PLC Team Meetings ~ post your minutes here
March 19, 2008 by Martha Rankin
We need one common spot to store our NMUSD Adult School professional learning community meeting minutes. This post will be our spot. You can easily find this post again by clicking on PLC Meeting Minutes under Categories on the right-hand column of this website. Now our PLC meeting minutes will be 1) easy to find, 2) all in one spot, and 3) in chronological order. Thanks for posting your meeting minutes here from now on! 
posted on Feb 6, 2008 at 11:16pm
Hi Martha,
Today the NMUSD Adult Education PLC Committee for the evening ESL learners met. We broke off into groups by class level to discuss our goals for spring 2008.
Listed below is the protocol followed by the Beginning High and Intermediate Low ESL Committee.
Team Smart Goal:
-After a discussion our committee decided to re-write the unit tests in our text so that they
are more beneficial for the students. We will use the competencies as a guide.
Strategies and Action Steps:
-Take one unit at a time, starting with Unit 2 from the student text.
-Change emphasis of what is being tested while following the same structure that has
been used in the past. (Re-word some of the questions).
-Rotate classroom meeting locations bi- weekly.
Responsibility:
-In attendance were Elizabeth, Mandi, Martha, Rebecca and Larry.
-All members of this committee are to brainstorm ideas for re-writing the Unit Tests
independently and then present their ideas at the next scheduled PLC meeting .
Timeline:
-Re-write 2 Unit Tests at each bi-weekly meeting following in chronological order of the text.
-Plan on being one to two units ahead of current classroom schedule at each PLC Meeting.
-Next scheduled meeting is for 2/27/08 at 8:30pm. Meeting location is Mandi’s classroom.
-Meeting duration will be 45 minutes.
Evidence of Effectiveness:
-Student Success
Posted on February 7, 2008 at 6:48 am
Elizabeth, Mandi, Martha, Rebecca, and Larry,
Excellent goal SMART goal, team!!!! Becky and I fully support your goal of rewriting the common formative assessments (All-Star Unit Tests). Let us know if there is any way we can support you all in your efforts.
Thanks so much, Rebecca, for posting your PLC meeting minutes on the blog. We all benefit from reading about the exciting work you are doing!!!!!! We are thrilled with the direction you are taking and the timeline/action plan you have devised. You are taking specific, measurable, realistic and timely steps toward your goal…very SMART!
Let us know how things go on February 27, 2008.
BTW, Do you need snackies on 02/27? As always, I’m happy to provide some delectable nibbles to help keep the creative juices flowing.
With abundant enthusiasm,
Martha
Posted on February 11, 2008 at 10:36am
PLC Team Great Beginnings!
Meeting Date 2/6/08
Team Goals: Student persistence (attendance); Effective Teaching Strategies
Team members present:
Anna (Beg Low)
Charlie (Beg Lit)
Nancy (Beg Low)
Topics/Meeting Outcomes: Charlie finds using music and singing effective plus choral responses from students. He models conversations for the students frequently so they can pair practice. Conclusions - As teachers we need to be nurturing for students and create a positive community class environment. An idea for persistence was to group students by local regions and have them create a presentation about their native region. It could be a semester project. Anna encourages her students to speak English by passing out raffle tickets for prizes. Nancy wants to create a small group project to encourage fluency and persistence. She wants to work on goals first and then create a meaningful project that students can share with the class.
Posted on February 11, 2008 at 10:44 am
Submitted by Anna for
Citizenship PLC Team
Meeting Date 2/6/08
Members present - Bud
Team Goals: Brainstorm ideas to enhance sutdent learning of English (Understand, Speak, Read & Write) Minimums needed to bea able to understand, then learn (by memorization or otherwise) and study the curriculum needed to pass the USCIS interview examination (represented by the USCIS 96 questions).
Topics/Meeting Outcomes: More oral reading from the textbook by less English proficient students;
-More proficient students’ explanations of readings, as well as translations;
-Slow, crisp, dramatic, oral reading, modeling precise pronuncation of pertinent English words that are essential for learning both the requisite questions, as well as answers, needed to ultimately pass the interview.
Questions/Concerns:
-Does the student have enough time to build up his/her English by attending ESL class on Tues. & Thurs. (& Sat. or mornings), like Roberto has done?
-Should student delay filing his/her N400 (application) until English proficiency meets at least intermediate low?
Posted February 27, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Beg. High/Int. Low PLC Group Minutes
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Room 116
8:30-9:20 pm
Team Members Present:
Mandi
Robbie
Elizabeth
Martha
Rebecca
Martha
Topics Discussed/Progress
-Initial goal of rewriting Unit Tests: still in progress. Members brought ideas and we discussed topics such as changing format to include more student produced responses rather than multiple choice, changing grammar section to random questions rather than a story format, and eliminating information that is not applicable.
