Welcome #EduGladiators ?
Excited to have @josuefalaise to lead us today! PLUS we will be LIVE for an #afterchat to answer all your Qs about high performing PLCs! 📲 https://t.co/URsIdP8YwU
But 1st...who's here?
Share your name & how/where you 'gladiate' 4 Ss!
PJ Caposey - Author and Supe from NW IL checking into #edugladiators for the first time -- for as long as my littles are engaged in watching Bubble Guppies
I am so very sorry, I will not be tweeting live today. The months of October and November are INSANE. Enjoy my pre-loaded answers. I will respond to direct tweets later. #edugladiators
A1: PLC's differ in that their work is a commitment to a long-term, ongoing process. The focus is dedicated to continuous improvement driven by shared reflection and planning. #EduGladiators
A1 Colleagues can meet regularly and focus is on diff topics, discussion of upcoming events or new initiatives/traing, vs PLC is more like ongoing PD #EduGladiators
A1: PLC are meant to empower teachers allowing for all voices to be heard. The end result should be more collaboration better results for Ss #EduGladiators
A1. PLC is a team not a group and the collaborative nature guards against co-blab-oration with a relentless focus on improving student learning #EduGladiators
A PLC promotes collaboration, fosters ideas, shares current trends & latest research while keeping the focus on what is best for KIDS... #EduGladiators
I view PLCs as a systematic approach to teacher and student learning. The only downside - as with any approach - they are only as effective as their execution #edugladiators
A good PLC also builds confidence in doing what is right for kids. You don’t always get that with out of touch, unconnected educators... #EduGladiators
I still struggle to believe PLCs are truly scalable. For instance, how valuable is a PLC if I am the only teacher in a district teaching Geometry #edugladiators
A1: My district, @nisd, has implemented PLCs district-wide. I think PLCs encourage learning from each other to create the best outcomes for all our students. #edugladiators
A2) PLCs shift the culture of a school. I have seen this shift take place in regard to an enhanced collaborative nature around learning not teaching and working in isolation. #EduGladiators#InPraiseDuFour
A2: Understanding the focus, the openness, collaboration vs competition, applying to non-core Ts (elective, encore, explore). Overcome-buy in, i believe all are on board. #edugladiators
A2: PLCs that do not have defined norms turn into team meetings and logistics discussion. Not the purpose. Intentional adult action by members and leadership necessary for success #edugladiators
#EduGladiators. PLCs are meant for Ts and Admin to share, collaborate,motivate and dissegregate data for the purpose of sharpening daily instruction to ensure student achievement.
#EduGladiators I'm beginning to think that there is PLC meeting times, but there could also be less "formal" times for Ts to meet 4 S learning or T learning
A2: Scheduling PLC Meeting time can be difficult around IEPs, 504s, Team and Dept Meetings, and Ts who are in multiple contents. All important work! Get creative! #EduGladiators
A1: We’re there for the students, not to fulfill a contractual obligation. That gets lost when we spend that time getting sgos, pdps, etc done and lose focus of how productive those conversations can be #EduGladiators
A1 yes and PLCs are based in student data, essentials and discussing what is and is not working in moving our students towards goals. Being sure to look at the whole child #EduGladiators
A2: getting a common planning time for Tt was the first step in the PLC process for FT Elm. I remind myself small steps allow for big shifts...take it slow Mr. G #EduGladiators
A1: I am trying to do a techPLC this year focused on what the ever changing needs of the staff are and letting different people have the opportunity to lead the group discussion. #EduGladiators
Q2 We have been able to provide the time to make sure that grade levels have common planning time. With that in place, the focus can be on the kids. #EduGladiators
A2: My school has a set set time and common space that we meet all meet with our PLCs. This allows specialists and administration to be available to all PLCs as needed. #edugladiators
Jumping in late!
