I am not alone in believing that a Professional Learning Community at work is the most promising school reform concept ever, but I worry that they have become something that we have added to teachers plates rather than a way of getting our work done. I wholeheartedly agree with Brain Butler:
These words are not just a cute motto for my website, they fundamentally represent what I believe and value most: Educators working together with ongoing purpose of increasing student learning is the most powerful force and hope we have for reforming education.
Educators work too hard and do too many wonderful things in our schools every single day to allow this model—or way of doing business—to be reduced to a meeting as opposed to a way of being. Please don’t allow our efforts and great work to be overlooked because of a lack of will to, as Robert Eaker says, go from knowing to doing to being…
Once you get to the point of being, as soon as someone walks in the front door of your school they will know that something is different. What they will notice are the cultural shifts. …
As I articulated in Classroom Habitudes, the 21st Century is all about being:
“The 21st century world needs learners to BE critical, BE creative, and BE strategic.”
“The 21st century world expects learners to HAVE the endurance, fortitude, and courage to brave through each new challenge with confidence and competence.”
Although, I was speaking about students, the world expects no less from the adults that inhabit it! My friend Robert Jacobs who blogs at Eudcational Innovation,(a must subscribe!) takes the Habitude conversation to another level and applies it to our work in Professional Learning Communities:
As Angela shared her thoughts on what habits and attitudes (habitudes) students need to be successful in today’s world. I wondered if it is important for students then it must be important for teachers. And if it is important of teachers, it must be important for Professional Learning Communities. So what follow is a mash-up up of Angela’s habitudes with my ideas on Professional Learning Communities.
Explore how Imagination, Curiosity, Adaptability, Perseverance, Awareness, and Courage can enhance and empower your PLC in his wonderful mashup: Habitudes of the Professional Learning Communities.
More Great Stuff Here:
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