Determinators+Week+5

=** Week 5 PLC: ****Studying Teaching Practice in Professional Learning Communities**=

PLC Meeting Location: UH MAIN CAMPUS PLC Meeting Time: 11 A.M.

Hour 1
Please view the video below as an anticipatory set for today’s lesson, to get your attention focused on using Inquiry to study Teaching Practice in collaborative groups: [] (seems to take a while to load and displays very small, but is worth it! Approximately 15 min.)
 * //ENGAGE//**


 * //EXPLORE//**

**DEAR PLC MEMBERS: Please take a look at these websites before our meeting on Friday. We will discuss them as a group in our meeting.**

//[]// []

Hour 2
//[Note to PLC Leaders: You will lead the group in responding to the video and other resources. Here is where you will post to your group space at least 3 open-ended discussion questions (For example, one discussion question might be, What would it take to provide time in a school day for teachers to discuss together?). Each PLC member should have an opportunity to share his or her understanding of the content.]//
 * //EXPLAIN//**
 * 1. Have you ever seen PLC groups in action at any schools before? If so, tell me about it.**
 * 2. How are teachers able to find time during the school day to meet with their PLC groups?**
 * 3. What are the benefits and/or disadvantages of working with PLC groups versus working alone?**

//[Note to PLC leaders: Normally, here is where you would present a brief activity for the group to test its collective understanding and to push it into new directions. Today, I’m suggesting two activities for you to practice real teaching inquiry and analysis with your PLC! You can post this as is, or modify if you like.]//
 * //ELABORATE//**

First, take turns discussing the data you have collected so far on your Child Inquiry. These questions might guide your conversation:
 * Who did I choose?
 * What did I see?
 * What does it mean?

Next, it is time to analyze the data you have collected, or in other words, figure out what is going on with this student! Either individually, or in partners, take some time right now to read and listen to Modules 4 and 5. Once everyone has gone through these, discuss. Finally, the Inquiry #2 assignment requires you to select a teaching practice of your cooperating teacher to study—something that seems to work or something that doesn’t seem to work or something that has just caught your eye. Could be:
 * Grouping
 * Presenting
 * Classroom management
 * Communicating
 * Technology use

As a group, make a list of teaching strategies that you see used in your class. Take turns formulating a “wondering” about one strategy. How can your PLC group help you to initiate, analyze, and write-up this inquiry?

Hour 3
1. As a group, reflect on what you have learned today about studying teaching in collaborative groups. As a group, we discussed the benefits of working with peers to enhance student learning. It not only promotes growth as a teacher, but it also helps build our relationships with one another.
 * //EVALUATE//**

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?! Post this statement to your PLC page.

We agreed that PLC groups are beneficial for teachers to be a part of because they can learn from one another and see different perspectives of how to teach a variety of lessons. Some other things we discussed and agreed on are that it is very beneficial to have other resources in the school for guidance and answers to any questions one may have. We also agreed that it is a good support system to have because teaching can be difficult at times, and it is nice to have someone to lean on and that understands what we are going through.

We know we have learned and grown from our PLC groups because we use each other for assistance, support, upcoming due dates, checkpoints, and so much more. We are learning different perspectives by coming to PLC groups every week. It's funny because when we're just sitting here going over our assignments and discussions, everyone is just sharing their thoughts one by one. It's wonderful to see how each person thinks differently, but how we can also learn from each other.

3. As a group, please look at the Assignments page for the description and grading rubric for the Inquiry #2 assignment. Now is the time to being Inquiry #2, selecting a teaching practice of your cooperating teacher to study. The format is the same as your Child study, and you should use what you learned through the five QUEST Teacher Research Modules.

4. Individually, please send your PLC Check as an email to Caroline so that she can get you recorded as "attending" in the gradebook:
 * What/Who worked well in today’s PLC meeting?
 * What/Who didn’t work so well in today’s PLC meeting?