Product Description

Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work helps educators close the knowing-doing gap as they transform their schools into professional learning communities (PLCs). This handbook is a guide for action that will: · Help educators develop a common vocabulary and consistent understanding of key PLC concepts. · Present a compelling argument that the implementation of PLC concepts will benefit students and educators alike. · Help educators assess the current reality in their own schools and districts. · Convince educators to take purposeful steps to develop their capacity to function as PLCs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25181 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• 235 pages

About the Author
Richard DuFour is one of North America's leading authorities on bringing PLC concepts to life in the real world of schools. He has coauthored 8 books, more than 50 articles, and 3 video series on PLC concepts, principles, and practices.

Rebecca DuFour has been featured in 3 video series on effective leaders and PLCs. She has coauthored 4 books and numerous articles and has consulted with educators throughout North America as they work to create PLCs in their schools and districts.

Robert Eaker has been cited as one of the nation's leading experts in helping educators translate research into practice. He is the coauthor of 7 books and numerous articles and has helped educators around the world implement PLC practices in their schools.

Thomas Many is the superintendent of Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. He has led implementation of PLC concepts in the district, which as been recognized as one of the state's highest-achieving and lowest-spending districts.

Customer Reviews

PLC's for SLP's, MAT's, JPT's and the PTA!
If you want to learn an entirely new set of buzz words, this is the book for you! It is not enough that we have RTI's, IEP's, IDEA, SLP's and the beloved NEA. We need PLC's as well! And we also need to (drumroll please) LEARN BY DOING! That's a new one, I always thought that teachers were supposed to learn by not doing!

What was most remarkable about this book was the utter lack of usable content. While it does an excellent imitation of Charlie Brown's teacher (indecipherable blah, blah, blahs), it says absolutely nothing new. It is uncanny, the book is utterly devoid of originality or new information. Just a plodding restatement of old ideas wrapped in new jargon.

Yet when another reviewer pointed out the obvious, that the emperor was in fact stark naked, he was immediately attacked by the true believers. I in no way wish to deny those who love fads and jargons from their periodic "fix" of meaningless initials and empty slogans. But could you please stop forcing it onto your fellow educators?

Creating a common language...
Learning by Doing should be the consummate staff development guide for all schools. Creating a common language, the right language, about PLC's is what needs to happen to get all of the arrows going in the right direction in any educational environment on any initiative. I look forward to implementing it with my new school!

For Management
This book is a must read for any administrator or potential administrator that is looking for new ways to improve their schools. Very practical and flexible with many scenarios and worksheets that can help you to determine where your school is and how to get it where you want it to go.