On Common Ground: Chapter 1

Dufour, R., Eaker, R. & , Dufour R. (2005). Recurring Themes of Professional Learning Communities and the Assumptions They Challenge . In R. DuFour, R. Eaker, & R. DuFour (Eds.), On common ground (pp. 7-29). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

Abstract:
This book is basically about professional learning communities and how effective they can be in improving the school environment. Professional learning communities are teachers collaborating focusing on common learning goals. PLC's can increase teacher confidence and are linked to great gains in school wide student achievement. Chapter 1 describes three major challenges facing schools who want to form a PLC. The first challenge is that schools need to develop an understand and knowledge of what PLC's really are. There is a difference between the collaboration of a PLC and casual collegiality. The second challenge is that it takes significant time and effort to develop a PLC at a school. The third challege is that school culture must be transformed so that the professional learning community doesn't die out or lose momentum when facing difficult challenges.
The professional learning community concept revolves around learning for all, not teaching for all. It also encourages collaborative culture, as teachers working together is the only true way for school sucess. Schools neeed to focus on schoolwide improvement through these PLC's, not just individual teacher improvement. With PLC's teachers can share and develop assessments and learning plans, and share ideas and thoughts.

Reflection:
I think that PLC's are absolutly vital to a school's success. Theachers working together, not in competition with one another will only do positive things for student learning. Not only do I think that PLC's create a good support system for new teachers in a school, I think they are helpful for all teachers, regardless of how long they have been teaching. PLC's provide support for teachers, so that they can share the burden of state assessments and No Child Left Behind, so they do not feel like they are alone in their hardships. I think students and teachers would both benefit in any school where everyone has common learning goals. I think a lot of teachers go into their classrooms and shut their door and isolate themselves from the rest of the school. This only hurts their students and their teaching in the long run. I know that when I was in practicum a type of PLC was developed within our block, and it helped all of us out a lot. I think we all appreciated the atmosphere and learning that took place in our PLC. I certianly felt very comfortable in the atmosphere knowing we were all sharing support and ideas, giving feedback, and working towards common educational goals. Our struggles and problems we ran into were very similar, and it was a huge hlep to see approches other people took, and to gain and share knowledge and idea's with them.