-During discussion it was made very clear that many teachers are unhappy with the LEAP between All Star 2 and All Star 3. Members brainstormed ideas on how to rectify this issue.
Outcomes:
-Members were in agreement that we would brainstorm further ways to rewrite the Unit 3 Test for All Star 2, bring our ideas to the next meeting, and actually do the rewriting at that time.
-Martha volunteered to contact McGraw Hill to follow up on any progress that has been made regarding the “gap.” It is a topic that was heavily discussed at the focus group planning session in November.
-Several members also volunteered to tackle the task of taking apart All Star 3, eliminating what is unnecessary, and turning it into two curriculums that would be used for Intermediate Low/High.
Future Dates:
-next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Room 117 8:30pm
-We will be rewriting All Star 2 (unit 3 test) and following up on progress of All Star 3 “rewrite”
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Mandi,
Thanks so much for posting your Feb 27 PLC meeting minutes.
Follow-up progress report:
I contacted McGraw-Hill today and they will be working with us to help create a bridge curriculum…an All-Star 2.5 of sorts.
The curriculum designer who will work with us is in NY. We’ll be in contact with her via email and phone as our PLC Team meets to work on this bridge curriculum.
I really enjoyed sitting in on your meeting last night. You all have such great energy and insightful ideas. Your enthusiasm for excellent instruction is contagious and inspiring. You demonstrate a deep understanding of curriculum, and your suggestions for curricular modifications and formative assessment changes were well-founded. I walked away from our meeting feeling so comfortable with you experts at the helm of these crucial decisions about 1) what essential knowledge and skills your students need to acquire, 2) what common assessments you will use to monitor each student’s learning, 3) how to analyze these assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses, and 4) how to help each other develop and implement strategies to improve current levels of student learning.
One more thing…I love that you will reach beyond the limiting multiple choice assessments to really challenge and assess the higher order thinking skills of your students.
You’re doing superb work, team! I’m thrilled and humbled.
Martha
Posted on March 3, 2008 at 9:09 am
Advanced PLC Group Minutes
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Room 123
8:30pm-9:15pm
Team Members Present:
Bud–Citizenship class
Margaret–Advanced ESL
Suzette–Intermediate High ESL
Topics Discussed:
We discussed what the the goal of our meetings will be. It was agreed upon by all members that our purpose/goal in meeting was to improve our teaching methods as to enhance and optimize student learning. We agreed that we would accomplish this by sharing ideas, strategies, techniques, use of technology, and methods of interpreting and analyzing test scores (specifically CASAS test scores).
This week, Suzette shared with the group how she helps students increase their vocabulary and computer skills in one lesson.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Room 123
8:30pm
Goal for next meeting:
Each member will be prepared to share a strategy they use in their classroom.
Posted on March 3, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Newport-Mesa
Unified School District
Adult Education Program
PLC Minutes
February 8, 2008
After reviewing our purpose and direction plus that of the evening PLC group, we broke into two groups (the haves and the have nots) and did the following:
Group 1, the haves (those currently having All Star as a core text) continued matching CASAS competencies to All Star by page number.
Action: All Star 1 and 2 completed. All Star 3 in process. Martha SB contributed considerable research on All Star 3 vs CASAS.
Conclusion: The course competencies required by the course outline for Intermediate Low are not adequately addressed in All Star 3 but, ironically, are well covered in All Star 2.
Consensus: All Star 1 & 2 (especially 2) are quite good for Beginning Low and High levels. General feeling of frustration with All Star 3 & 4 (large disparity between 2 and 3 being part of the problem).
Group 2, the have nots, (those not currently using All Star) decided to come up with a plan to augment rather than duplicate the fine work being done by the evening PLC group (rewriting tests).
Action: Decided to plan supplemental exercises for students that would support CASAS competencies and better prepare them for the tests, both CASAS and our own revised tests. These are to be based on newspaper articles, internet material, books and teacher-created work. Meeting terminated before further details could be worked out.
Next Meeting: Friday, March 14 (second Friday of the month), Room 114, Lora leading, Duane feeding
Attendees: Lora, Carlos, Corrine, Miguel, Noe, Martha, Glenna for Ines, Taylor, Duane.
Suzette,
Thank you for posting the PLC meeting minutes for your team. It sounds like you’ve come up with a great SMART goal and have agreed upon ways to meet that goal. Well done and good luck as you move forward.
Anna, thank you for posting the PLC meeting minutes for your Beginning PLC Team. I loved your play on words — “Great Beginnings.” I look forward to hearing more about what you do in the areas of building persistence rates and sharing to improve instructional strategies. Best of luck!
