Mary


 * Today's PLC Lesson: Teacher Inquiry: Studying your own Practice**


 * Today's PLC Lesson: Studying your own Practice**

**PLC Group Name: M.E.A.H** **PLC Meeting Location: Walnut Bend Elementary** **PLC Meeting Time: 3:30-5:30**

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

// [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.”] //
 * //EXPLORE//**


 * Hour 2**
 * //EXPLAIN//**

As classroom inquirers what are our responsibilities and relationships towards the students that we research? Why is it important for teachers to reflect on their teaching strategies? Through teacher collaboration, how can we reclaim our authority as instructional planners and advocate our own professional development experiences?

// [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] //
 * //ELABORATE//**

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?

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?
 * Hour 3**
 * //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?! As a group we learned that we use inquiry strategies without even realizing it. We learned that collaborting with one another about inquiry strategies helps us think about how we can improve our teaching. We all agreed that classroom management is an issue in the class. We have learned a lot as a group. As we discussed making a plan of action to initiate for our teaching inquiry we learned how we should analyze our teaching practice. We grew by talking about our experieces and how gained insight into some of the same things we are all going through.

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 Ida (mpierson@uh.edu; idalkm@hotmail.com): --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.