Annotated Bibliography: Lessons for School Leaders
Supovitz, J., & Christman, J. (2005). Small learning communities that actually learn: Lessons for school leaders. Phi Delta Kappan, 86, 649-651
Summary
Creating a community structure is not enough to change a school’s current culture, although professional learning communities, or PLCs have great potential for bringing about advances in teaching and learning. In order for PLCs to be effective, district and school leaders must provide structures, strategies and support to help teachers develop their teaching skills. Schools in both Cincinnati and Philadelphia who had established PLCs with small teams of teachers were observed by the authors. It was found that there are several steps that leaders should take when building PLCs focused on improving instructional practice.
1. Focus communities around instruction
2. Diversify communities
3. Support communities
4. Legitimize communities
5. Create professional learning opportunities for communities
Evaluation
The authors make very valid arguments regarding the effectiveness of professional learning communities, or PLCs. They assert that effective PLCs need to spend the majority of their time discussing instruction, if change is going to happen. The most valuable piece of information offered by the …show more content…
The school encourages intellectual thought and commitment to community. It also provides opportunities for community involvement and creates a sense of belonging that keeps students level of engage at a high level. During every step of the educational process, the school provides opportunities for both students, teachers and administrators to collaborate. By creating an environment where students feel a sense of responsibility towards their community the school has created an intellectually rigorous culture where each individual is
Supovitz, J., & Christman, J. (2005). Small learning communities that actually learn: Lessons for school leaders. Phi Delta Kappan, 86, 649-651
Summary
Creating a community structure is not enough to change a school’s current culture, although professional learning communities, or PLCs have great potential for bringing about advances in teaching and learning. In order for PLCs to be effective, district and school leaders must provide structures, strategies and support to help teachers develop their teaching skills. Schools in both Cincinnati and Philadelphia who had established PLCs with small teams of teachers were observed by the authors. It was found that there are several steps that leaders should take when building PLCs focused on improving instructional practice.
1. Focus communities around instruction
2. Diversify communities
3. Support communities
4. Legitimize communities
5. Create professional learning opportunities for communities
Evaluation
The authors make very valid arguments regarding the effectiveness of professional learning communities, or PLCs. They assert that effective PLCs need to spend the majority of their time discussing instruction, if change is going to happen. The most valuable piece of information offered by the …show more content…
The school encourages intellectual thought and commitment to community. It also provides opportunities for community involvement and creates a sense of belonging that keeps students level of engage at a high level. During every step of the educational process, the school provides opportunities for both students, teachers and administrators to collaborate. By creating an environment where students feel a sense of responsibility towards their community the school has created an intellectually rigorous culture where each individual is