Posted on March 3, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Taylor, I love your haves and have nots division. Also, loved your “leading and feeding” appointments. Your wit and way with words really tickle me.
Thanks so much, Taylor, for submitting these meeting minutes for your PLC Team. Sounds like our morning PLC teams are working industriously. We eagerly await more news (and your great CASAS/instruction goodies…
Martha
Posted on March 12, 2008 at 8:46pm
PLC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Room 114
8:30 p.m.- 9:15 p.m.
Team members present:
Anna
Charlie
Nancy
Discussed: How to prepare a powerpoint presentation for our students. Anna took us through the steps and we practiced.
Outcome: We took notes and decided to try to prepare a slide show for our students before our next PLC meeting.
Goal: To practice preparing and giving powerpoint presentations to better illustrate lessons for the students. We will share our results at our next PLC meeting.
Posted March 17, 2008 at 10:49 am
PLC Minutes
March 14, 2008
After reviewing our decision that we want to supplement the suggested text books in order to better serve the needs of the students, we broke into two groups (the haves and the have nots) and did the following:
Group 1, the haves (those currently having All Star as a core text) agreed to share our ideas, concerns and successes beyond using the text books.
Concerns: (1) The students have shown that they are unable to construct a complete sentence (spoken or written) unless it’s presented as a “fill in the blank”, or multiple choice, even at the intermediate low level. (2) The students need more practice in using numbers – cardinal, ordinal, money and time-telling. (3) The students seem to learn pronunciation more quickly if they are provided with transliteration examples. (eg. Cough – cof) (4) The students learn more quickly and retain it if they are encouraged to get on their feet and participate by writing on the board or other interactive projects instead of sitting and listening to the teacher. We want them to get excited about what they are learning.
Solutions: (1) Give the students more opportunities to create sentences, and teach them the three kinds of sentences : positive statements, negative statements and questions. Teach them the various kinds of questions: yes or no questions, information questions and tag questions. This concept can be taught with each form of the verb. The use of a picture file can encourage students to create questions and statements as well as practice in writing and speaking in complete sentences. Learning music is a way to retain correct sentence structure. The video program In English has an excellent section on basic grammar structure when used with the workbook. We want to explore the problem of how to teach the students to form complete sentences when there is no picture prompt. They need to form sentences or questions in real life situations. (2) Dictation of numbers in various forms or other practical applications of numbers in real life situations needs to be included. (3) Glenna has several published works with transliteration for hotel workers. She will send some of her materials to us next week. (4) We brain stormed ideas of how to get the students up and out of their seats and interacting with each other.
Goals for next meeting: We will look at all the Realia Kits that have been created by Glenna, and discuss how they can be used to help train the students in life skills or work situations. Lora will bring them to the next meeting.
Group 2, the have nots, (those not currently using All Star) decided to come up with a plan to find and list the difficult vocabulary in the CASAS tests and look for materials that would teach it. The students have their greatest problems in the CASAS tests with the vocabulary and the critical thinking.
Action: Each of the four teachers selected a CASAS test (33, 34RX, 35 and 36) to study and compile vocabulary lists. They shared the reading material that has been most successful for each of them. They will continue to search for appropriate newspaper, magazine or internet articles that can help with teaching vocabulary and critical thinking. There was a discussion about some of the skills that are covered in All Star 4 that need to be taught from another source.
Next Meeting: Friday, April 18 (second Friday of the month), Room 112, Miguel leading, Martha feeding
Attendees: Lora Finch, Carlos, Corrine, Miguel, Noe, Martha, Glenna for Ines, Taylor, Duane.
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 8:18 am
Advanced PLC Group Minutes
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Room 123
8:30pm–9:15pm
Team Members Present:
Bud–Citizenship Class
Margaret–Advanced ESL
Corrine–Advanced Low
Suzette–Intermediate High
Topics Discussed:
Margaret shared with the group that she had tried the strategy that Suzette taught during the previous meeting; she used it with a lesson on prepositional phrases, she said that is was successful. This week Margaret demonstrated for the group how she uses peer editing in her class. Students come to the board to edit in front of the class. The group brainstormed about different ways to use peer editing with their students. The group also discussed how we could use technology in peer editing to further enhance student learning.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Room 123
8:30pm
Goal for next meeting:
Bud will be demonstrating a strategy that he uses in his class.
BESST-Center evening site PLC Meeting Minutes
Beginning Lit/Beginning Low ESL Team:
PLC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Room 114
8:30 p.m.- 9:15 p.m.
Team members present:
Anna
Charlie
Nancy
Discussed: How to prepare a powerpoint presentation for our students. Anna took us through the steps and we practiced.
