Staff Professional Development 

During Curriculum Day, staff came together for a dynamic one-hour Professional Learning Community (PLC) session led by the PLC team — Jane Carter, Erica Sherwood, Corey O’Shea, Sarah Carr, and Pam McGillivray.

Professional Learning Communities are small teams of teachers who meet regularly to look at student learning data, share strategies, and plan together. Their purpose is to ensure that teaching is consistent and effective, so every student receives the best possible learning experience. Families can think of PLCs as teachers working in partnership, constantly learning from each other to improve student outcomes.

The session explored our Semester 2 focus on maximising learning by obtaining and maintaining attention, particularly at the very start of our lessons.  Staff were introduced to the core importance of attention by utilising explicit instruction and positive classroom management strategies. Strategies included: Opportunities to Respond (OTR), Check for Understanding (CFU), Do Now activities, Chunking, and Consistent Classroom Routines. 

To deepen understanding, teachers actively engaged in three hands-on activities:

• See / Think / Wonder Data Reflection: staff analysed student data to identify trends, interpret possible causes, and pose key questions for inquiry.
• Strategy Sorting Challenge: Teams sorted classroom strategies, reflecting on what they already use in practice.
• Match a Crumb to the Data: Staff paired specific strategies with student feedback data, identifying clear, actionable links between teaching practice and student outcomes.

The energy in the room was fantastic, with rich conversations emerging around shared experiences and creative problem-solving. Teachers left feeling energised and ready to begin their Semester 2 PLC inquiry cycle, equipped with fresh strategies and a stronger sense of collaboration.

As one participant summed up: “It was practical, hands-on, and gave us the chance to think deeply about what works for our students. I’m excited to see how our PLC journey unfolds this semester.”