Belding � Ticket-Out-The-Door

							                           Elementary Reflections
                             September 16, 2008

How would you rate today’s professional development in terms of its benefit to you and
your students? (1-10 with 10 being highest) Score: 9.4

      1       2       3        4       5       6       7        8       9      10
                                                                3       4      9

One connection I am making between the work in our school and functioning as a
Professional Learning Community is….
    That we have a goal that should be shared as a supportive team.
    That the more we can come together as a team the better it will be for the children
    Gone are the days of “being an island” behind closed doors and teaching the class
       – old style
    Focus on collaboration
    We need to commit to shifting our focus on learning vs. teaching and changing
       cultural expectations (i.e. parent involvement)
    Becoming more deeply involved with sharing and listening to become a more
       collaborative building/teacher
    That the entire staff has to be committed to the cultural change
    We do many activities in a PLC but not in depth
    That it takes a whole staff effort
    That we are collaborating on grade level some what. We need to go on to school
       wide commitment
    We are committed to student improvement
    We are on the right track! We have collaboration, but need to focus more on how
       we meet our goals
    We are already collaborating but we need to take it further and plan to be more
       deliberate
    To work to get all of the staff back home “on board” with the concept of PLC
    We’re on the same page! We are very intentionally implementing PLC’s and
       elementary reform this year at our school.

Based on the development of children ages 5-10, one implication for my work with
them is…..
    To understand each child where they are developmentally
    Becoming a more active listener, remembering everyone comes to school with
       different experiences
    Focus on their developmental concerns
    I have the ability to affect their lives/make an impact
    To make an effort to shift to a learning environment rather than a teaching
       environment
      To make sure they are actively learning and I am reaching all developmental
       levels. I need to understand each students individual needs
      We at times forget the effect teachers have on kids
      To be patient and realize that I have a huge influence in their lives. What I do is
       so important!
      Understanding their needs to be able to further our relationships
      It is the importance of relationship building
      To use more strategies where they get up and move around to share ideas learned
      Be mindful of developmental characteristics
      To make their learning fun and meaningful
      Understand their background
      A greater understanding of cognitive, physical, social/emotional growth to
       accommodate needs.

One “wish” I have for the next seminar is….
   My students behave for the substitute
   That it is productive like today
   Ideas on how to get “buy in” for those staff members who have altered the culture
      in a negative way
   More ideas for team involvement and bonding
   Something to get us started – steps, plans, etc
   Learn some specific ways to implement PLC in a school with teachers that may
      be set in t heir own ways of teaching
   To find out different ways to make the PLC work in our building and get
      everyone to commit to the idea
   To get very specific suggestions for how to implement PLC in our building.
      What does it look like? What do schools with successful PLC’s do?
   Continue to encourage and feed us info
   More team planning
   Have more time to work with our team for planning within our own school
   More instructional strategies
   More PLC school planning time
   Connection to curriculum
   To change the date from Oct 20 so we’re not conflicting with our math MEAP
      make up if possible?

Session Feedback
    Nice opportunity to reflect, focus and collaborate
    This is just what our school needs
    You guys are the best! I like how you “practice what you preach”