Outcome: We took notes and decided to try to prepare a slide show for our students before our next PLC meeting.
Goal: To practice preparing and giving powerpoint presentations to better illustrate lessons for the students. We will share our results at our next PLC meeting.
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 10:09 am
Anna, Charlie, and Nancy,
What a wonderful way to follow up on last night’s Tech Tip from Anna! The goals of practicing and presenting a PowerPoint to support students’ learning are great goals. I can’t wait to learn more about your progress towards these goals. If you find the time, please add a comment here after trying out a PowerPoint. We’d all benefit by learning from your experience.
My very best to you!!! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Martha
Beginning High/Intermediate Low ESL Team:
March 12th PLC meeting began at 8:30 promptly.
In attendance:
Mandi
Martha
Rebecca
Elizabeth
Our focus/goal was to rewrite the Unit 3 test for All Star 2, bringing ideas from all concerned.
We all agreed that the listening portion of the test was too difficult for the students and that they do not do well with this. We thought it was because the test gives them inference tasks- which are too high level for ESL students, simply because they are having to do two functions- translate, and infer in another language.
We chose to pull one part of the listening for our rewrite, and rewrite one of the questions, leaving some the same, and then adding two more questions to challenge the students further. We are keeping the picture, as it is in the book.
For the other portions of the test, it had been agreed upon that they were too simple, not diverse enough, and did not test what we wanted to see. Mandi (and I think the company should pay her for this, my commentary), over her two or so years with using the book, has written a very nicely arranged, and quite diverse pretest which she has used for an open book study (there really is no worthy pretest study offered in the series). We looked this over for relevance to our test rewrite cause and all agreed it was a very well thought-out piece of work. There is much diversity both in content and in testing style – therefore, students will have varied experiences and we, as teachers, will see what they have learned much more fully.
We chose eight words for students to change to past tense, two word problems, three questions which require complete sentence answers, a complete check filling- out activity, four sentences with which they are required to change the verb to negative form ( 2 regular verbs and 2 irregular verbs) .
For multiple choice questions, we chose all four of Mandi’s pretest questions.
The new test has 35 points/questions (the check-writing piece counting for three points). The original test had only 20.
Martha is working on changing out the Madeline Albright piece for a Cesar Chavez piece, which is for our next project. She will bring it to the next meeting.
Our next focus/goal will be the Unit 4 test.
We ended our meeting at 9:20.
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 10:15 am
Mandi, Martha, Rebecca, and Elizabeth,
You have taken on a mighty task…with enormous potential for impacting student learning and persistence. You are persisting with conviction and moving forward at amazing speed. I am in awe.
Mandi, thanks for emailing us all the revised Unit 3 test from All-Star 2. It looks fantastic. I love how it includes higher order thinking skills and response opportunities beyond multiple choice.
After your team adopts the Unit 3 test, would you mind forwarding it to all our All-Star 2 teachers? What a wonderful gift to all of us!!!!!!
You are changing our world, ladies. We are so grateful!!!
Martha
Advanced PLC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
8:30PM–9:15PM
Room 123
Members Present:
Bud
Margaret
Suzette
Topics Discussed:
Suzette reported that she successfully applied Margaret’s peer editing strategy from our last meeting.
Bud gave the group background information in regards to his students’ Citizenship preparation for the USCIS (fka INS) interview.
He hopes to be able to prepare his first PowerPoint presentation to further identify and explain those important topics and parts of the US Government, which will comprehensively cover the specific subjects that need to be learned by his students in order to be able to pass the examination portion of the USCIS (fka INS) Interview to become citizens.
Margaret discussed how she used the Smartboard to have students edit their assignment in class and peer edit each other’s grammar lesson.
PLC Meeting Minutes for March 26, 2008 started at 8:35 P.M.
Present were:
Jeff
Mandi
Martha S-B
Rebecca
Elizabeth
Our goal was to complete another unit test, that of Unit Four, for All Star 2. Based on Mandi’s shared (Unit Four) rewrite, we made some changes/additions. We also shared a few observations:
Our discussion proceeded as follows:
All three who had used the newly written Unit Three test (from the last PLC meeting) agreed that it better reflected the teaching, and assessed more clearly the proficiencies of the students. In addition, it was observed that students seemed to feel the test was more challenging- and they had to apply themselves more intensely, seemingly, because the questions are now more relevant, and more clearly written-and too, not just multiple choice.
We decided to keep the same structure, and the same format of a similar type and number of questions, since Rebecca and Mandi both had great success with their students on the test for Unit Three. Martha S-B reported about half and half, but still, the results were more beneficial for reteaching purposes.
