Blog
Finding Time for Interventions
How do I find the time to do interventions? When will I do this and also keep up with the pacing of the curriculum? One thing all teachers can agree on is that time is a limited commodity, . . . Read more
Want the Right Kind of Thinking About RTI? Ask the Right Questions!
(This blog is a crosspost from the Solution Tree Blog) A few years ago, we wrote an article that appeared in Educational Leadership called “The Why Behind RTI.” In this article, we . . . Read more
A Case of Being Curious: How Do You Know?
“It always annoyed me how in the old fashioned detective story, the detective always seemed to get at his results either by some sort of lucky chance or fluke or else it was quite . . . Read more
Three Reasons Your Team Needs Common Summative Assessments
A hallmark feature of a PLC-based school is that everything is focused on learning. The three big ideas of a PLC—(1) focus on learning; (2) build a collaborative culture; and (3) create a . . . Read more
“Blurring the Lines” in an Elementary School
What would it look like if we “blurred the lines” in our school? How would schools function if every student received what he or she needed regardless of disability or language? At a . . . Read more
Summer Projects for Advanced Classes: I Am the Gatekeeper!
There is little argument that for our students to compete in a global economy and workforce, we must continue to grow, improve, and adjust our practices as educators to meet the demands of our . . . Read more
A PLC Alternative to Advisory
There are many middle schools across our nation that have an advisory or homeroom period built into their weekly or daily schedule to meet the needs of the whole child. In theory, this concept . . . Read more
Using Your Best to Help the Rest: Another Thought on Intervention
The growth of our students at Lakeridge Junior High has been exciting to watch over the years. We have committed to increasing the capacity of adults through the processes associated… Read more
Should We Provide Ability-Based Tracking in Our School?
We received a question on the All Things PLC website from a high school English department that was in the process of revising its curriculum. The school offered three levels at each grade level . . . Read more
Both Sides of the Pyramid: Behavior and Academics
“It’s hard to do the collaborative work of a professional learning community if your school is struggling with student behavior and school climate issues,” commented a teacher at . . . Read more
Achieving Unprecedented Learning Results for Students With Disabilities in a PLC
I was recently asked how our school had such great success in helping students with special needs learn at high levels and how, as a PLC school, we work collaboratively to achieve unprecedented . . . Read more
Q&A on Guided Reading in a PLC
The following is a Q&A email correspondence between Susan Huff, PLC at Work™ associate and principal in Spanish Fork, Utah, and Cynthia Watkins, a third-grade teacher in Asheville, North Carolina... Read more
Kid-by-Kid-by-Kid
This is just my second year at the big old high school in our little town. Despite the stereotyping that goes on in education about large high schools being places where kids fall through the . . . Read more
PBIS: The Perfect Fit for Behavior Intervention in a PLC
Two years ago, our school decided to implement PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports). We felt that we had a good handle on the academic side of the PLC, but something was missing. . . . Read more
Q&A: Rick DuFour’s Response to a Question on Formative Assessment
Last week, educate4life posted the following comment on Grading Formative and Summative Assessments by Rick DuFour: I am new to this forum but stumbled upon this thread. I am a high school mathematics teacher... Read more