Professional Learning Communities at Work: Best Practices for Enhancing Student Achievement

The book that launched a school improvement movement offers research-based recommendations drawn from the best practices found in schools nationwide for continuously improving school performance. Coming from the perspectives of both a distinguished dean of education and one of America's most widely acclaimed practitioners, this resource provides specific, practical how-to information about transforming schools into results-oriented PLCs.

Benefits:

• Initiate, implement, and sustain a change process.
• Work collaboratively to design an effective research-based curriculum.
• Choose appropriate assessment models.
• Create meaningful partnerships with parents.
• Establish effective workplace-based professional development programs.
• Overcome the common mistakes you may face as you work toward change.

Contents:
Chapter 1: The Disappointment of School Reform
Chapter 2: A New Model: The Professional Learning Community
Chapter 3: The Complexity of the Change Process
Chapter 4: Building the Foundation of a Professional Learning Community: Mission and Vision
Chapter 5: Building the Foundation of a Professional Learning Community: Values and Goals
Chapter 6: Sustaining the School Improvement Process
Chapter 7: Embedding Change in the Culture of a School
Chapter 8: Planning for Learning: Curricular Focus in a Learning Community
Chapter 9: The Role of the Principal in a Professional Learning Community
Chapter 10: Teaching in a Professional Learning Community
Chapter 11: The Role of Parents in a Professional Learning Community
Chapter 12: Staff Development in a Professional Learning Community
Chapter 13: Passion and Persistence
Appendix A: Sample Vision Statements
Appendix B: Curriculum Standards, Models, and Concepts