AWCPA PLC Facilitator’s Training

AWCPA Leadership Team

Agenda

Introductions and structure “Evolution of the Professional Learning Community”

Technical vs Cultural Change First and Second Order Change

The Role of the PLC Leader and The Four PLC Questions

Structure of the PLC NORMS Flow Chart Agenda Templates Data Templates Next Steps: Duties, Assignments and Commitments

Professional Learning Communities

PLC’s operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-embedded learning for educators.

DuFour, et. al, 2006

What’s Different About a PLC?

Read, “How Do Principals Really Improve Schools.”

Briefly discuss the article in pairs, and share out key ideas.

PLCS are a TeamTeams bring

together complementary skills and experience that exceed those of any individual on the team.

Teams are more effective with problem solving.

Teams motivate and foster positive peer pressure and collective responsibility.

Scheduling

PLC’s will meet at AWCPA one week, and the district the following week. This will be a fluid process and the meetings

will be aligned, “Same Focus- enhance student learning and achievement”.

MS Staff will meet at the PLCC, and HS will be at various High Schools in the district.

See attached schedule.

The Four Questions

What is it we expect the students to learn? How will we know when they have learned it? How will we respond when they don’t learn? How will we respond when they already know it?

-DuFour, DuFour, Eaker 2008

Six Characteristics

Shared Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals

Collective Inquiry Collaborative Culture Action Orientation and Experimentation Continuous Improvement Focus on Results

Administration and PLC Leader’s Role

Initiate structures and systems Pose the right questions Model what is valued Celebrate progress Lead for change

In order to influence change…

Change in values, beliefs, practiceChange in student achievement

*In reality….Change in practiceChange in student achievementChange in beliefs

Thomas Guskey

Group Process Facilitator

One who contributes structure and process to interactions so groups are able to function effectively. A helper and enabler whose goal is to support others as they achieve exceptional performance.

Group Process Facilitation

A way of providing leadership without taking the reins. A facilitator’s job is to get others to assume responsibility, to take the lead, and engage in meaningful collaboration.

-Facilitation At A Glance

Group Process Facilitators: Do not have all the answers, are not always the content experts Stay neutral, if you must move out of facilitator role and into role as participating

member of group identify that move. Are responsible for room set up that supports effective teams Listen; demonstrate that you are listening by using verbal and non verbal cues.

(Refer to norms when issues arise.) Paraphrase or clarify for the benefit of all members of the group. Watch the time (or appoint a timekeeper) Build capacity and buy-in, redirect questions by sending to others rather than

answering yourself Use humor – appropriate humor! Call and identify sidetracks, stay true to norms. Encourage all group members to acknowledge dysfunctional behaviors as they

occur. (Remember the focus and intended outcomes, improve instruction to increase achievement.)

Facilitators At A Glance

Processes for Groups

Set the stage Focus Attention: Norms always present at the beginning of each meeting.

ONE THING: outcomes, make clear at the beginning of each meeting.Check in: Keep meetings positively focused, keep the meeting about the work, avoid negative conversations about kids.

Check the group to see where you are: Reflection on group progress, responsibility checks.

Check for agreement: Fist to Five, Thumbs Up.

Build Consensus:Look for commonalities, agreementIdentify polar points – What would it take for this to work for you?Take a break – get up and stretchMove on and come back to issueCheck to see if it can hold until the next meeting. Perhaps the group needs more information.

Norms

Non-NegotiablesDefine essential learning's (Power Standards) and

use common assessmentsEveryone participates and works toward the

common goal – achievement for all studentsRe-teach essential skillsData posted in dropbox folderTeams develop collective norms and honor their

team norms-adapted from DuFour, et. al.

Team Agenda Template Guides the meeting

NormsSMART Goals Identify area of work on flowchartTopic covered on timeline, be specificReflection Form- end of each cycle

Provides information for next meetingsDuties, Assignments and Commitments, for all

members.

Reflections

What was the focus of our discussion? What did we learn about teaching our

content and lesson plans that were developed?

What did we learn about our students; growth, enrichment?

Action Plan

Dropbox Usage Data Forms First Meeting: Norms need to be set and

widentify essential standards. Stay focused on ensuring student learning

Leadership and Facilitators

Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it’s the only thing.

Albert Schweitzer