1. Transforming Building Literacy Teams into Professional Learning Communities
The Big Ideas of Professional Learning Communities:
A Guided Reading
Richard DuFour,
What is a Professional Learning Community?
Focus on Learning
Culture of Collaboration
Identifying Barriers
Establishing Group Norms
A Focus on Results

2. Professional Learning Communities Big Idea #1 Focus on Learning
Directions:
Read pages 1 and 2 (up to but not including the last 2 paragraphs on page 2) of the DuFour Article.
Appoint someone to act as recorder for the group.
Now use the following questions to guide group discussion of the big idea.

3. Professional Learning Communities Big Idea #1 Focus on Learning
Discussion Questions…
What are some ways in which your school team is already focusing on student literacy outcomes?
What are some implications of the 3 questions DuFour poses on the bottom of page 1?
How is my role aligned with the big idea of assuring that all students meet literacy learning expectations?

4. Professional Learning Communities Big Idea #2 A Culture of Collaboration
Directions:
On pages 3 and 4 read the first 3 paragraphs under “A Culture of Collaboration” and the final 2 paragraphs above “Removing Barriers to Success.”
Appoint someone to act as recorder for the group.
Now use the following questions to guide group discussion of the big idea.

5. Professional Learning Communities Big Idea #2 A Culture of Collaboration
Discussion Questions…
What are some examples of how responsibility for student literacy outcomes is being shared in your building?
Divide your list into 2 categories:
Deep Collaborations
Surface Collaborations

6. Professional Learning Communities: Barriers
Directions:
Read the section “Removing Barriers to Success” on page 4 of the DuFour Article.
Using the sticky note pads on your table, have each team member list potential barriers to success at your site, one barrier per sticky note.
Now collect all the notes, categorize and prioritize them.
Appoint someone to act as reporter for the group.
Barriers
_________

7. Professional Learning Communities: Creating a Culture of Collaboration Examples of Group Norms
Demonstrate respect for one another and for our mutual learning
Listen fully with the intention to understand
Participate actively in learning and seeking possibilities
Set aside judgments
Share air-time
Be responsible for assuring that our norms are followed

8. Professional Learning Communities: Creating a Culture of Collaboration- Norms
Directions:
Appoint someone to act as recorder and reporter for the group.
Identify 3-5 priority barriers from your previous brainstorming.
For each barrier you listed, develop a norm for staff behavior that will aide the team in addressing and working through the barrier.
Norms for Staff Behavior
____________

9. Professional Learning Communities Big Idea #3 A Focus on Results
Directions:
In the “Focus on Results” section read the first 3 paragraphs (page 5) and the last 4 paragraphs (bottom of page 5 to the end). Appoint someone to act as recorder for the group. Now use the following questions to guide group discussion of the big idea.
Discussion Questions…
Given your site’s current level of student achievement, what would be some important goals for improvement?
How would you prioritize and allocate resources to meet these goals?