A teacher was reviewing the state professional Standard 1 on the rubric under the category of “Teachers demonstrate leadership” referencing component “b” documenting s/he is participates in professional learning
community (PLC) moving toward assumes
a leadership role in professional learning community. Due to being employed in a non-public
school site and not having a lot of options in county with agency resources for
existing PLC that focuses on early childhood education for children ages
3-years to 4-years-old the question was posed “How to set up a PLC in pre-k
setting?
Professional learning community (PLC) will give
members who participate in (a) opportunity for teachers to network, (b)
cooperation among colleagues on common themes, and (c) expand professional
roles to provide high-quality education for early childhood students along with
their families. Research shows there are
five (5) attributes for a PLC that must be taken under consideration as you
began planning for your site staff only or invite neighboring/county-wide
participants and they are as following:
1. Supportive
and shared leadership
a. All
agree to have and participate in a PLC
b. All
benefit from professional opportunities
2. Collective
creativity
a. Reflective
dialogue – agree to agree and disagree respectfully
b. Conduct
conversations about students, teaching and learning (all information
confidential)
c. Identity
issues and problems in chronological order to address
3. Shared
values and vision
a. Open
communication on shared values and vision – everyone has a voice in the
conversation
4. Supportive
conditions
a. Determine
when, where, how and if staff regularly come together as a unit to do learning,
decision making, problem solving and creative work
b. Designated
and protected time to meet and talk to
ensure meeting is productive
c. Respect
and trust among colleagues
d. Willingness
to accept feedback and work toward improvement – how best to serve
children/families, etc.
e. Supportive
leadership from administrators
5. Shared
personal practice
a. Open
classroom doors where colleagues can visit and give feedback
b. Open
lesson plan books where colleagues can view and give feedback
c. Open
conversation
d. Practice
of “peers helping peers”
e. Conduct
review by teachers
f. Good
understanding of child development, curriculum, etc. to best serve the overall
program issues
As
you take under consideration the five (5) attributes listed above here is a
suggestive process to setting up your onsite PLC initially.
·
Survey staff to find out how many want
to participate and if would like to open up to other community sites
·
Prior to start of PLC meeting survey
staff on topics to address and prioritize as part of conversation for first
meeting
·
Determine facilitator of PLC and set agenda
·
Set date/time to meet with rules of
confidentiality that will last approximately 1 hour – decide how often to meet
and how (e.g., one a month, face-to-face, teleconference call)
·
Discuss topics and give updates at
upcoming meeting(s)
·
Name the PLC group
·
Decide if guest speaker is required on
certain topics being addressed
Here
are three (3) websites that can be viewed for more information on PLC. All
Things PLC provides research, articles, data, and tools for educators. Inspirational stories with a blog including
questions and answers. Serve Center mission is to support and promote
teaching and learning in prekindergarten through Grade 12 education
community. A number of resources on PLCs
tool to sustain onsite professional development directed toward improving
teacher quality and student improvement.
Teacher Leaders Network
(TLN) members have referenced and created Resource Library where teachers post
articles.
Enjoy
starting a PLC or revamping the set-up of the current one in place to discuss
various topics relating to pre-k students and professional development. Share your thoughts or comments on planning
and implementing a PLC.
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