Prof. B's quote
You can walk into any school system large and small, and ask to see samples of work that’s proficient from 5 different 4th grade classrooms. You’ll get five radically different qualities of work.
This quote resonates so clearly about what I see daily in education. We have grade level members who are supposed to be teaching the same material but this doesn't seem to be the case. A parent has called because she has noticed an inconsistency of homework material for her twin boys. Even though the boys are in the same grade, one son is receiving homework material that her other son was doing 2 months ago. This inconsistency needs to stop. By infusing PLC (Professional Learning Communities) we need to insure that all students are currently at the same point in the curriculum.
Three more quotes.
1. We invest time and money in high-sounding plans and new programs we roll out each year with great fanfare. page 31
2. One teacher taught 28 times as much science as a teacher down the hall. page 37
3. The island school districts were successful - across socioeconomic lines - because leaders understood that effective teamwork is fundamental to success. page 127
These 3 points further provide evidence of inconsistencies that occur around the building.
1. We should not dismiss a program so quickly but rather spend time working together to analyze problems that we are incurring and possible solutions. We need to make an effort and provide adequate time for programs to take hold. Change takes time. Learning how to teach a new program takes time. To dismiss a program so quickly is an easy way out. We need a concerted effort from all parties involved to create the best action plan to allow success.
2. We need to hold each other accountable and responsible for what is being taught. By creating and participating in PLC's, I am hoping that this can be achieved. PLC's should be a time to present and reflect on practice that have been succeeding and failing, and creating solutions. This should be a time to generate ideas about upcoming units of instructions not only to create meaningful experiences for students but to hold accountable that the members of the PLC is involved in the same unit.
3. The previous two cannot be achieved without a cooperative effort. This creates the need for the PLC's. An environment where teachers can help each other grow and become more effective in what they do. To provide resources for each other and hold each other accountable. PLC's will serve as a forum for teachers to bring concerns and achievements so that we may improve, not only instruction but student learning and understanding.
These changes are needed to provide the most meaningful and fair education to all the students. We need to be willing to change for the sake of our students. I understand that what I am asking will take hard work, determination, and cooperation but it is essential to the success of our students.
Principal Pasieka
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I think PLCs are a great way to start to have some consistency among teachers. As a parent, I know that each year I worry about which teacher my kids will get because each one is so different and the education they provide is often so drastically different.
ReplyDeleteIt does take time to make these changes, but if everyone begins to work together to help each other, great results can occur.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI think the ideas and quotes that you have presented are very insightful. The PLCs are very important because that is one way that administrators can ensure that teachers are staying on the same page and teaching the same concepts to the students. The content of each lesson should be the same however the manner in which the material is presented should specific to the teacher. As much as teachers need to collaborate, they can lose their individuality and the personality that made them want to be a teacher. I agree that many programs are stopped to early however instead of providing these programs with additional work once they are implemented would it be possible to take the time before a district invests in these programs. Obviously once a program is implemented a district should do what it can to reinforce a program to ensure success for the teacher and students.
I agree wholeheartedly with the PLC idea. It's unfortunate that there are some who do not have the desire to work collaboratively with others. I have seen first hand the "why should I share MY ideas?!" - have actually heard it spoken over and over. It will take A LOT of determination and cooperation for this to be effective. I think if people were more willing to share, they might find that it would make their day to day a little bit easier in the long run, and certainly more enjoyable. Think of the possibilities if for example, in a Lang. Arts class, there were dozens of effective plans to teach writing rather than the same old grind. I would love to see these changes implemented, and as a first year teacher, I'd love to share some of my own ideas that I think would create an enjoyable learning environment for the students. Here's to keeping hope alive! :-)
ReplyDeleteMary Anne
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI like how you focused on PLCs to help teachers hold each other accountable and responsible. It's as if you are using PLCs to create a school culture that encourages teachers to use each other as resources to be better teachers. Since we have to play devil's advocate, I guess I would ask:
How would these PLCs be organized? Would they be organized by grade level, content area, or throughout the school? In addition, who would organize the meetings to ensure that they occur on a consistent basis? As you pointed out in your comment #1, programs are often dismissed too quickly. How would you convince your teachers to get "on board" and stick with PLCs in order to produce successful results?
Sean, to add to the PLC theme, how would you, as an administrator, find the time to get teachers together? Before or after school? Is there time during the day to get this done? Time is an essential factor in the success of this!
ReplyDelete