Professional Learning Communities
An integral part of professional development at Little Falls Schools is the formulation and function of highly effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
For the school year 2015-16 our 193 licensed staff hold membership in one of 37 different PLCs; most PLCs are organized by grade level, content area, or area of specialty. Within these PLCs, staff work collaboratively to research, plan and implement best practice strategies to positively impact student achievement, design lessons utilizing Marzano's Framework for Classroom Strategies and Behaviors, reflect on data and offer feedback.
For the school year 2015-16 our 193 licensed staff hold membership in one of 37 different PLCs; most PLCs are organized by grade level, content area, or area of specialty. Within these PLCs, staff work collaboratively to research, plan and implement best practice strategies to positively impact student achievement, design lessons utilizing Marzano's Framework for Classroom Strategies and Behaviors, reflect on data and offer feedback.
PLC History in LFCS:
During Spring Workshop of 2014, all district teachers and leadership committed to build greater fidelity in the PLC processes that had been initiated in the district in prior years. A part of this process included defining the vision and definition of PLCs, based on dialogue inspired by professional literature on the topic.
Vision:
- Success for all students
- Engaged learning and enjoyment
- Meeting the needs of the whole child
- Students leave with a plan for their future
- Supportive and cohesive staff who care
- Safe and inspiring learning environment
Purpose
- Looking at multiple sources of data to determine the learning that needs to take place to improve teacher effectiveness which leads to student effectiveness.
- Collective commitment
- 100% buy-in; if we are to create a collaborative culture, then we must commit to be positive, contributing members
- Shift from focus on teaching to focus on learning
- Shift focus from inputs to outcomes and from intentions to results