Langwarrin PS Newsletter

Curriculum

with Mr Balzary

Working in Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

 

Earlier this year, our school leadership team spent two days working with a Professional Learning Communities coach through the Department of Education. This was a great opportunity to review our current practices, refresh our PLC knowledge and map out how our year level teams could improve the way in which they work collaboratively in the future.

 

What are Professional Learning Communities?

 

PLC is an approach to school improvement where groups of teachers work collaboratively at the school level to improve student outcomes.  Professional learning communities start from a simple idea that students learn more when their teachers work together. Building a PLC is a proven way for schools to increase student learning by creating a culture that is focused on continuous improvement by linking the learning needs of students with the professional learning and practice of teachers.

 

The 10 Principles of Effective PLCs

  1. Student learning focus: School improvement starts with an unwavering focus on student learning.
  2. Collective responsibility: For every child to achieve, every adult must take responsibility for their learning.
  3. Instructional leadership: Effective school leaders focus on teaching and learning.
  4. Collective efficacy: Teachers make better instructional decisions together.
  5. Adult learning: Teachers learn best with others, on the job.
  6. Privileged time: Effective schools provide time and forums for teacher conversations about student learning.
  7. Continuous improvement: Effective teams improve through recurring cycles of diagnosing student learning needs, and planning, implementing and evaluating teaching responses to them.
  8. Evidence driven: Effective professional learning and practice is evidence based and data driven.
  9. System focus: The most effective school leaders contribute to the success of other schools.
  10. Integrated regional support: Schools in improving systems are supported by teams of experts who know the communities they work in. 

 

What does PLC look like at Langwarrin Primary School?

 

Our PLCs focus on:

  • teacher professional learning so that we can see continuous improvement in teacher practice.
  • teacher collaboration so that we can build on the strengths and knowledge that is held within each team.
  • student learning growth so that we can maximise outcomes for all students.