1. Facilitator Guide This cycle is meant to be a tool to help guide the Professional Learning Communities' in thinking about where they might be in their process and to emphasize the use of evidence in driving action. It is not meant to be linear, and it may not be 100% clear where they are at any given time. It is also not necessary that members complete every bullet in each phase. We may also find in using this cycle that there are steps missing that we need to add or other changes that would help to clarify the process. We welcome your input on these modifications to make this a useful tool. The descriptors by each dot describe what is happening if a Professional Learning Community is ready to begin that particular phase. The definitions describe what typically happens during that phase. Evidence can be general observations/impressions or student work samples. It does not have to be survey data or other more rigorous data. Suggested Use: At the beginning of each meeting, you might use this tool to focus the group on the work for the day, by asking: - What is our question? - Where are we on the cycle? (You can label this with a post-it or arrow) - Given where we are, what do we need to do today?

2. Our Question: Cycle of Inquiry Take Action:Plan: Share if you are trying something new or are gathering evidence, you are here. if you have looked at data or the current situation and are wondering what to do about it, you are here. if you have evidence that you want to look at, you are here. Reflect:

3. Plan: –Based on what you’ve learned so far and your assessment of the situation, brainstorm what you will do next. (What strategies will you try?) –Agree on specific actions and data/evidence to gather regarding this activity to be shared during reflection. –Make a data collection plan (What data will help us answer our question? Whose perspectives do we need? When and how will we gather these data?) Take Action: –Members try strategies in their own settings –Members gather data/evidence about the action taken. Reflect: –What do these data (evidence) tell us? –What worked? –What didn’t work? –How do you know? –How did it feel? Repeat.. Share: out with members of other teams and with the school periodically (does not need to occur after every cycle). Definitions