Julio Salas

February 26th, 2017

EDFD 404
Professional Learning Communities

Professional Learning Communities Assignment

In any jobs you find means of development in ones field. The same goes for

educators and those involved in the education world. PLC or Professional Learning

Communities in my view is a term that means individuals gathering together to learn

about education and anything that relates to it. Having worked in a school district as an

office assistant and now a paraprofessional, I have attended many PLCs district wide

ones, and local ones at my school. Along with the locations and sizes I will discuss the

types of PLCs.

PLCs are not a one-time thing; they are a continuous process of learning, learning

that has an impact on school practices and cultures. I at first understood PLC to be only a

meeting, for example my school has its weekly staff meeting ever Wednesday from 3:30

to 4:30. Although this could count as a PLC due to the content discuses and addressed,

under the PLC umbrella also falls school district wide professional development days and

our School year rally kick off every August. I will now discuss why I believe these three

falls under the PLC umbrella.

To begin, the letter L in PLC stands for Learning and should be the focus of any

PLC. Wither it be during a district wide required PD day, such as the one I had taken a

couple months ago in regards to Online Registration or a school meeting regarding the

new changes involving our schools future, learning is the focus. My school district
Julio Salas
February 26th, 2017
EDFD 404
Professional Learning Communities

requires everyone take 2 PD days out of 3 a year. We are able to choose from a list that

relates to our position and pick 2 for the day. In my case being an office assistant at the

time, I signed up for Online Registrations, where I would learn how to assist parents

when registering their students by learning the new method of registration. Teacher

during these PD days do the same thing only relating to child education in the classroom.

Every year to kick start the new school year the district hold a rally before school starts,

these rallies are attended by everyone and allows for the district to showcase major

changes that took place over summer break and ones coming up soon.

Second, just as important is structure. Structure allows for time to be scheduled to

meet to actually doing the learning in PLC. Weekly meeting take place on the same day at

the same time to allow for teachers to work out schedules at home. Our PD days take

place on a no student contact day with one in the fall and the others in the spring. The

announcement is made in august to allow time to pick a PD lesson to attend, as space is

limited.

Within Learning and Structure you will find that the shared vision for the district

and schools are represented by way of teacher and faculty support for lessons learned and

shared ideas. The shared vision is led and should by the principal or superintendent,

whom allow for lively discussion and shared information regarding the schools/school

district and the families it serves.

Julio Salas
February 26th, 2017
EDFD 404
Professional Learning Communities

Along with PLC, reflective practice is the reflecting of ones own practices and

actions to be able to engage in continuous learning. These go hand in hand as reflective

practice is a practice I hope to continuously use, by means of an online journal, by means

of learning from my collogues, and create self-awareness as an educator and my

practices. A great way to do so is a daily or weekly journal of the day after school. I

found great resources in online journals that allow for color and pictures to create a

journal that pops and wont be so mundane. As a life long learner, reflective practices will

allow me to continuously learn from what works and what does not. I know I will make

mistakes, but also know that some great ideas and solutions come from mistakes. I will

always learn from my mistakes and they will never prevent me from taking risks.

The pictures I have included here are ones taken from last spring and this falls

PDs as well as a picture of my schools coffee with the principal. Coffee with the

principal is a time for parents in the community to ask questions and have discussions

regarding their student and schools education.

Julio Salas
February 26th, 2017
EDFD 404
Professional Learning Communities

Coffee with the Principal Spring 2016 PD lunch

Online journal example

Julio Salas
February 26th, 2017
EDFD 404
Professional Learning Communities

Kick start rally 2016