The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development; Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities

by Nancy Fichtman Dana

• ISBN13: 9781412955799
• ISBN10: 1412955793
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-05-01
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

Powerful tools for facilitating teachersÆ professional development and optimizing school improvement efforts! This step-by-step guide presents specific strategies for coaches who work with professional learning communities (PLCs) that practice action research, better known as 'inquiry-oriented PLCs.' This resource illustrates how incorporating action research can significantly influence professional development practices and provides coaches with lessons learned from facilitators of inquiry-oriented PLCs. This research-based book also offers: The 10 essential elements for a healthy PLCSample inquiry projects and case studies of actual inquiry-based PLCs12 lessons to help good coaches become great coachesReflection prompts in each chapter for study groups

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. vii
Foreword	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
About the Authors	p. xix
Facilitating the Professional Development of Others: The Role of Action Research and Professional Learning Communities	p. 1
What Constitutes Powerful Professional Development?	p. 2
What Is Action Research?	p. 4
What Are PLCs?	p. 7
How Can Action Research and PLCs Become the Dynamic Duo?	p. 10
What's in a Name? The Importance of Clarifying Language	p. 13
What Might an Inquiry-Oriented PLC Look Like?	p. 17
Establishing and Maintaining a Healthy Inquiry-Oriented PLC	p. 21
Ten Essential Elements of Healthy Inquiry-Oriented PLCs	p. 23
Assessing the Health of Your PLC	p. 49
Using Action Research to Advance Inquiry-Oriented PLC Work	p. 51
Helping PLC Members Locate a Wondering	p. 53
The Wondering Playground	p. 54
The Wondering Litmus Test	p. 61
Looking Across the Litmus Test Questions and Stories	p. 84
Passion Profiles	p. 91
Helping PLC Members Develop an Action Research Plan	p. 95
Facilitating the Development of an Inquiry Brief: The Inquiry-Planning Meeting	p. 98
The Inquiry Brief Litmus Test	p. 104
Helping PLC Members Analyze Data	p. 113
Data Analysis for the Action Researcher: A Review	p. 116
Coaching Analysis: The Data Analysis Meeting	p. 122
Helping PLC Members Share Their Work With Others	p. 135
The Importance of Sharing: A Review	p. 137
Creating a Space and Time for Sharing	p. 139
Sharing PLC Inquiry Work With a Larger Audience	p. 145
Four Core Components of Sharing	p. 146
Sample Action Research Write-Up	p. 149
Sample Professional Development Plan Form	p. 156
Lake Butler Showcase Program	p. 158
From Good to Great: Lessons Learned in Coaching an Inquiry-Oriented PLC	p. 163
One Dozen Lessons for Coaching Inquiry-Oriented PLCs	p. 164
References	p. 173
Index	p. 179
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