In order to create a consistent format for conducting Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) across the school, our administrative team created a new template for all PLC chairs to follow. In the process of revamping the previous protocol, we made sure to provide coaching to our PLC Chairs on the DuFour model that we would be following. The cohesion of having a school wide protocol to follow allowed our PLCs to transition to a a data aligned conversation that focused strictly on student improvement. The data based conversation allowed teachers to create common formative assessments and benchmarks that would accurately assess learned student knowledge.
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PLC Chairs Template
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As part of our efforts to align student achievement across our school and our district, our administrative team focused on our walkthrough tool to begin discussions about high quality teaching for our students. The presentation above is a part of the professional development that we delivered to our staff prior to the rollout of the walkthrough tool. During the year, I conducted at least 2 walkthroughs per day. The protocol used at Belmont Elementary School allowed for a copy of the instrument to be sent to the teacher at 5pm each day a walkthrough was conducted. The next day, during our morning rounds, I made a point of stopping by the teachers that I had completed a walkthrough on to provide additional feedback or clarification.
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Classroom Walkthrough Tool
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During our preschool meetings, our administrative closely analyzed the discipline, academic performance, and attendance data of Belmont in order to create a master schedule that would optimize achievement for all of our students. Key items that were focused on included moving enhancement for 5th grade from the beginning of the day to the end, extending our lunch for kindergartners by 5 minutes to ease transitions and congestions within the hallways, and providing autonomy for our 4th grade teachers to schedule a "Power Block" of remediation and enrichment activities for their students. The Master Schedule was finalized after reaching consensus from our grade level representatives.
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Revised Master Schedule
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