A2: at our ES we strugglers provide enough common time for them to meet. 30 minutes-3x/wk. they need more than 30 minutesto really get things done. #edugladiators
A2 A narrow focus by educators within a building is a challenge. Tough to overcome ppl not knowing what they don’t know or not valuing cont improvement #EduGladiators
A2) Trust - between T's & staff to have the tough conversations - when it get uncomfortable we can't back down bc that's when progress is made #edugladiators
A2) inbthe ring late but love that we overcome focused time but giving focused time. Best PLCs come with specific agendas for the time & follow up by leaders. #EduGladiators
A2: Our PLCs meet 2x a month for 1.5 hrs. Dates are scheduled in our yearlong PD calendar & the time is sacred. We are committed to being consistent & collaborating. #edugladiators
A2. Yes PLC norms should be followed and reinforced because it sets the tone for the meeting. It provides an expectancy of what the focus should be and the end goal of the meeting. #EduGladiators
Being intentional is crucial. There's always talk about modeling for our students but we must model for our teachers, coaches, faculty, and leaders too #EduGladiators
A2) in the ring late but love that we overcome focused time by giving focused time. Best PLCs come with specific agendas for the time & follow up by leaders. #EduGladiators#EduGladiators
A2: Making people have buy in is a challenge. At first they may just see it as "another meeting" To be truly high functioning the staff has to voluntarily want to participate because they see the value and function. #EduGladiators
A2: Smaller schools struggle with scheduling common planning time throughout school day for content area teams. Creative master scheduling becomes imperative. #EduGladiators
A2: My school has a set time and common space that we all meet with our PLCs. This allows specialists and administration to be available to all PLCs as needed. #edugladiators
Agreed - they should also be created as a PLC team. Many awesome protocols to create norms! I also suggest posting them on each agenda & reviewing/assigning them at the beginning of meetings. #EduGladiators
A3: A PLC is a group that engages in a process. A high-performing PLC is a group who recognizes how its action-based efforts and collective energy contributes to the improvement of the school community. #EduGladiators
A3. High performing: all realize the importance of their role and are committed to making school better for Ss. Others are just filling out paperwork and checking boxes. #EduGladiators
A3: I think the difference is a PLC is just a group of teachers talking, a high performing PLC is more of a change agent in classrooms. Helping not just the students to achieve higher but the teachers as well. #edugladiators
A3 PLC=meeting at a scheduled time and only touching the surface of what may be required. A high functioning PLC digs into the work, the main questions, and truly works collaboratively to improve student learning. TRUST/Vulnerability #EduGladiators
High performing PLCs are 100% about stds. Adult Drama has no place. A mindset shift also occurs, All means All and there are no excuses! #EduGladiators
A3: PLC generally have converstaions about Ss data, ideas to focus on them. High Performrs do that + talk about how to best reach Ss, create better relationships w/ family, challenge each other to be better, truly create a culture of curiosity. #EduGladiators
A1) Our PLC meets weekly around our intentional literacy practices. Leads to convos that challenge us to innovate, create and dig deeper #EduGladiators
A3 A PLC can effect gr level or specific discipline area High performing PLCs can use data to make adjustments that have an effect across building & district #EduGladiators
A3: I think the difference is a PLC is just a group of teachers talking, a high performing PLC is more of a change agent in classrooms. Helping not just the students to achieve higher but the teachers as well. #edugladiators
A3: PLC's talk about ideas, talk about problems, engage in discussion. High Performing PLC's take those problems and find solutions, take ideas and turn them into action, and use discussion to determine next steps. #EduGladiators
I've noticed that people are so uncomfortable with tension that true, deep, meaningful conversations about doing what's best for every student doesn't always come through. That's why developing relationships is key #EduGladiators
A3 high levels of trust, true team that is about the kids and adjusts easily if something isn’t working for a group, share the load and team is also in it for ALL learners #EduGladiators
A4: This is going to sound cheesy but I have not found a resource aside from trusting that the people in my PLC are all after the same goal...what is best for Students. Once that trust is there we are so much more open to the ideas of our peers #edugladiators
A4 want high performingPLCs? Have Ts identify school and personal needs, choose what to learn, expect them to share, and have admin involved #edugladiators
A4: Opportunities must be provided for collaborative planning, consistent support, access to information and direction are essential factors that must be given in order to develop high-performing PLC's. #EduGladiators
A3: Be a change agent — one of my goals @ FT Elm is for k-1 Tt work on math/science centers and 2-4 work on the writing process. Been an eye opener for me seeing the different holes we have in curriculum and how it’s taught #EduGladiators
A3) A PLC follows norms, accomplishes goals & has solid collaboration. High performing rather like our #EduGladiators time ideas shared, conversations lively, boundaries pushed & supporting other's learning
We don’t call every meeting a PLC, but I’ve noticed the majority focus on what we r going to do rather than what Ss r going to learn. Behavior & Activities...we need 2 shift that. #edugladiators
A3 PLC = Compliance
High performing PLC = organic collaboration, promoting new ideas, implementing actionable plans, and working as a team with all stakeholders.
