On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities

This anthology presents the recommendations of education leaders, and each chapter contributes to a sound conceptual framework and offers specific strategies for developing PLCs. These leaders have found common ground in expressing their belief in the power of PLCs although clear differences emerge regarding their perspectives on the most effective strategy for making PLCs the norm in North America.

Benefits:

• Confront issues that impede student success.
• Leverage best strategies for raising student achievement.
• Support the premise that educators who embrace learning enable students to succeed.
• Learn how to use formative assessments with a focus on results.
• Assume individual responsibility and shared goals for learning.

Contents:
Foreword: Here and Now: Improving Teaching and Learning
Introduction: On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities

Section 1: Overview of PLCs
Chapter 1: Recurring Themes of Professional Learning Communities and the Assumptions They Challenge
Chapter 2: What Is a Professional Learning Community?

Section 2: Critical Questions of PLCs
Chapter 3: Putting It All Together: Standards, Assessment, and Accountability in Successful Professional Learning Communities
Chapter 4: Assessment FOR Learning: Building a Culture of Confident Learners
Chapter 5: Mater of Motivation
Chapter 6: Turning Book Burners Into Lifelong Learners

Section 3: Creating PLCs
Chapter 7: No Turning Back: The Ironclad Case for Professional Learning Communities
Chapter 8: Leading for Transformation in Teaching, Learning, and Relationships

Section 4: Placing PLCs in a Broader Context
Chapter 9: More Effective Schools: Professional Learning Communities in Action
Chapter 10: Implementing PLCs in the Chicago Public Schools
Chapter 11: Professional Learning Communities Writ Large

Section 5: A Call to Action
Chapter 12: Closing the Knowing-Doing Gap

Editors:

Richard DuFour, EdD, in a distinguished career spanning four decades, was a public-school educator, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. A prolific author and consultant, he was recognized as one of the leading authorities on helping school practitioners implement the Professional Learning Communities at Work process in their schools and districts. Over the course of his career, he was the author of numerous books, including the best-selling Professional Learning Communities at Work, Learning by Doing, and In Praise of American Educators.

During his 19-year tenure as a leader at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Stevenson was one of only three schools in the nation to win the United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award on four occasions and the first comprehensive high school designated a New American High School as a model of successful school reform.

Robert Eaker, EdD, is professor emeritus at Middle Tennessee State University, where he also served as dean of the College of Education and interim vice president and provost. Dr. Eaker is a former fellow with the National Center for Effective Schools Research and Development. He has written widely on the issues of effective teaching, effective schools, helping teachers use research findings, and high expectations for student achievement. Dr. Eaker was instrumental in the founding of the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame and was a regular contributor to the Effective Schools Research Abstracts series.

Rebecca (Becky) DuFour, MEd, served as a teacher, school administrator, and central office coordinator. As a former elementary principal, she helped her school earn state and national recognition as a model Professional Learning Community at Work and as a National Blue Ribbon School. She coauthored twelve books, numerous articles, and several video resources on the topic of PLCs.

Serving as a consultant for more than sixteen years, Becky brought over thirty-six years of professional experience to her work with educators around the world who are implementing the PLC process in their own organizations. Becky was the recipient of the Evelyn P. Bickham Award, Outstanding Undergraduate Alumni Award of Lynchburg College. She consulted with professional organizations, schools, districts, universities, and departments of education.

To learn more about Becky's work, visit AllThingsPLC.info.

Contributors: Roland Barth, Rebecca DuFour, Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, Barbara Eason-Watkins, Michael Fullan, Lawrence W. Lezotte, Douglas Reeves, Jonathon Saphier, Mike Schmoker, Dennis Sparks, and Rick Stiggins.