Reviving Professional Learning Communities
Strength through Diversity, Conflict, Teamwork, and Structure
By (author) Perry P. Wiseman, Hector Arroyo, Nicholas Richter
Publication date:
07 December 2012Length of book:
164 pagesPublisher
R&L EducationDimensions:
239x160mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781475801033
A Professional Learning Community is undeniably one of the most effective processes out there for improving student achievement, as well a school’s overarching culture and climate. With such widespread notoriety, though, there has been a dilution of the true essence of the term. Understanding of what a Professional Learning Community is varies from one district to another, from one school to another, even from one educator to another. It’s about time for a resurrection. Reviving Professional Learning Communities does exactly that through the lens of a simple framework called, the 4S Approach. This new development helps practitioners build thriving learning communities through: (1) recognition and validation of each staff member’s unique points of view, (2) natural conflict that accompanies the assorted viewpoints, (3) healthy teamwork, and (4) effective systems. Sprinkled throughout the book are also 32 practical, high-leverage strategies that are easy to understand and simple to put into practice right away. This book will most certainly help answer the perennial question: How do we achieve a genuine Professional Learning Community?
From three experts in PLCs comes some sage advice about the meaning of Professional Learning Communities and the strategies for attaining them. It is in the latter endeavor, strategies, that these three authors make their most important contribution to the literature on school leadership. It is easy to tell you that you must establish teamwork, for instance, but much more difficult to give you real, practical suggestions for doing so. They have accomplished this in spades. A must read for all principals and aspiring school leaders.