Professional Learning Communities (PLCs):

Overview

Between content training days teachers participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) or Collaborative Forums (electronic PLCs) to discuss classroom application of content, analyze data, and share teaching strategies and resources.

• Mathematical Reasoning, Grades 6-8
  PLCs for schools participating in 2011-2012 Mathematical Reasoning, Grades 6-8 training will be facilitated by designated teachers at each school.  PLC facilitators participate in all content training, and will attend three additional days of training focused on effective facilitation.  PLC Facilitator training dates are: August 18, October 14, and December 13. More> 
  
  
• Nature of Science and Engineering, Grades 3-6
  PLCs for schools participating in 2011-2012 Nature of Science and Engineering, Grades 3-6 training will be facilitated by a designated teacher at each school. 

  PLC facilitators participate in all content training, and will attend one additional day of training focused on effective facilitation specific to the NSE training. More> 
  

• Life Science, Grades 7-12
  

  All teachers involved in Life Science, Grades 7-12 training will participate in two content-based collaborative forums facilitated by University of Minnesota staff. A forum is a series of four meetings (two face-to-face and two electronic) that follow a specific training topic.

  To participate in the first forum series: each teacher will select one of three content topics to learn about on training Day 4. Following training, teachers will continue to explore classroom application of their chosen training topic, analyze student data, and share resources during the course of their four forum meetings.

  To participate in the second forum series:  each teacher will select a second of three content topics to learn about on training Day 5. Following training, teachers will continue to explore classroom application of this second training topic, analyze student data, and share resources during the course of a second round of four forum meetings. More>