ERIC Number: EJ800216
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1937-0814
EISSN: N/A
Enhancing the 3 R's of Resilience, Retention, and Reform through Middle School Faculty Professional Learning Communities
Dallas, Fern
Middle Grades Research Journal, v1 n1 p67-92 Spr 2006
This study describes the influences that one professional learning community had on teacher resilience, teacher retention, and school reform initiatives. Teachers at a low performing, urban middle school in the Southeastern United States implemented professional learning communities as a reform initiative to assist with staff development. This case chronicled the implementation, interaction, and effects of the sixth grade language arts professional learning community situated within the context of the school. Data sources include multiple interviews with the sixth grade language arts teachers and a representative sample of their students, the researcher's participant observer field notes from planning meetings, class observations, group generated artifacts, emails, informal discussions with the participants, and reading assessments of their students. Positive outcomes included stronger professional relationships, effective collaborative planning and problem solving, increased confidence and collegial support, enhanced resilience, and effective implementation of curriculum reforms. Student reading scores increased slightly, ending a downward trend. (Contains 9 tables.)
Descriptors: Observation, Language Arts, Teacher Persistence, Educational Change, Grade 6, Faculty Development, Urban Schools, Middle Schools, Teacher Collaboration, Secondary School Teachers, Teaching Conditions, Collegiality, Curriculum Development, Reading Achievement
Institute for School Improvement, Missouri State University. 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897. Tel: 417-836-8854; Fax: 417-836-8881; Web site: http://www.isi.missouristate.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A