Carole Einhorn, NBCT CCSD15carolee1920@gmail.com

Participants will:

Review key characteristics of millennials and implications for professional development

Enhance understanding of essential elements of a developmentally appropriate new teacher learning community

Explore structures and strategies to facilitate new teacher learning communities

Apply session information to their own programs

“The easiest and fastest way to learn is

from other people. Without other people,

the old wheel must be reinvented again and

again and again.”

— Anonymous

“This generation has had so many positive

messages about their life and what they can

do….When they come into the workplace, it might

be the first time they have had the opportunity to

hear that they need to improve…With some

Millennials it can be a challenge to hear direct and

honest feedback.

• Collaboration/Teamwork

• Flexibility

• Informality

• Appreciation for their efforts and accomplishments

• Opportunities for professional development

• Clear goals and purposes

• Support and structure within limits

• Honest, real-time, constructive feedback

• Opportunities for networking

• Mentoring/Coaching

Adapted from Maximizing Millennials in the Workplace, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, 2012

• Comfortable, safe learning environment which inspires them to contribute and take risks without fear of being criticized

• Opportunities to collaborate and network with peers

• Training in how to work with team members assertively and diplomatically

• Training in how to process feedback and work with a mentor/coach

• Discussion and reflection on key issues about which they may be totally unaware.

• Time to reflect on current practice and experiences

• Clear learning targets

• Structured tasks that allow for flexibility and freedom of expression

Adapted from Maximizing Millennials in the Workplace, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, 2012

Meet Them Where They Are At…

Many first year teachers are “unconsciously unskilled”. They don’t know what they don’t know.

School/District/Region Context• Other already-existing professional

development

opportunities

• # of novice teachers

• Desirable frequency and duration of meetings

• Availability of release time

• Available facilitators/teacher leaders

• Possibility of partnerships

• Other available resources

What is a New Teacher Learning Community?Groups of novice teachers working collaboratively to:

• reflect on current practice • address needs/concerns• engage in structured inquiry processes to explore best practices • improve their effectiveness as educators

Key features:• ongoing• Embedded within context-specific needs of a particular setting• Grounded in a collaborative, inquiry-based approach to learning

How is this different than a typical PLC?PLC NTLC

• Focus on student learning and results• Includes teachers at all levels of practice• Addresses systematic and school- wide needs

• Focus on beginning teacher practice• Developmentally appropriate for novice teachers• Addresses needs of a specific cohort

You need both!

A purposeful conversation has an underlying

goal related to teaching and learning. In the

new teacher learning community,

conversations become the lifeblood of

professional learning , and the nature of those

conversations can be very different than those

typically found in “business as usual”

programs.

Essential Learning Community Behaviors… • Be fully present. (bracket other thoughts and turn off

cell phones)

• Be self-responsible and self-challenging. • Use “I” language. • Listen, listen, listen. • Take risks, be raggedy, make some mistakes--then let

go. • Accept conflict and its resolution as a necessary

catalyst for learning. • Be open-minded. • Treat the candidness of others as a gift: Honor

Confidentiality.

• Reflection on the Mentor/Protégé relationship

• Effective Communication (with staff, parents, students)

• Professionalism

• Reflection on specific aspects of classroom practice

• Building background knowledge on key

school/district/region

initiatives

Protocols Can Provide

the Structure…

Consultancy Protocol

Success Analysis Protocol

Triad Protocol

The Four A’s Protocol

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Session Evaluation…