3.1

Never - Sometimes - Always
 * **Characteristics of a Professional Learning Community** || **To what extent do we function as a PLC?**
 * What do we see as evidence?** ||
 * Collaborative Teams
 * we share a common purpose for each team meeting
 * all members engage in shared learning
 * the team creates momentum to fuel positive change
 * the teams focus on organizational renewal
 * members of teams work together "doing the work" of improvement
 * we schedule regular meeting times to focus on the priority work of school improvement || * elementary - common planning time in place
 * elementary -talking about what is happening in the classrooms
 * momentum is tricky (data)
 * attempting to schedule regular meeting times (data/steering committee) ||
 * Shared Understandings and Common Values
 * __Shared mission and purpose__ - we have established a mission and purpose that is shared by all staff and stakeholders by answering these questions - //"What is the purpose for our school? If we expect that all of our students should learn, what is it we expect them to learn? How will we know if they've learned it? What will we do when they don't?"//
 * __Shared vision__ - we have articulated our vision, our vivid picture of our school's best future. Our vision is embedded in the hearts and minds of our staff and tells us what the direction is for our school that we all share and are energized about.
 * __Common values__ - we have established shared values for our school and district that describe how we must behave for our vision to become reality. Our shared values describe what attitudes we should hold and demonstrate and what common commitments we share. We also show that we value our respective roles in reaching our vision. || * familiarity is in place with the 'shorter' mission statement; not so with the longer version
 * need an opportunity to communicate PLCs across buildings
 * difficult to move forward; lack of direction; too many groups meeting simultaneously caused barriers ||
 * Collective Inquiry
 * __Relentless renewal and reflection__ - we are never satisfied with the status quo, and we collectively pose meaningful questions. We collectively search for new methods that bring better results, and share each other's hypotheses as we test them to move forward in our learning.
 * __Continual data collection and study__ - we continue to questioning and discovery from the data retreat process into our daily practice in a natural way. || * (data team) discussion about homework, google docs, what we are doing for students (also in PLCs and school improvement)
 * professional development days - sharing ideas learned with other staff
 * data is collected; MAP data discussions with students
 * USE PowerSchool to generate classroom-based data ||
 * Working the Work: Action!
 * We do not tolerate inaction!
 * We show dogged determination!
 * We all experiment, by all means!
 * We learn from mistakes and failures!
 * We continually reflect and REDO, REVISE, REWORK, RETHINK! || * immediate needs often trump the 'work' ||
 * Continuous Improvement
 * We are never fully satisfied.
 * We always want to do better.
 * We periodically revisit the mission, vision, and check on common values.
 * We set criteria to judge improvement strategies. We are critical reviewers. || * sometimes meeting the minimum criteria = satisfaction due to time constraints
 * taking as many attempts as it takes for students to students to experience success and learning
 * select clear improvement goals, small in number, big in focus ||
 * Results Orientation
 * We insist that our efforts must bring results.
 * We focus on results - not intentions.
 * We use ongoing assessment and data collection for visible, tangible results.
 * We work toward measurable, dramatic results. || * be careful not to confuse 'results' with 'test scores' ||