In Chapter 4 of "An Ethic of Excellence" Ron Berger speaks of the passion for teaching and power of teachers to influence students throughout their future. He compares outstanding teachers as craftsmen who continually hone their skills through professional development and collaboration with other skilled educators. Berger suggests that teachers should exercise their scholarship through reading, conference attendance and coursework.
One model of professional development that Berger cites is the use of summits in which educators engage in an intense weeklong study that includes study, team building and firsthand experiences.
- How can teams of teachers meet to share student work?
- How can we work together to explore teaching techniques that will be most effective for our students?
As with other chapter readings, please comment on the responses of two other participants in this professional learning community book study.
Professional Learning Communities will help establish the school culture at our school. Teams of our teachers can meet to share student work or projects during PLC meetings and Grade Level Collaboration meetings through common planning periods. Each teacher presents and explains work from her classroom. The other teachers analyze the students' work or projects, critique the work, and make comments. They give constructive critism and discuss the strategies that can be used to make the work stronger.
ReplyDeleteThe team can work together to explore teaching techniques by spending time brainstorming plans for themes to teach and planning exhibitions to display student work for the public. We can also observe lessons taught by colleagues or others in order to share effective instructional strategies. Teachers plan together, give advice, critique, challenge, support, and respect each other in a school setting that encourages teamwork and excellence. Our school can adopt structures, such as exhibitions, assembly presentations, class displays, class partnerships, and portfolios, that encourage originality, teamwork, and innovative studies.
Paula, I agree. teamwork can produce excellence in our schools. I liked all your examples to share work and strategies. Great points!
DeletePaula I agree. We all need new ideas especially with the challenges of meeting each learner a needs. Team work is the key to a success and is there is evidence of team work in all successful schools.
DeleteTeresa JusticeJuly 23, 2013 at 3:40 PM
DeleteI enjoyed reading all your excellent ideas on how we can work as a team to explore effective teaching techniques. Also, is see these as great opportunities to offer encouragement and gather ideas.
Paula, I agree that we all have to work together as a team to achieve success
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Paula,
DeleteExhibitions, class displays and partnerships are a great way to help encourage students and parents as well as teachers.
Paula, your comment was excellent! Our schools can do all of the activities you mentioned. It will take us a while to get there.
DeletePaula, I agree , we all need to work together as a team. PLC meetings are an excellent place to discuss some of your ideas.
DeletePaula I agree and I am hoping that this year our teachers having common planning periods will be able to share great lessons, develop some wonderful units to share across grade levels and well as across the school. I really think it would be awesome if grade level teachers from our area elementary schools could work together to develop lessons, units, etc. What a way to share teaching strategies that would be for us all...
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ReplyDeleteTeachers can share students' work in PLC meetings and during common planning meetings. Teachers can view a sample of students work from planning stage to a finished product utilizing portfolios and/or models on display.
ReplyDeleteTeams can work together to plan projects that have purpose, and interest. The purpose being what they need to know and explore. Interest must be considered when choosing a theme. Planning strategies will be used and to measure effectiveness
I agree. I think planning projects that are interesting together is a great idea. When projects are interesting students will be motivated to do their best.
DeleteI agree, when students are motivated learning becomes fun!
DeleteLiz I love that idea of sharing student work from planning stages to the finished product. That would be such an inspiration for all teachers. I love the idea of team planning too...that would be wonderful for all involved.
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ReplyDeleteI order to have a school culture that is effective, all staff must work together and support each other. PLC meetings and common planning periods can be used to plan and share students work, strategies, and techniques. Team members can draw from each others knowledge to reach excellence.
ReplyDeleteTeachers and administrators can share by displaying work hallways and meeting areas, holding events where students explain there work to peers and the public, and showcase students work in the community. Both the student and the teacher will try harder to reach their goals.
Students love share what they know and to explain how and why they do things. It shows in their face when they did their best and took pride in their work..
DeleteTeresa, I agree with you that all the staff must work together and support each other in order to have a school culture that is effective.
DeleteI like your idea of displaying student work, and holding events to show case student work. This will give students something to work for and be proud of.
DeleteI like your idea of a show and tell as well. Some of my coursework has stated that a good way to teach a student is to let them be the teacher.
DeleteHolding events for students to share their work themselves would be so rewarding for everyone involved - them, us, parents. Awesome.
DeleteTeresa, I love the idea of school displays of student work- having the kids to explain their work during school events!!
DeleteTeresa I love the idea of holding showcase events for the public. You know we will live in a small rural community and it seems they always see the bad stuff so we need to do our own PR and showcase our students. This needs to be a goal of our school this year. I love it!!!!
