An Illustrated Guide to the 5 Questions for PLC+

Douglas Fisher - San Diego State University, USA
Douglas Fisher - San Diego State University, USA
Nancy Frey - San Diego State University, USA
John Almarode - James Madison University, USA
An Illustrated Guide to the 5 Questions for PLC+
April 2026 | 208 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9798348854218
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9798348843427
Available from May 2026

Description

Bring your PLC+ work to life with this illustrated guide to the essential questions

Traditionally, teaching was a solo act. While many educators developed expertise on their own, important decisions were made in isolation, leading to inconsistent student experiences and missed opportunities to learn from one another. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) offered a way for educators to collaborate, but simply providing time to meet is not enough.

This beautifully illustrated guide offers a meaningful and accessible on-ramp to the PLC+ framework, an evidence-based approach that empowers teacher teams to do what matters most: boost student learning and improve teaching. By focusing on the five essential questions, this guide brings the big ideas of PLC+ to life with visuals, examples, and tools you can use right away.

This book will help you:

  • Understand the five essential questions: Where are we going? Where are we now? How do we move learning forward? What did we learn today? Who benefited and who did not?
  • Engage with illustrations and prompts designed to spark reflection and conversation, whether you’re reviewing student work, planning instruction, or tackling tough questions with colleagues
  • Use checklists to help your team see connections more clearly and determine actionable next steps
  • Explore spotlights on research that bring the importance and impact of high-functioning PLCs to light

Think of this guide as a roadmap you can flip open when you need direction, clarity, or inspiration in your PLC work. Then, continue with Your Introduction to PLC+ to go even deeper into the framework.

Contents

Letter From the Authors

Letter From the Authors

The “Why” Behind PLC+

The “Why” Behind PLC+

Question #1: Where Are We Going?

Question #1: Where Are We Going?

Question #2: Where Are We Now?

Question #2: Where Are We Now?

Question #3: How Do We Move Learning Forward?

Question #3: How Do We Move Learning Forward?

Question #4: What Did We Learn Today?

Question #4: What Did We Learn Today?

Question #5: Who Benefited and Who Did Not?

Question #5: Who Benefited and Who Did Not?

Thriving Together

Thriving Together

A Final Message…

A Final Message…

Endnotes

Endnotes

Index

Index

Description

Bring your PLC+ work to life with this illustrated guide to the essential questions

Traditionally, teaching was a solo act. While many educators developed expertise on their own, important decisions were made in isolation, leading to inconsistent student experiences and missed opportunities to learn from one another. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) offered a way for educators to collaborate, but simply providing time to meet is not enough.

This beautifully illustrated guide offers a meaningful and accessible on-ramp to the PLC+ framework, an evidence-based approach that empowers teacher teams to do what matters most: boost student learning and improve teaching. By focusing on the five essential questions, this guide brings the big ideas of PLC+ to life with visuals, examples, and tools you can use right away.

This book will help you:

  • Understand the five essential questions: Where are we going? Where are we now? How do we move learning forward? What did we learn today? Who benefited and who did not?
  • Engage with illustrations and prompts designed to spark reflection and conversation, whether you’re reviewing student work, planning instruction, or tackling tough questions with colleagues
  • Use checklists to help your team see connections more clearly and determine actionable next steps
  • Explore spotlights on research that bring the importance and impact of high-functioning PLCs to light

Think of this guide as a roadmap you can flip open when you need direction, clarity, or inspiration in your PLC work. Then, continue with Your Introduction to PLC+ to go even deeper into the framework.

Contents

Letter From the Authors

Letter From the Authors

The “Why” Behind PLC+

The “Why” Behind PLC+

Question #1: Where Are We Going?

Question #1: Where Are We Going?

Question #2: Where Are We Now?

Question #2: Where Are We Now?

Question #3: How Do We Move Learning Forward?

Question #3: How Do We Move Learning Forward?

Question #4: What Did We Learn Today?

Question #4: What Did We Learn Today?

Question #5: Who Benefited and Who Did Not?

Question #5: Who Benefited and Who Did Not?

Thriving Together

Thriving Together

A Final Message…

A Final Message…

Endnotes

Endnotes

Index

Index

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An Illustrated Guide to the 5 Questions for PLC+


April 2026 | 208 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 23/10/2025 9798348843427 $39.95
Lifetime 16/03/2026 9798348854218 $36.00

Bring your PLC+ work to life with this illustrated guide to the essential questions

Traditionally, teaching was a solo act. While many educators developed expertise on their own, important decisions were made in isolation, leading to inconsistent student experiences and missed opportunities to learn from one another. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) offered a way for educators to collaborate, but simply providing time to meet is not enough.

This beautifully illustrated guide offers a meaningful and accessible on-ramp to the PLC+ framework, an evidence-based approach that empowers teacher teams to do what matters most: boost student learning and improve teaching. By focusing on the five essential questions, this guide brings the big ideas of PLC+ to life with visuals, examples, and tools you can use right away.

This book will help you:

  • Understand the five essential questions: Where are we going? Where are we now? How do we move learning forward? What did we learn today? Who benefited and who did not?
  • Engage with illustrations and prompts designed to spark reflection and conversation, whether you’re reviewing student work, planning instruction, or tackling tough questions with colleagues
  • Use checklists to help your team see connections more clearly and determine actionable next steps
  • Explore spotlights on research that bring the importance and impact of high-functioning PLCs to light

Think of this guide as a roadmap you can flip open when you need direction, clarity, or inspiration in your PLC work. Then, continue with Your Introduction to PLC+ to go even deeper into the framework.


Table Of Contents:

  • Letter From the Authors
  • The “Why” Behind PLC+
  • Question #1: Where Are We Going?
  • Question #2: Where Are We Now?
  • Question #3: How Do We Move Learning Forward?
  • Question #4: What Did We Learn Today?
  • Question #5: Who Benefited and Who Did Not?
  • Thriving Together
  • A Final Message…
  • Endnotes
  • Index

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