How Schools Thrive. Susan K. Sparks

Illinois

      Debra Prenkert

      Director of Elementary Education

      Monroe County Community School Corporation

      Bloomington, Indiana

      Luke Spielman

      Principal

      Park View Middle School

      Mukwonago, Wisconsin

      Brenda Vatthauer

      Principal

      Lincoln Park Middle School

      Duluth, Minnesota

      Visit go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks to download the free reproducibles in this book.

       TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Reproducible pages are in italics.

       About the Authors

       Foreword

      By Robert Eaker

       Introduction

       Taking PLC Practice to the Next Level

       Using Tools to Drill Deeper

       The SIG

       The Pathways for Coaching Collaborative Teams

       Applying the Best Thinking

       Moving Forward

       PART I

       CHAPTER 1

       Creating Habits of Professional Practice

       Productivity and Collaborative Teams

       The Causes of Unproductive Habits

       How Habits of Professional Practice Are Formed

       The Role of Clarity, Feedback, and Support

       Clarity: Creating Routines Around the Right Work

       Feedback: Reinforcing Routines Around the Right Work

       Support: Building Capacity Around the Right Work

       The Best Habits for Stacking: The Fundamentals

       Moving Forward

       Summary

       Reflection Questions

       CHAPTER 2

       Identifying How PLC Elements Thrive in a Coaching Culture

       The Impact of Coaching

       What Is the Relationship Between Coaching and Collaboration?

       What Does the Research Say About the Value of a Coaching Culture?

       What Constitutes a Strong Coaching Culture, and How Do I Recognize One When I See It?

       What Are Some Characteristics of a Strong Coaching Culture?

       Can Coaching Change School Culture, and How Does It Impact Collaborative Culture?

       Who Can Coach, and Who Is Responsible for Creating and Maintaining a Coaching Culture?

       Learning Together: Collective Inquiry

       Staying Restless: Continuous Improvement

       Being Urgent: Action Orientation

       Getting Better at Getting Better: A Results Orientation

       Moving Forward

       Summary

       Reflection Questions

       PART II

       CHAPTER 3

       Learning Together—The Power of Collective Inquiry

       Understanding Collective Inquiry

       Coaching Collective Inquiry Routines and Habits

       Promoting a Spirit of Inquiry

       Using the Seven Norms of Collaboration in a PLC

       Example One: Secondary Language Arts Team

       Example Two: Elementary Team

       Coaching a Shift to a Collective Focus

       Coaching to Promote Inquiry Through Questioning

       Coaching to Set a Realistic Vision

       Using the Inquiry SIG and Pathways Tools

       Moving Forward

       Summary

       Reflection Questions

       CHAPTER 4

       Staying Restless—The Impact of Continuous Improvement

       A Continuum of Professional Practice

       Malpractice

       Safe Practice

       Best Practice

       Next Practice

       Reflection and Current Practice

       The PDSA Cycle

       Plan

       Do

       Study

       Act

       The PDSA Cycle in Action

       A Long-Term Commitment