In speaking about ways students could be encouraged to study, Jeff showed us a way to create a booklet- made from one piece of paper, folded and cut, then refolded in just such a way as to reveal six wallet-sized pages, all neatly attached! His students use this to study words on the bus, or just about anywhere they may happen to be. Six words or so, on each page, makes for easy access to a lot of vocab, grammar, or any number of other study topics. Quite do-able!
For Unit Four’s test changes, we discussed how we need to be certain to teach about the verb ‘going to’ as we will be requiring this of them on the test.
As promised, Martha S-B had her summarization of key points as a short Ceasar Chavez story, meant to replace the Madeline Albright Story in the original Unti Four test, along with 6 questions requiring students to answer in complete sentences. All approved, with one minor change in wording.
Mandi’s rewritten questions, as well as the few additions and changes we all agreed upon, were approved (and appreciated!)
One or two more questions with multiple choice answers were added to make the total number of points consistant with the last unit test.
We adjourned at 9:10 ish.
Addendum-to PLC minutes for March 26th 2008 Martha
S-B’s Room
Idea from Jeff:
He has ties in his room that are used for acting out/role playing going on a job interview. Students get a chance to feel the part.
Also, next meeting in three weeks due to Spring Break- APril 16th-in Elizabeth’s Room 119
PLC Meeting on March 26 began promptly at 8:20 p.m. in Anna’s room.
Team members present: Anna, Alida, Charlie, Nancy
Discussed: the effectiveness of power point presentations to illustrate vocabulary or a grammar point. Charlie got hands-on practice as Anna guided him through the steps.
Goal for our next meeting: to create power point presentations to illustrate lessons for our students. We will come with ideas of the lessons we want to create. We will see if the computer lab will be available in this regard.
Our next meeting is Wed., April 16, after Spring break. We adjourned shortly after 9:00 p.m.
Advanced PLC Minutes
room 123
8:20PM–9:15PM
Members Present
Margaret
Suzette
Tonight we discussed literature circles. We will be using google images and dictionary.com to enhance student comprehension. Comprehension questions asked at the end of each chapter.
Discussed collaborative civics project. Each class will choose a candidate to report on. Each class will research candidates’ opinion on particular issues. Each class will present their findings to the other 2 classes. A mock election will be held.
Martha-
In attendance:
Rebecca
Mandi
Martha S.B.
Robbie
Elizabeth
Our minutes 8:40-9:10 p.m.) for the April 17th meeting are as follows:
As a group we went over another of Mandi’s tests for AllStar 2 Unit 5. We included a great story that she had made up- a narrative about her day shopping- and it was tied to the picture that is in the book. She had questions to go along with it and we added one more. Great job, Mandi!
Our job was made easy as Mandi had most of it done- we offered a little input here and there- but it was great to have the time to discuss what we all do.
We accepted most of what Mandi had decided to change about the tests. She is brilliant, really- and we all agreed on that too.
Martha S.B. and I shared a little too on what we had done so far to improve the All Star 3 lessons. We mentioned that we were not only leaving things out that were too involved for our students or else not appropriate, but also we are adding in supplementary materials for the purpose of going deeper into what they do need practice on. We are meeting Sunday, the 20th at 11:00 again to begin again with the rewriting of unit 4 and maybe 5, and this time, Mandi will join us (though at this writing it will only be Mandi and myself for this one meeting.) Robbie was a great help, though she shared that she has not taught All Star 2 before. Still she is anxious to see and have access to the curriculum as it has been ammended when we start again next semester. It was clarified that we were not making materials appropriate for two levels, but rather just making the All Star 3 a more functional and relevant piece for the Intermediate Lows.
April 23, 2008
Last week’s PLC meeting in Room 114
Team members present: Anna, Nancy , Steve, Martha Rankin
Discussed: Martha proposed that we coordinate the students to create a video project, highlighting what they learned through dialogues based on the vocabulary and grammar lessons of All Star I. Anna’s and Nancy’s students would then present the video to Beg Lit students to encourage their persistence in our program.
Martha also offered to show a demo of a video she did with her students in 2002, so the students would have an idea of what to do. Anna’s class could take units 1, 3 and 5 and Nancy’s students could do units 2, 4 and 6.
Steve’s students would develop their own project based on what they are learning in Beg Lit, such as the alphabet and simple dialogues.
Martha agreed to help us with the camera work and editing. We would also continue to finish the book, and work on the video project after break beginning in May. Filming would begin in June.
In addition, Nancy was able to make two power point presentations to her class, according to the goal of a March PLC meeting. The students seemed to like them, illustrating work clothing styles and shopping vocabulary.
