentation. This definition will help everyone share a common understanding of what a PLC is.

5. PLC vs. PLT
A PLC is the community of educators who are committed to the improvement of learning in a given school.
A PLT is a smaller team within this community that creates and works toward Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results Oriented, and Time Bound Goals.
Lead Teacher Notes
Some staff may have questions regarding the terms PLC (Professional Learning Community) and PLT (Professional Learning Team). We want to make it clear that we are all members of a community (District, School, or Department) and a team (Honors Algebra).

6. The Big Goal of a PLT
The goal of the PLT is to help all team members become more knowledgeable about their chosen topic through collaboration during team meetings and through individual study/work between team meetings, with the overall purpose of increasing student achievement.
Lead Teacher Notes
Professional Learning Team work is job embedded professional development.
In our teams we will be able to work together to bring our district to life.
The PlT provides a level of support that only working with your colleagues can provide.

7. Critical Questions What do we want students to learn?
How will we know if they have learned?
What will we do if they don’t learn?
What will we do if they already know it?
Lead Teacher Notes
We understand that some staff members were in NWEA M.A.P.s testing training sessions when the Office of Learning Support Services made the PLC presentation. It is important that all staff understand that these questions are the driving force behind PLT work.
Read the Questions.
These Critical questions will drive all of our decision making.

8. PLC Implementation
Our first year of PLC development will focus on departmental teams based on common core subjects.
District 201 will provide teachers with structured time to work
New Tuesday/Wednesday meeting schedule.
Lead Teacher Notes
All research supports the axiom that the effective way to improve achievement is to focus on instruction.
A group of teachers collaborating on a common course, unit of study, and assessment practice has the power to transform a school

9. September Timeline Date Task What to Bring Sept. 7/8
Introductions, Establish Team Norms
Develop Mission for PLT.
PLC Handbook,
District Vision, Mission, Goals, and PLC guide created by LSS.
Between Meeting Tasks – Give Final Exam as a Pre-Assessment Tool; Create a Cover Sheet for this Final and Call it “Diagnostic Assessment”; and Run Item Analysis
Sept. 20/21
Introductions, Review Team Norms, determine major focus area
Review diagnostic assessment item analysis
Identify goals or targets as suggested by assessment data.
Develop SMART Goals
Develop Action Plan to achieve Smart Goal.
Item Analysis Form (one per prep)
Between Meeting Tasks: Implement Action Plan
Lead Teacher Notes
**The task orientation for September 21st may not apply for CTE, PE/HEALTH, or FINE ARTS. The Director will coordinate with Lead Teachers in these areas.**
The general idea is that we will learn by doing.
Professional Learning Team work is best described as working on the work.
Working on the work is accomplished through:
Establish Norms for your group so that you can work together.
Identifying how the District’s Mission and Vision are carried out in our individual classrooms
Identify how the Vision and Mission for your team
Actively participating in the PLT Cycle

10. PLT Meeting Task Examples
Establish and Follow Group Norms
Identify Essential Learning Outcomes
(Targets)
Develop a Guaranteed Viable Curriculum (Designing Instruction)
Develop Common Formative Assessments
Analyze Assessment Data and Adjust Instruction (Assessment for Learning)
Identify and Share Existing Practices and Research-based Practices (Lesson Study)
Lead Teacher Notes
Over the course of the year we will begin working with different protocols that will allow each PLT to work together to support each other, improve our professional practice, and make learning and teaching exciting.

11. Example Mission Statement
Microsoft Mission Statement
A computer on every desk and in every home, all running Microsoft software.
Amazon/Kindle Mission Statement
Every book ever printed, in any language, all available in less than 60 seconds
The College Board Mission Statement
The College Board's mission to prepare, inspire, and connect students to college success and opportunity is driven by a commitment to equity and excellence.
Lead Teacher notes
Microsoft Mission Statement
Action Oriented--
Quantifiable—every desk and in every home
Qualitative –running Microsoft Software
Kindle Mission Statement
Quantifiable—every book ever printed, in any language
Qualitative –available in less than 60 seconds
The College Board

12. Lead Teacher Notes:
We understand that some staff members were in NWEA M.A.P.s testing training sessions when the Office of Learning Support Services made the PLC presentation. It is important that all staff understand that this sample meeting agenda/action record will provide a framework for each meeting and direction for work to be completed between meetings.
Please let staff know that each team should ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT a completed action record form no later than the Friday immediately following the PLT Meeting.

13. Next Steps Norms of Our Learning Team PLT Mission Statement
Being Felxible
PLT Mission Statement
Convey clearly what the PLT is trying to do.
“Who we are" and "Why we are here.“
A goal that's an action, not a sentiment; that is quantifiable, not nebulous; that is qualitative, not broad.
Action Agenda for September 20th
Lead Teacher Notes
Restate
Establish Team Norms
Develop/Refine Mission Statement for PLT
Write Action Agenda for Next Meeting