DeleteTeresa, I think that common planning periods will benefit us this year in a great way! Showcase would be hit:)
DeleteI agree. Displaying students" work and having them explain their work to peers and the public is a great idea. This will motivate students and teachers to strive for excellence.
ReplyDeleteIn PLC meetings, we meet regularly to set goals and commit to a shared educational vision. Teams of teachers meet and share the student's work or projects and discuss what is working and what isn't working in their classrooms. Teachers provide support to each other as they analyze the student's work and critique or comment on the projects.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a perfect blend of several qualities to create a truly effective teacher who can have a lasting impact on virtually every student. At the top of the list, a teacher should possess a love and passion for teaching young people. The teacher must vary the techniques used in the classroom and be willing to receive/share ideas with other teachers and through attending professional development workshops/seminars. Hopefully, as we plan and work on projects, we can support each other as we strive for excellence.
I agree that we should share ideas and work together to find different techniques that will help our students achieve excellence.
DeleteI agree that it is so vital for teachers to be willing to both receive & share ideas to grow as teaching professionals.
DeleteI think that you hit your first one on right(:)) If you don't have the love for the job then you are definately in the wrong profession and need to think about the kids that you are affecting because it is lifelong with them,
DeleteWe can work together during PLC meetings and planning periods. During these meetings we can share what we have been doing in our classroom and give examples of student work and success.
ReplyDeleteBrainstorming and making plans for projects and lessons as well as observing others classrooms is a way to find new techniques. Techniques should be varied to meet the needs of all students.
Working together is key in this transition. It will be an adjustment for all; teachers, students, parents, and the community. Getting everyone committed to the process, to meet the needs of all students, is definitely worth the extra effort.
DeleteCommunication and working together is the key. Making plans and supporting each other will bring success.
DeleteDanielle I love your idea of observing other classrooms. I think we may even take that further by visiting other classrooms in other schools. Sometimes a little inspiration can make a big difference. Maybe just seeing something that you never thought of before, could lead to big gains for students and that is what we are looking for...a way to improve student achievement.
DeleteThe PLC's that are currently in place are a good starting point; we just need to expand our collaboration time. We could also utilize our AIT days as collaboration time. While our school has completed school wide projects and presentations (Christmas around the World and Veteran's Day), our projects were not the in-depth projects that the author completes in his classes. Transition to this type of teaching will not be quick or easy, but I believe it will be worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteStudents deserve the very best when they come into their classrooms. Teachers meeting to share student work is essential in the development of innovative teaching. Teachers make the very best happen with the curriculum each day when given the proper tools. PLC meetings, scheduled planning periods that are the same, and time to meet more frequently are a few of the tools that can help teacher to share student work. I feel that our PLC meetings are so rushed, that we often don’t have the time to share in ways that are productive with our team members. We as educators need time to get together to brainstorm and collaborate with each other. Teachers need the opportunity to meet more frequently to decide what does and does not work. We need to share student work with each other, and reflect on the goals that we have already set . We need to leave meetings knowing that we can move forward with a positive plan that will make everyone feel a sense of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteWorking together to explore teaching techniques that will be most effective with our students requires time. We need to develop a schedule that will provide us the opportunity to develop strategies that are grade level appropriate. It is important to work together to develop effective learning environments in which students can explore and be engaged . We need the opportunity to work together with students through team teaching. Team teaching can help students to work with others that they may not normally have a chance to work with at any other time in a classroom setting. Team teaching can also encourage student responsibility which allows the students to investigate, grow, and show leadership. Finally, in working together, we grow, have fun, develop a working plan, and help our students to do the same.
Denise, I agree, WORKING together as a team is the key of anything. Having a plan of action and everyone follows that plan for accomplishment. I feel our goals for the students will be accomplished this year.
DeleteTeachers can meet, collaborate and share student work during PLC meetings. It will take an effort and commitment from teachers to make a change and promote student achievement.
ReplyDeleteI was told as a new teacher that my best resource was other teachers. Teachers can be mentors, sharing what they know by modeling, this provides support for each other. We can create an environment where collaboration is welcomed. I liked the idea of vertical teams, integrating lessons and projects that are interesting and will ensure student success and achievement.
I like what that teacher told you, and I agree! Other teachers are a great resource for new teachers to use. One told me that a good teachers steals all the time.... Steals ideas that worked then adds things to it to make it their own. I'm just glad that we have a staff that make us comfortable enough to steal from.
DeleteKelley you are so right. Other teachers in our building will be your strongest resource. They will help you and if you want they can also give critical advice. Please don't ever hesitate to come and ask me or to ask other teachers in our building for advice. Teachers are the most willing people when it comes to sharing ideas as well as supplies. PLC meetings are wonderful for collaboration and we are a work in progress, but we will get better..