#EduGladiators
Critical areas to begin:
1. Understand Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum 2. Know the difference between collaboration and co-blab-oration 3. Know what to do with the data 4. Make Celebration the cornerstone of your culture #EduGladiators
Great idea! All the things you mentioned show that every school is diff & will have specific areas of need PLCs need to work on what best for that specific school #edugladiators
A3: PLC generally have converstaions about Ss data, ideas to focus on them. High Performrs do that + talk about how to best reach Ss, create better relationships w/ family, challenge each other to be better, truly create a culture of curiosity. #EduGladiators
A4: Time, guidance, working side by side to look at student work, not having all the answers but providing an environment for cognitive struggle. #EduGladiators
A4: opportunities for growth; visit other plcs, branch out and have those conversations that make us vulnerable bc we’re asking for help on how to do it better #EduGladiators
A4: get to the basics & never leave the DuFour Qs (w: a little mix up): What do we want for them? How do we know they’re getting it? What will we do if they aren’t getting it? How are we changing to get it too? #EduGladiators
Good morning :) Hope all is well! Loving having PLCs at our school this year. Has made such a difference in our staff culture & student outcomes. #EduGladiators
PLCs need support in building relational and collaboration skills. Deliberate time to get to know each other. Adults and students need practice and feedback on working together, we all do. #EduGladiators
A3 a basic PLC is disseminating info to teachers whereas high performing PLCs allow all parties to engage in reflective discourse around a specified topic to enhance teaching and learning. #EduGladiators
A1: What we have we call PLCs; they plan together; design assessments together. What they are not doing successfully across the board is addressing the 4 qs of plcs; analyzing S work; or reviewing data. #EduGladiators
A4 Involve staff in planning. “Take the temperature” of staff on a regular basis. Adjust/modify as needed (I.e., don’t “forge ahead” with a plan if it is not working as expected). #EduGladiators
#3119 There's a hell of a distance between wise cracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words. — Dorothy Parker
#EduGladiators#SaturdayMotivation
A4 KISS Keep it simple, don’t overdo it with a daunting plan(s). I also saw consistency mentioned. Great advice. Avoid “next best thing”
syndrome. #EduGladiators
A2: Our biggest challenge thus far continues to be relational trust. If colleagues cannot openly discuss ideas, questions, concerns, it is near to impossible to function like a plc. Barrier removed: state science test driven course #EduGladiators
A3: The difference is purpose & efficacy. Members that value each other enough to hold themselves accountable. Seeing work is not bc admin says so but bc it’s what is best for S learning. #EduGladiators
We have gifted our collaborativegrouls from high school classes (Bio, English etc) to focusing on our school goals. Feedback and metacognition. #EduGladiators
It has been a leadership opportunity to talk about instruction and critical skills and not content area standards. These goals can be applied to any classroom, so why can’t people with colleagues from all departments? #EduGladiators
Imagine this...4 teachers in a collaborative group talking about feedback. All 4 from different HS content areas. But all 4 focused on a skill that all students need. Now that my friends is powerful work. #EduGladiators