Anna’s and Nancy’s students will view the video demo by Martha’s students on Thursday, April 24, after break in Anna’s room. Everyone agreed it’s a creative way for the students to review the units before the promotion test, and actively express what they are learning. We’ll see how the students receive the idea and give it a try!
Thanks, very helpful!
Meeting Date–April 30, 2008
Rm. 123
8:20pm-9:00pm
Members Present– Bud, Margaret, Suzette
Members discussed collaborative project. Each member chose a presidential candidate for their class to research. Members decided on 3-5 issues to research. Members discussed ideas on methods of research.
Members discussed how students will present their findings to all 3 classes.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
PLC minutes
8:25 - 9:00 p.m.
Room 114
Team members present: Alida, Anna, Charlie, Nancy
Discussed: Student video project proposed at the last PLC meeting. Alida and Charlie want to view Martha’s video (made by her students) to have a better idea of the project. Charlie is interested in having his students doing songs and dialogues.
Anna reiterated that we’ll begin grouping the students Monday, according to the All Star unit they will be presenting. This will give the students an excellent way to review for the promotion test, plus prepare something creative. We may start filming before June, because we think the editing process will be very time-consuming.
(Again, Anna will do units 1, 3 and 5 and Nancy’s students will do units 2, 4 and 6 of All Star I.)
Anna and Nancy both believe they will be able to complete the book, and work on the video project a little bit each class. Anna remarked she will adjust the time to work on the video when the most students will be present.
We adjourned with the air of excitement and anticipation before embarking on a long journey. The students seemed enthused by the idea, and we want to encourage all of them to participate.
Present were:
Jeff
Rebecca
Mandi
Martha SB
Elizabeth
Start time was 8:30 Finish time was 9:10
Initially, Martha SB and I had talked about the possibly of pairing off (with Jeff/Robbie), in order to use PLC time more efficiently, and also because Mandi has independently, already completed so much of what we wanted to accomplish that it doesn’t require more than two people to put on the finishing touches. This leaves some availability of the remaining three people- specifically, those who are working in the All Star Book 3, to discuss this project. It was mentioned that for Martha SB, the previously arranged Sunday meetings were not working out- therefore this new plan seemed to have further value. We decided that we five could double the work during the time allowed-and so we all agreed.
We also decided that Friday nights and some Saturday mornings would work to meet for extra work on the All Star 3 project.
We decided to begin this evening- and so Mandi and Rebecca worked on All Star 2, and Jeff, Martha SB, and Elizabeth began brainstorming about the logistics and next steps of the new ‘offshoot’ collaboration that we were now focusing on during this time. This included getting Jeff up to speed on what Martha SB and Elizabeth had already done with All Star 3.
Some ideas regarding All Star 3 for the next PLC meeting:
*Begin typing all notes taken so far (Jeff)
*Jeff will bring his lap top to next meeting
*Jeff suggested having a ‘morgue’ (a catalogue of pictures)readily available online as enrichment pieces to add to each lesson (this is a great idea for any curriculum!) He shared that he already has some filed. We all need to email Jeff with any pictures we have.
Mandi and Rebecca completed another Unit test for All Star 2.
Thank you, all, for being a great team!
Elizabeth
I like Jeff’s idea of a online catalogue of pictures that enriches the curriculum. Jeff, let us know how that is coming…and how we can help disseminate this resource. Would you like to use the blog as the posting vehicle?
Martha
PLC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday May 14, 2008
Room 123
8:20PM–9:00PM
Team Members
Margaret
Suzette
Bud
Continued discussing Presidential Collaborative Project. Each class will present 3-5 issues within the next couple of weeks. The students are summarizing internet and newspaper articles. In addition, the students are practicing speaking in class in preparation for their presentations.
PLC Meeting Notes for May 14, 2008
8:30pm to 9:15pm
Elizabeth’s - Room 119
Present:
Elizabeth
Jeff
Martha S-B
Rebecca
Mandi was unable to attend this evenings PLC meeting, however she will leave a copy of the Unit 7 test that she created from her All-Star 2, Unit 7 review in Martha S-B and Rebecca’s mail boxes. Martha S-B and Rebecca can either use the Unit 7 Test that Mandi created or discuss possible revisions at a future PLC Meeting. Awesome, thank you Mandi!
Tonight’s focus was the continued discussion of the “Great Leap” between All-Star 2 and All-Star 3 and the revamping that is being done on the 8 units in All-Star 3. Elizabeth, Jeff and Martha S-B have reviewed to date Units 1 through Unit 3. They have pulled out sections or snippets students were having difficulty with. They have already made decisions on what is applicable for writing up in the teachers’ manual, e.g. small snippets, extensions to be included. This evenings group brainstormed and discussed if the sections in Unit 4 were relevant or pertinent to the students every day life. If the section was applicable to students every day life then an extension activity was discussed and/or created for students to acquire further understanding. If it was not applicable then the section will not be covered in a lesson.
