The Practice of Authentic PLCs

A Guide to Effective Teacher Teams
Daniel R. Venables
The Practice of Authentic PLCs
January 2011 | 208 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452239224
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ISBN: 9781412986632
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Description

"This text illustrates the essence of what it really means to be a teacher—to care deeply and to think and act collectively about student and teacher learning."
—Barrie Bennet, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto, Ontario

"Daniel Venables has made a terrific contribution to the growing effort of teachers to educate ourselves in professional learning communities through protocols that focus our attention on the right stuff. Happily his writing is as accessible as his material is useful and his insights fresh."
—Joseph P. McDonald, Professor of Teaching and Learning and author of The Power of Protocols
New York University

Discover the keys to building effective, authentic PLCs

Creating an authentic professional learning community requires breaking down the walls of isolation and collaborating to improve student learning, because collectively we are more than the sum of our parts. Grounded in the award-winning author's foundational work with the Coalition of Essential Schools, this book enables educators to hit the ground running with a research-based process that includes:

  • Setting the foundation for collaboration and team building
  • Facilitating protocols
  • Examining student and teacher work
  • Implementing teacher-designed common formative assessments
  • Analyzing and responding to data

Educators will find numerous strategies, activities, exercises, and guidance for PLC leaders, including FAQs and a troubleshooting guide to common obstacles. When teachers are given the time, tools, and power to improve instruction, everyone benefits.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

Introduction

  • The Call for PLCs
  • Out With Programs, In With People

I. The Context for Authentic PLCs

  • 1. The Business of PLCs
  • PLCs in Context
  • Meeting Logistics
  • The Roles of the Players
  • Summary: PLCs
  • 2. What to Do First: Building a Foundation for Collaboration
  • Building the Teams
  • Establishing Group Norms
  • Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Summary: Collaboration

II. The Essential Tasks of Authentic PLCs

  • 3. Looking at Student and Teacher Work
  • Protocols for Student and Teacher Work
  • Feedback
  • Bringing and Examining Work
  • Peer Observations
  • Summary: Looking at Work
  • 4. Designing Quality Common Formative Assessments
  • Deciding Assessment Content
  • Designing Standards-Based Assessments
  • Alternative Forms of Common Assessments
  • Scoring and Grading CFAs
  • Reviewing CFA Data and Planning for Intervention
  • Summary: CFAs
  • 5. Reviewing and Responding to Data
  • Data Literacy
  • Reviewing Existing Data
  • Pursuing Additional Data
  • Translating Data Into Action
  • Summary: Data

III. Coaching Authentic PLCs

  • 6. Coach's Guide to Facilitating Protocols and Activities
  • Protocols for Team Building, Norm Setting, and Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Protocols for Teacher and Student Work and Issues and Dilemmas
  • Two Facilitator Protocols
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Summary: Coaching Protocols
  • 7. Troubleshooting Common Obstacles
  • Common Obstacles and Challenges
  • A Note to Principals
  • Summary: Coaching Teachers

Coach's Appendix

Coach's Appendix

Protocols and Activities

Protocols and Activities

References and Further Readings

References and Further Readings

Index

Index

Description

"This text illustrates the essence of what it really means to be a teacher—to care deeply and to think and act collectively about student and teacher learning."
—Barrie Bennet, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto, Ontario

"Daniel Venables has made a terrific contribution to the growing effort of teachers to educate ourselves in professional learning communities through protocols that focus our attention on the right stuff. Happily his writing is as accessible as his material is useful and his insights fresh."
—Joseph P. McDonald, Professor of Teaching and Learning and author of The Power of Protocols
New York University

Discover the keys to building effective, authentic PLCs

Creating an authentic professional learning community requires breaking down the walls of isolation and collaborating to improve student learning, because collectively we are more than the sum of our parts. Grounded in the award-winning author's foundational work with the Coalition of Essential Schools, this book enables educators to hit the ground running with a research-based process that includes:

  • Setting the foundation for collaboration and team building
  • Facilitating protocols
  • Examining student and teacher work
  • Implementing teacher-designed common formative assessments
  • Analyzing and responding to data

Educators will find numerous strategies, activities, exercises, and guidance for PLC leaders, including FAQs and a troubleshooting guide to common obstacles. When teachers are given the time, tools, and power to improve instruction, everyone benefits.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

Introduction

  • The Call for PLCs
  • Out With Programs, In With People

I. The Context for Authentic PLCs

  • 1. The Business of PLCs
  • PLCs in Context
  • Meeting Logistics
  • The Roles of the Players
  • Summary: PLCs
  • 2. What to Do First: Building a Foundation for Collaboration
  • Building the Teams
  • Establishing Group Norms
  • Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Summary: Collaboration

II. The Essential Tasks of Authentic PLCs

  • 3. Looking at Student and Teacher Work
  • Protocols for Student and Teacher Work
  • Feedback
  • Bringing and Examining Work
  • Peer Observations
  • Summary: Looking at Work
  • 4. Designing Quality Common Formative Assessments
  • Deciding Assessment Content
  • Designing Standards-Based Assessments
  • Alternative Forms of Common Assessments
  • Scoring and Grading CFAs
  • Reviewing CFA Data and Planning for Intervention
  • Summary: CFAs
  • 5. Reviewing and Responding to Data
  • Data Literacy
  • Reviewing Existing Data
  • Pursuing Additional Data
  • Translating Data Into Action
  • Summary: Data

