What is a Professional Learning Community?
It is a group of educators working collaboratively to improve learning for all students.
Professional - Members remain respectful of others and their ideas, and contribute to the group to meet goals.
Learning - the shared commitment is geared towards learning for all. This means that everyone, not just students.
Communities - a group of people with a shared commitment to a common purpose. They include teachers, administrators, students, and parents.
The 4-6-4
Introduction:
The 4-6-4 are the essentials to consider while participating in a professional learning community. The 4-6-4 is composed of four foundations, six pillars, and four driving questions.
Four Foundations
Mission - Why do we exist?
Vision - What must we become to accomplish our goals?
Values - How must we behave to achieve our vision?
Goals - How will we mark our progress?
Six Pillars
Focus on Learning
Collaborative Culture with a Focus on Learning for All
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Collective Inquiry into Best Practice and Current Reality
Action Orientation - Learning by Doing
Results Orientation
Four Driving Questions
What do we want our students to learn?
How will we know if they've learned it?
How do we respond if some students do not learn it?
What do we do to extend and enrich the learning for those who have learned it?
Recommended Text:
DuFour, Richard, et al. Learning By Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work™. 2nd ed., Solution Tree, 2010.
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