A professional learning community within a school is one determining factor in the success of high-performing schools. Teachers who work together can assess, analyze, and improve their teaching practice and promote better educational experiences not only for the students but for their sake as well.
Collaboration between teachers is a powerful tool for a learning community. It enhances professional development and provides opportunities for better classroom practice and better student achievement.
Collaboration may be done via team meetings, lesson study, professional development sessions, and small group friend critics. Team meetings is an avenue to discuss issues and solutions to existing problems and also a great time to plan valuable classroom and school activities that are in line with the curriculum and could contribute for improvement in instruction. Lesson study is a way to plan, observe, and analyze lessons presented whether they are effective, could be improved, and could contribute to students’ learning and achievements. Professional development sessions are means to continuously upgrade a teacher’s knowledge, skills, and attitude as well as his/her over all professional qualifications. Small group friends critics are means for teachers to find moral support and positive reinforcement to continue the good practices and change and improve those that are not.
Once schools and teachers recognize the value of collaboration, many schools can have better performing teachers. This could all end up to happier teachers and administrators and most probably, happier and better performing students as well. Although this might sound huge, proper planning and implementation backed up with cooperation and support, the fruits of the teachers’ hard work would soon be harvested. This could benefit more than what is expected when initiated and implemented properly.
References
Annenberg Institute for School Reform. (2004). Professional learning communities: Professional development strategies that improve instruction. Retrieved June 29, 2014, from http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/ProfLearning.pdf
DuFour, R. (2004, May). What is a “professional learning community”? Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6–11.
Hord, S. M. (1997). Professional learning communities: Communities of continuous inquiry and improvement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Retrieved May 31, 2014 from http://www.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha34.pdf
By: MARIA MAY S. FORIO | MT-I | BEPZ Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
