Instructional Friday Focus! Topic: PLC's

Dear Bison Colleagues,

Happy Friday!   As we close out another week at Buffalo Grove HS, I am focused on the topic of PLC's

Teach and Learn with Passion!

Teaching and Learning Quotes: 

“I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious.”
– Albert Einstein

Danielson Framework for Teaching reminder:

There are 4 domains, 22 components and 76 elements that are considered aspects of a teacher's responsibility as documented through empirical studies.  The 4 domains are:

1. Planning and Preparation

2. The Classroom Environment

3.  Instruction

4.  Professional Responsibilities

Looking at Domain 3: Instruction

3b:Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques

Here's a peek at what "distinguished" looks like for 3b:

Students formulate many of the high-level questions and assume responsibility for the participation of all students in the discussion.

Strategy/Tool to Try: (thanks to ITF Jeff Vlk)

TED-Ed is a free educational website for teachers and learners. We are a global and interdisciplinary initiative with a commitment to creating lessons worth sharing. Our approach to education is an extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas.

Within the growing TED-Ed video library, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which represent collaborations between talented educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform.

http://ed.ted.com/

Instructional Focus: PLC's

Here's a great blog post about a teacher who transformed into a PLC leader at his school.

http://www.allthingsplc.info/blog/view/289/one-teacher-leaders-plc-journey

Recent Twitter chat about Innovation in PLC's

https://storify.com/solutiontree/a-culture-of-innovation

Stiggins' Assessment for Learning:

http://www.electronicportfolios.org/afl/Stiggins-AssessmentCrisis.pdf

DuFour: Building a Professional Learning Community:

http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=9190

Four Essential Questions of a PLC:

http://www.allthingsplc.info/files/uploads/everett_ryan_plc_article.pdf

Bison Learning Leaders:

• Our Assessment team for getting ready for AP exams and PARCC EOY
• Our IFT, DTC's and Tech team for leading to conversation about iPad rollouts for next year
• Our iTeam for planning great ongoing PD for all, including mini classes and Classroom Showcase
• Our staff members honored at Wednesday's Salute to Staff event

Keep up the great work, Bison!  Happy Friday!