The Reflective Educator’s Guide to Professional Development: Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities

The Reflective Educator’s Guide to Professional Development: Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities

<p><strong><em>Powerful tools for facilitating teachers' professional development and optimizing school improvement efforts!</em></strong></p> <p>Combining professional learning communities (PLCs) and action research, this step-by-step guide provides coaches, workshop leaders, and staff developers with strategies, activities, and tools to develop inquiry-oriented PLCs. The authors present essential elements of a healthy PLC, case studies of inquiry-based PLCs, and lessons learned for improving coaching practices. Sample projects and reflection prompts will help readers:</p> <ul> <li>Organize, assess, and maintain high-functioning, inquiry-oriented PLCs</li> <li>Facilitate the development of study questions</li> <li>Enable PLC members to develop, analyze, and share research results</li> <li>Lead successful renewal and reform efforts</li> </ul>