Professional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success

Professional Learning Communities charts a streamlined process for creating a PLC. The highest mission of a professional learning community is academic achievement. During Dr. Culp’s forty-plus years in education, she gained firsthand experience about the best way to build and sustain educational communities. Inclusiveness, strong relationships, and accountability should be woven into the fabric of the group right from the beginning. This book lays out a blueprint for thoughtful actions that transform schools and their communities. Using ideas and techniques focused on six key areas, educators discover what needs to be taught, what needs to be retaught, and who needs to be taught. Their PLCs build solutions that place academic excellence within reach of every learner. Real experiences from schools across the nation, as well as Dr. Culp’s decades of experience, have been mined to generate actionable steps. Each chapter ends with a collection of charts, worksheets, checklists, and tips that can be implemented immediately. Professional Learning Communities is the concise go-to guide that maps your path to lasting results and true success.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Lay the Foundation Building Blocks Reflective Practices Focus on Learning Dialog Shared Responsibility Shared Values and Norms Common Practices Feedback Creating a PLC Collaboration and Trust Inclusiveness and Shared Responsibility Focus on Solutions Step by Step Set a Schedule Select a Facilitator Define the Environment Build Your Home Revitalize an Existing PLC People Come First Inform New Members Reach Out Celebrate Building Blocks for a Professional Learning Community An Accord to Open Every PLC Meeting Questionnaire for Every PLC Member Questionnaire for the Start of New Initiatives Stretches to Enhance Group Response Stretch 1: Build It Up Stretch 2: Break It Down Stretch 3: Bring It Together Stretch 4: Identify Benefits Stretch 5: Identify Challenges Stretch 6: Eliminate Obstacles Endnotes Chapter 2: Gather the Goals The Educational Forest Find the Microclimates Specify the Species How Does Your Forest Grow? Embrace Exotics Cultivate Individual Plots Forest Management Slings and Arrows (Goal Sheets) Sample Goal Sheets Blank Goal Sheets Goal Prompts Broad Goals Specific Goals Unique and Short-Term Goals Professional Learning Goals for Members Endnotes Chapter 3: Going Live Begin at the Beginning Planning for Success Develop the Program Teacher Portfolios Call on the Community Personalize Implementation Collegial Implementation Return to the Beginning Link the Connection Points Team Goals Essential Outcomes Milestone Achievements Comparison Points Resource List Lesson Plan Template Student Feedback Portfolio Tips Personalize the Plan Endnotes Chapter 4: Assess and Adapt How Many and How Often Assessing the Data A Supportive Approach Assessment Foundation Types of Assessments Building the Formative Assessment Avoid Assessment Bias Analyze and Assess Prompts for Data Collection Common Formative Assessments Summative Assessment Tips Assess the Assessment PLC Assessment for Schools PLC Assessment for Members Key Markers for Success Endnotes Chapter 5: Digital Expansion The Value of an Online Presence Initial Online Presence Expanding Your Online Presence Documents and Files Collective Efforts Adapt Digital Tools Digital Tools for the Classroom Instant Updates and Motivation Tips for Sharing Tips for Collaboration Tips for Collective Work Assessing Digital Tools Common Classroom Digital Tools Top Digital Tools for PLCs Endnotes Chapter 6: Sail on Course Information Indigestion Wilting Enthusiasm Dysfunctional Roles Why PLCs Fail Avoid a Major Crisis Climate Control Best Research Practices Recharge the PLC Team Trust Survey Exercises for Building Trust Storytelling hour Display case Disaster day box Share praise Photo board Course Adjustments District-wide Impact Endnotes Appendix A: Stepping Onto the PLC Highway Refresher 1: Lay the Foundation Refresher 2: Gather the Goals Refresher 3: Going Live Refresher 4: Assess and Adapt Refresher 5: Digital Expansion Refresher 6: Sail on Course About the Author

About the Author :
Barbara D. Culp, M.A.Ed., Ed.D. has dedicated forty-three years of her life to education as an elementary and middle school teacher, a principal, and a clinical supervisor. She founded a tutorial service for public, private, charter and parochial schools, and offers workshops and training programs on classroom management and differentiated instruction.

Review :
From novice to expert in six chapters with an emphasis on community gives readers a realistic view of how this book can guide them in their unique circumstance. This is a brilliant resource for educators and other stakeholders who are looking for innovative approaches to implement their budding PLC plans into actionable steps. In Professional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success, author Barbara D. Culp has written a book that provides “how-to” advice for those inter­ested in establishing professional learning communities in their schools. The book is helpful to beginners as well as seasoned veterans looking to refresh their approach. . . . Administrators often look for exemplars to reference as they begin to undertake a new idea. Culp does an exemplary job converting theory into practical steps that can guide any professional learning community. Professional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Successwas written to take all the guess work out of how to restructure former Professional Learning Communities and develop new Professional Learning Communities. The book consists of strategies, tools and resources that can assist teachers, principals-- new and experienced-- in ensuring that learning takes place in the classroom. School staffs are given step by step procedures to develop guidelines for establishing Professional Learning Communities, assessing the process and reflecting on the practices that were developed. This needed and insightful book will ensure successful learning in our nation's schools. Kudos to Dr. Culp for covering the topic in such very clear and simplistic manner! Dr. Culp’s latest publication, Professional Learning Communities: “The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success,” is an excellent media source for educators and other stakeholders who are looking for creative ways to implement their PLC plans. Her user-friendly blueprint is uniquely designed for both novice and seasoned educators who are preparing learners for academic excellence. This book will serve them well in the “creation, maintenance, and sustentation” of their learning communities. … compelling, comprehensive, targeted blueprint that enables schools and their faculties to strategically meet the academic needs of all students through professional learning communities. Dr. Culp was very thorough in her approach to the topic! In Professional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success, Dr. Culp offers sound and workable strategies that will empower and enhance the effectiveness of high performing Professional Learning Communities. This book is a valuable resource for teams beginning the journey to establish a PLC. It is a must-read for every school administrator, aspiring school leader and members of PLC’s in academia, this well-written body of work shows us how to in an easy step-by-step process. This book is an educators' must have for implementing Professional Learning Communities. It provides the guidance and direction needed to create PLCs that work, and it addresses the diverse needs of students by utilizing the expertise of professionals in schools as well as in the community. The author makes the process easy to follow, implement, and maintain. This treasure chest is the ultimate blueprint for academic success in the 21st century and beyond!