Suggestions/Ideas for further improvements or extensions on Unit 4, “Money and Consumer Issues”:
• Vocabulary/terminology extensions, e.g. warranty
• Realia – several copies of warranties or guarantees
• Role Playing customer or sales personnel parts for returns, exchanges, complaints, etc on electronics. (Jeff has done this with his class and it was successful).
• Using the All-Star 3, Units “Big Picture” as a spring board for more conversations (Jeff has assigned his students names of the people represented in the picture to represent in their conversational groups.)
• Students manipulate conversations in the book in small groups for 2-way interaction. Listening Skills.
• Small groups for less fear/intimidation
• Craig’s list for on line shopping practice (utilizing technology)
• Edmonds for blue book prices on cars (utilizing technology)
• Coordinates: sounds the same as …
Additionally, the PLC Committee expressed an idea of possibly covering All-Star 3 in two semesters in order to include more activities for grammar and writing. In Unit 4, gerunds, suffixes and prefixes were water downed or skimmed over due to keeping pace with this semester’s textbook pacing schedule. The committee realizes there are considerations such as assessments, standards, pacing and CASAS alignments. The PLC Committee will mention this idea/discussion to administration.
To: Rebecca, Martha, Elizabeth and Jeff
I know this gap problem between All Star 2 and 3 is a real problem. I think I’ve had individual conversations with each of you about this. I like your approach of supplementation. The possibility of splitting the book into two semesters is an idea we might pursue in the Curriculum committee.
To: Suzette, Margaret and Bud
It is good to hear that the implementation of the project is proceeding smoothly. Suzette has been keeping me up on your progress. Please keep up the good work.
To: Anna, Nancy, Charley and Alida
The video recording of this project is quite ambitious but what you are attempting is admirable. When Anna first described her concerns about the magnitude of this effort, I certainly understood but I know this will work out well. You people are super.
PLC Minutes for May 28, 2008
8:30 - 9:15 p.m.
Room 114
Team members present:
Alida, Anna, Charlie, Nancy
Discussed: Student video project, for which we are rehearsing now. Anna wants to check out the video camera and film after break next week on Monday. Nancy will use the camera on Tuesday, and Charlie will film on Wednesday. Alida has a holiday song idea for her students, but wants to wait to film the following week, if possible.
We all expressed concern for a variable attendance, but we can film whoever comes to class.
Goal: To check out the camera and film next week, the week of June 2, so we will have time to edit the film before the end of the semester, June 19.
PLC Meeting Notes for May 28, 2008
8:30pm to 9:10pm
Mandi’s Room
Present:
Elizabeth
Jeff
Larry
Mandi
Marth S-B
Rebecca
Began meeting with a recap of the last focus group.
All-Star 2 (Beginning High)
Mandi, Martha, and Rebecca discussed combining Units 9 & Unit 10 onto one test which will be given at the end of Unit 10. The decision was made to combine the two units on one test. Mandi and Rebecca worked on a draft of the new test. Mandi will finalize and give copies to Martha S-B and Rebecca.
All-Star 3 (Intermediate-Low)
Elizabeth, Jeff and Martha-B continued to discuss where they had left off at the last meeting regarding Unit 4 of All-Star 3. The All-Star 3 Group is still working on arranging a time that they can all meet off-site to discuss All-Star 3.
Additionally, a discussion was held about possibly giving a year end “Promotional Test” based on the All-Star 2 Unit Tests that were re-created at this groups PLC Meetings. PLC Group will request approval from administration. Revised Promotional Test would be for the PM Sessions only.
Elizabeth, Jeff, Larry, Mandi, Martha, and Rebecca,
Thank you for posting your detailed PLC minutes. It is exciting to see the great progress you have made on the original SMART goals you set back in February.
I’m thinking of creating an additional page on this blog to post your new All-Star 2 and 3 common formative assessments. Will that work for you? If so, could you email me what you have created thus far?
As far as your proposal regarding a new Promotional Test based on the recreated All-Star 2 Unit Tests — YES! That makes perfect sense to me. Are you wanting to try to develop and duplicate it for THIS promotional test cycle (June 11) or next semester?
Again, wonderful work, team! You are making fantastic progress with developing meaningful common formative assessments. I am most impressed!!!
Nancy, Alida, Anna, and Charlie,
Thanks for posting last night’s PCL minutes! Here are some things I can do to help with your video project:
1) I’ll keep the video camera plugged in so you can grab-n-shoot off the battery. It will be on my little table in the office — just unplug and go.