III. Coaching Authentic PLCs

  • 6. Coach's Guide to Facilitating Protocols and Activities
  • Protocols for Team Building, Norm Setting, and Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Protocols for Teacher and Student Work and Issues and Dilemmas
  • Two Facilitator Protocols
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Summary: Coaching Protocols
  • 7. Troubleshooting Common Obstacles
  • Common Obstacles and Challenges
  • A Note to Principals
  • Summary: Coaching Teachers

Coach's Appendix

Coach's Appendix

Protocols and Activities

Protocols and Activities

References and Further Readings

References and Further Readings

Index

Index

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The Practice of Authentic PLCs

A Guide to Effective Teacher Teams

Daniel R. Venables
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January 2011 | 208 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/01/2025 9781412986632 $40.95
Lifetime 01/01/2025 9781452239224 $37.00

"This text illustrates the essence of what it really means to be a teacher—to care deeply and to think and act collectively about student and teacher learning."
—Barrie Bennet, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto, Ontario

"Daniel Venables has made a terrific contribution to the growing effort of teachers to educate ourselves in professional learning communities through protocols that focus our attention on the right stuff. Happily his writing is as accessible as his material is useful and his insights fresh."
—Joseph P. McDonald, Professor of Teaching and Learning and author of The Power of Protocols
New York University

Discover the keys to building effective, authentic PLCs

Creating an authentic professional learning community requires breaking down the walls of isolation and collaborating to improve student learning, because collectively we are more than the sum of our parts. Grounded in the award-winning author's foundational work with the Coalition of Essential Schools, this book enables educators to hit the ground running with a research-based process that includes:

  • Setting the foundation for collaboration and team building
  • Facilitating protocols
  • Examining student and teacher work
  • Implementing teacher-designed common formative assessments
  • Analyzing and responding to data

Educators will find numerous strategies, activities, exercises, and guidance for PLC leaders, including FAQs and a troubleshooting guide to common obstacles. When teachers are given the time, tools, and power to improve instruction, everyone benefits.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • Introduction
  • The Call for PLCs
  • Out With Programs, In With People
  • I. The Context for Authentic PLCs
  • 1. The Business of PLCs
  • PLCs in Context
  • Meeting Logistics
  • The Roles of the Players
  • Summary: PLCs
  • 2. What to Do First: Building a Foundation for Collaboration
  • Building the Teams
  • Establishing Group Norms
  • Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Summary: Collaboration
  • II. The Essential Tasks of Authentic PLCs
  • 3. Looking at Student and Teacher Work
  • Protocols for Student and Teacher Work
  • Feedback
  • Bringing and Examining Work
  • Peer Observations
  • Summary: Looking at Work
  • 4. Designing Quality Common Formative Assessments
  • Deciding Assessment Content
  • Designing Standards-Based Assessments
  • Alternative Forms of Common Assessments
  • Scoring and Grading CFAs
  • Reviewing CFA Data and Planning for Intervention
  • Summary: CFAs
  • 5. Reviewing and Responding to Data
  • Data Literacy
  • Reviewing Existing Data
  • Pursuing Additional Data
  • Translating Data Into Action
  • Summary: Data
  • III. Coaching Authentic PLCs
  • 6. Coach's Guide to Facilitating Protocols and Activities
  • Protocols for Team Building, Norm Setting, and Constructing Community Knowledge
  • Protocols for Teacher and Student Work and Issues and Dilemmas
  • Two Facilitator Protocols
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Summary: Coaching Protocols
  • 7. Troubleshooting Common Obstacles
  • Common Obstacles and Challenges
  • A Note to Principals
  • Summary: Coaching Teachers
  • Coach's Appendix
  • Protocols and Activities
  • References and Further Readings
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"This fine pick considers team building, protocols for success, and teacher-designed formative assessments to teach how to respond to data and develop exercises and activities for PLC leaders."
James A. Cox, Editor in Chief, The Midwest Book Review, August 2011
“Daniel Venables has made a terrific contribution to the growing effort of teachers to educate ourselves in professional learning communities through protocols that focus our attention on the right stuff. Happily his writing is as accessible as his material is useful and his insights fresh.”
Joseph P. McDonald, Professor of Teaching and Learning and author of The Power of Protocols, New York University
"This book offers its readers practical tools and hard-won insights gleaned from Venables’ extensive experience in the day-to-day work of PLCs. This guide is a valuable resource for seriously creating PLCs that continuously improve teaching and learning for the benefit of all students."
Dennis Sparks, Emeritus Executive Director, National Staff Development Council, Ann Arbor, MI
"This text illustrates the essence of what it really means to be a teacher; to care deeply and to think and act collectively about student and teacher learning."
Barrie Bennet, Professor, OISE/University of Toronto, Ontario
"The book provides a clear roadmap for a member or facilitator of a PLC."
Diane Barone, Professor, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada

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