Diana

PLC Group Name: MetaCOOGS PLC Meeting Location: Cite Lab PLC Meeting Time: 11:30am

Hour 1 ENGAGE As an anticipatory set for today’s lesson, please read the article “Getting "Inside Inquiry": Teachers' Questions Transform Their Practice“ []

EXPLORE [Note to PLC Leaders: Post to your Group space a second reading, resource, or website for your team to explore in order to broaden or deeper member understanding of studying your own teaching. You might search for “Teacher Inquiry” or “Professional Learning Communities” or “Action Research” or” Teacher Research.”]

Check this out! http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues61.html
Hour 2 EXPLAIN [Note to PLC Leaders: You will lead the group in responding to the reading and other resources. Here is where you will post to your group space at least 3 open-ended discussion questions. Each PLC member should have an opportunity to share his or her understanding of the content.]

How can we improve on using PLC?
ELABORATE [Note to PLC Leaders: Here is where you will present a brief activity for the group to test its collective understanding and to push it into new directions. Today, I’m suggesting that you continue the work we began in our last face-to-face class as we thought about the Inquiry #3 assignment. We started discussing “wonderings” you have about your own teaching practice—something that seems to work or something that doesn’t seem to work or something that you would just like to improve. Now that you have had a chance to complete your midterm reflection--including setting goals for the second half of the semester--as well as meet your new placement class, here is your chance to finalize your "wondering" so that you can begin collecting data. Modify the f]

As a group, make a list of teaching strategies of your own about which you have a wondering. You probably have things in common! Take turns selecting one to focus on and formulating a “wondering” about that strategy. Help each member to make a plan to initiate, analyze, and write-up this inquiry? What questions does each member have that the group can help sort out about the process?

Hour 3 EVALUATE 1. As a group, reflect on what you have learned today about studying your own teaching practice. Why should teachers ask questions about their own teaching? How would your job be different if you approach it with an inquiry stance versus approaching it with no intention to ask questions?

==We came up as a group that teachers come up with a study of their own teaching practice to fulfill the overall goals of what teachers should have. This will help us make sure we are effective and efficient with every opportunity we have with our students.==

2. As a group, draft a brief statement (approx 1-2 paragraphs) of what you learned or new understandings you came to during this discussion. What did you agree with/about, and what did you not agree with/about? How do you KNOW you learned and grew?!

==As a group, we all had many different experiences from our student teaching. There were times where certain classroom management skills worked and did not work at all. It all depends on the students and what they are bringing in to the classroom. Flexibility has been key to our experiences this whole semester. We came into the schools with many theory based strategies that may work. However, this is reality and no longer in class activities. Dealing with the real thing is a whole new game. We all agreed on how we needed to change certain mentalities and becoming more objective instead of subjective. I'm sure we also agreed on that we have definitely made some growth as a future teacher and professional in life.==

3. As a group, please look at the Assignments page for the description and grading rubric for the Inquiry #3 assignment. You will be selecting a teaching practice of your own to study. The format is the same as your other inquiries, and is detailed on the Assignments page for this assignment.

4. Individually, please send your “PLC Check” as an email to Dr. Pierson and Caroline (mpierson@uh.edu; Caroline Liu yliu7@mail.uh.edu): --What/Who worked well in today’s PLC meeting? --What/Who didn’t work so well in today’s PLC meeting? This PLC check is due emailed by Friday (10/29) at midnight.