2) I will have a new tape named “Beg Lit / Low Project” next to the camera. That way, you won’t have to try to record around my recordings. Just pop out my tape and put in your new tape.
3) I gave Nancy a quick video camera lesson on how to turn it on, shoot, view, turn it off. If you’re interested in a quick tutorial, you can see Nancy or me.
4) I can definitely help you with the video editing when you get to that point. That work is totally FUN for me. If you are interested in learning how to edit film, we can have a session on it.
5) If you need guitar accompaniment for any song, just let me know!
The unpredictable attendance is ALWAYS a problem with project-based learning in our adult ed program. Keep the faith! Know that I know the challenges. Moreover, know that I totally respect your willingness to give it a try anyway. You inspire me!!!
I know your students will deeply learn the competencies they are presenting because they are generating their own learning. I’m reading a book about “generative learning” called POWER TO TRANSFORM - LEADERSHIP THAT BRINGS LEARNING AND SCHOOLING TO LIFE. I’ve never been so jazzed about educational transformation. I believe the work you are doing is indeed “bringing learning to life.”
To: PLC Team members present:
Alida, Anna, Charlie, Nancy 5/28
It is exciting to see your video Dialog project coming together. Martha has really made it much easier to get this done with the arrangements she has made for the camera. If I can be a help with the videoing just let me know.
PLC Members: Elizabeth, Jeff, Mandi, Martha, and Rebecca:
5/29
I know progress on closing that All Star 2 to All Star 3 gap is no easy matter but you are making progree and that is great.
To: PLC Advanced - Suzette, Margaret and Bud 5/28/08
Congratulations on getting most of your Candidate and Issues presentations completed. I know the students were very excited about doing this.
To our Fabulous PLC Teams,
I am extremely impressed with your progress and your commitment to sharing and learning together. Our students have already and will continue to benefit from your meaningful, intentional dialogue focused on student learning. Great work everyone! Together you make this the BEST place to work and learn!! I can’t wait to hear more about your collaboration and projects.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Room 123
8:30-9:05 pm
Team Members Present:
Margaret (Advanced)
Suzette (Int. High)
We discussed our progress as a PLC group. We were very pleased with our success on the collaboration of the election project that we worked on. Actually, it went better than we had expected. We made the project simple, we discussed ideas for researching, paraphrasing, and summarizing to assist our students in these endeavors.
Each of us said that our students were engaged with this project, they learned quite a bit, and the teachers learned a lot as well! This format worked for us as a group. Next year we will have to think of a different project topic. We will discuss other ideas to aid our students in research.
We had our final PLC meeting of the year last night. We all met to reflect on how the year went and what things we might change for next year. Each group reviewed their goals for this year and talked about how they felt it went:
- Beginning High/Intermediate Low:
Goal: Rewrite each unit test in All Star 2, including the promotional test, and continue revisions of All Star 3.
Results: Very successful. Students did vey well on the new promotional test, and teachers had a better understanding of what students really knew. The All Star 3 revision process is moving along…got through units 1-3 and will continue the process.
What we might change next year: Do something collaborative and present tot he other classes. Continue to work on revision of book 3.
-Citizenship/Intermediate High/Multi-Advanced:
Goal: Have students from each class do research on the 3 presidential candidates then present their findings in a speech to the other classes.
Results: Students were able to conduct research on the Internet as well as in books and newspapers. Speeches went well and students were very excited.
What we might change next year: Continue with research and speeches but change the topic to the 50 states.
-Beginning Lit/Low:
Goal: To put together a movie that highlights what students learned throughout the semester. Sort of like a book review but in movie and powerpoint forms.
Results: Students were very engaged and excited to do the project. They also did better on the promotional test this year as a result of going back and reviewing the entire book.
What we might change next year: Consider rewriting tests. Also, finding supplemental information and more project based lessons.
Overall, it was a successful year and we look forward to doing many great things again next year!
This is a very accurate overview of the PLC’s activities. It was great to see every group plan and then follow through on their plans and produce positive results. All of you deserve to feel good about what you accomplished. It was an extra effort but it clearly paid off for the students.
It will be fun to see this continue to develop next year.
I’d like to thank each of you for your extra effort, diligence and genuine willingness to stretch and try something new. I’m sure everyone especially appreciated Elizabeth’s leadership.
Thank you to all of you - well done.
Our PLC project went great. The students successfully transformed difficult internet material into their own words and put the information into short speeches about the issues the three presidential candidates are campaigning on for the presidency. The students practiced extemporaneous speaking before beginning their speeches. They were excited about speaking in front of the class and asked to do more. Next semester we shall definitely practice more in front of the class. They did a great job and felt successful ending the year with their project.