Professional Learning Communities
Our Common Collaborative Efforts focus on:
Durham teachers meet in core subject PLCs to answer 4 questions as we plan -- focused on taking instructional risks and using common language and policies.
We plan using Understanding by Design (UbD) principles within the LISD PLC framework (focus on learning, data-driven decisions and collaborative culture).
What our PLCs look like:
We work as a community to:
1. Focus on Learning
- LESSON PLANNING AND DESIGN through UbD (Teacher Side)
UBD STAGE 1 - DESIRED OUTCOMES
UBD STAGE 2 - EVIDENCE (ASSESSMENT)
UBD STAGE 3 - LEARNING PLANS
- COMMUNICATION OF LEARNING/ACTIVITY PLAN (Student Side)
Canvas
HyperDocs (click for ALL THINGS TECHNOLOGY)
2. Make Data Driven Decisions
- Understanding by Design -- Backwards planning
Use LEAD4ward to locate standards and prior state assessments
Unpack and understand standards (LEAD4ward already has some done)
Build assessment prior to Learning/Activity Plan using standards
3. Build a Collaborative Culture
See below for details on each of these areas.
PLC Area 1: Focus on the Learning
- Lesson Planning and Design (Teacher side of planning)
UBD Stage 1: Desired Outcomes
Analyze data and determine 1- 2 Units or areas of growth for the year. aka - Determine the Power TEKS (ie, those with 5 - 8 questions per STAAR or those that students miss the most).
Unpack the standards and look at the underlying needs for those Units.
Examine data sources like interim assessments and CBAs as well.
What we select in Stage 1 needs to reflect our ESF Goals of 5.3 (Data) and how we work together (3.1; culture and vision).
UBD Stage 2: Acceptable Evidence
Build a common assessment for that unit.
Use tools from LEAD4Ward.
Analyze a current unit using a rubric to collect data on meeting established goals, like 40% lab time in science and reading levels for GATES and iStation.
This ties directly to our ESF Goal 5.3 -- data-driven instruction.
UBD Stage 3: Learning Plans and Data
Self-reflect on a list of non-negotiable factors of effective teaching.
Use the provided template to develop lesson plans.
Complete the new unit
Administer the common assessment.
Assess the data on the Unit.
What are the next steps? Interventions or enrichment?
Share your lesson plans ahead of time in the shared Staff Map it Out Canvas course -- there are assignments and due dates listed.
Learning Target DevelopmentAssessment of student learningINSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK COMPONENTSNext Steps for Student Learning DevelopmentLISD Instructional Frameworks
The DMS lesson plan template centers around building out the Instructional Frameworks above to focus on a strong:
opening (learning target and hook)
work session (what students actions will be)
closing (formative/summative assessment)
Math Instructional FrameworkSecondary ELA Instructional FrameworkFinal - Science Instructional FrameworkSocial Studies Instructional Framework2. Student Communication (student side of learning plans)
Lesson plans are a document for teachers to prepare long-term instructional practices based on standards. This information must then be communicated to students and parents through Canvas in a kid-friendly way. This can be one day at a time, a week, or a unit. This allows the students to know the standard, activities, and work due in an easy to access manner.
See some examples of hyper docs and Google Document templates to do this below....Hopefully, we will have examples from our campus to share in the Lesson Plan folder very soon. :)