DeleteTeachers can meet during PLC meetings to discuss student works and achievements but I think it should happen more than once a week. We could meet before school takes up to discuss plans for the day. We could also meet after school dismisses to discuss what went right or wrong to make our teaching techniques better. Another way we can work together to explore teaching techniques is to set up like a show and tell. Let the students show their work and explain their work to the other class or teachers.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Kim. Meeting once a week for thirty minutes which should be our planning period causes more stress. We need time to discuss, plan, and share our ideas with each other. When we met after school, we accomplished so much more. I too hope that we can find a way to work together in a more productive way. I also believe that giving students the opportunity to show and explain their work is an wonderful teaching technique that will benefit the students and the teachers.
DeleteKim I will be honest and say that Buffalo teachers do meet more than once a week. We have a set PLC meeting time but many of our teachers stay late, come early and even meet on the weekends to collaborate with each other and work on ideas. One of the things we try to do is plan a time to be together away from the school setting and one is coming up this August...hope you can go with us. I love your show and tell idea too. Students love to show their great work and what a ego booster that is for them>>>Yeah looking forward to this year with all these great eager teachers...
DeleteAs a brand new baby teacher with only 6 months experience (aside from clinical experience) under my belt, this chapter really spoke to me. I enjoyed my time at the school I am leaving, but experienced a lot of the feelings new teachers have described in this chapter during my time there. I want to be able to learn all that I can from veteran teachers, and I want to feel welcomed by them TO learn.
ReplyDeleteI have heard great things about the new school I am entering and I am excited to be a part of our third grade teaching team. I feel that I have been welcomed with open arms already and though I am nervous (it is all new to me afterall), I am starting to feel better as the beginning of school approaches.
The quote, “I’m blessed to be a part of a staff that plans together, gives advice and critique, challenges each other and supports and respects each other, in a school setting that encourages this kind of teamwork.” found on pages 134-135 speaks volumes in regards to both of these questions! Having patience, tolerance, positivity, mutual respect, accepting change & growth, the *WANT* to work together as a team, finding the time, and support(!) are the only way that we can share student work & explore techniques together as a team.
Sharing student work with others - I enjoy posting work outside of the classroom, because I believe students deserve the recognition & it gives them a sense of pride/purpose. PLC meetings & other mandated meetings, of course..... but I also like the idea of meeting & collaborating outside of the school building, such as on weekends, in a stressfree environment.
A few things must happen like collaboration among colleagues(all not some) in PLC, treats, and workshops. This sharing will help create a stronger team.
ReplyDeleteTeachers building relationships and teach from the heart. This will build excellences in our school.
We must explore strategies and methods for craftsmanship in projects.
A close look at Holden and Buffalo's communities will have a successful outcome for all(community, home, school, students, and staff.
This will help our children become proud, passionate, talented ADULTS!
I agree Karen, we need to work together to create a strong team in order to build a stronger relationship with each other. I am sure that we will work together this year to improve our school, commnity, and staff.
ReplyDeletePLC meetings , as well as common planning periods can be utilized to discuss classroom or schoolwide projects. Staff members can share stories of successes, failures, and offer suggestions for improvement. Teamwork can build excellence!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Lisa, I am so hoping that we will have common planning periods this year. It will help so much with our collaboration which will increase student achievement.
DeleteI think this chapter has really spoken to some of the veteran teachers at Buffalo this past year. As a new principal last year PLC meetings was a common topic of conversation. The teachers were doing PLC meetings every week but were not very sure if they were doing them effectively. PLC meetings should be a way for teachers to share student work and share teaching strategies with each other. I think PLC meetings can be highly effective if they are approached with the attitude of knowing it is in the best interest of students. PLC will continue to be a big part of Buffalo and I hope that in time we will all become more comfortable with our PLC meetings...
ReplyDeleteI think that one way that we are going to be able to start the year out with the assistance of our boards office and be given the opportunity to have teaching of excellence is our common planning period! This is the best idea ever....however, I know the struggles that we have in small schools to create common planning period but we are given the opportunity this year and it is going to be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSharing student work is a great idea for our children. I think just posting them in the hallway is not enough for our children. Like a coworker stated that a gallery showcase would be a great idea. It would also give the students the credit for the work they have completed and it wouldn't just be "Do you see my drawing in the hallway"? It could be the child telling you all about what the drawing is about and them be responsible for what they have created.
I like your comments Bridgett and I believe that our local board will do everything they can in being sure that our school can arrange common planning periods as well as giving us ISE days to work together collaborating. Since we are going to be a "Leader in Me" school this year that will only increase building school collaboration and helping our students to be responsible for themselves. I love the idea of sharing our student's work and letting students explain their work to us, we will be building those higher order thinking skills and increasing achievement. Buffalo Elementary will be a great place to work this year!!!
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