This is the title of a conference breakout session I have been asked to facilitate this summer. It’s a topic of importance to me as I have met many teachers who hold a confused definition of PLCs because of tasks that they have been asked (told) to complete during scheduled PLC meetings. The following definition […]

In the last few months I’ve heard coaches or principals say that their teachers are overwhelmed. I’ve been in PLC meetings where teachers share with teammates that they are just overwhelmed by …students’ needs, paperwork, parent demands, curriculum requirements, etc. Leaders and facilitators often ask, ”How do I respond?” A look at the word: o•ver•whelm […]

I found a few authors’ writings this week that reinforced the critical work that needs to occur in PLC’s and teacher/coach dialogues. The following statement appears in National Staff Development’s press release for the report Professional Learning in the Learning Profession: Research shows that professional learning can have a powerful effect on teacher skills and […]

I continued my work this week with the Arkansas State Department of Education, providing training for instructional coaches, staff developers, specialist and administrators. Our sessions dealt with leaders’ understanding the change process and practical tools for leading learning community conversations that support continuous improvement. One of the strategies we practiced was fishbone analysis (also called: […]

I recently spent one hour observing a team meeting at the Gibsonton Elementary School in Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida. It was only the third meeting of the team which was newly formed as the school adopted vertical teaming plan. I was impressed at the collegial dialogue that occurred and the amount of ideas that were […]

In the past few weeks, I have worked with several groups examining the structures and skill sets that promote Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focused on student achievement. Working as a facilitator with the NJ Professional Teaching Standards Board, I have been part of their discussions to have most professional development planning done at the building […]