Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
Professional Learning Communities at Marshfield
At the School District of Marshfield, we believe learning is the fundamental purpose of our schools. To ensure that all students succeed, we are committed to working collaboratively and examining every practice, policy, and procedure through the lens of student learning.
Our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are rooted in shared goals and mutual accountability. Teachers and administrators work together to improve instructional practices, share expertise, and ensure students are supported academically, intellectually, socially, and personally.
We cultivate a collaborative culture by developing high-performing teams—our PLCs—at all levels. These teams serve as the engine of continuous improvement and are unified in their mission to help all students learn and grow.
Benefits of PLCs include:
✔ Reduced teacher isolation
✔ Improved collaboration and collegiality
✔ Consistent, relevant professional learning opportunities
✔ Stronger student outcomes and instructional effectiveness
By focusing on what’s best for students—and providing our teams with the time, resources, and support they need—we create an environment where both staff and students thrive.
Our Guiding PLC Questions
These four critical questions drive our collaborative efforts to improve student learning.
1
What do you want the students to know?
What is the focus of this week’s learning?
2
How will we know if they know it?
What specific data-driven evidence do we have that informs us about question #1? Are there multiple or alternative ways to demonstrate this learning?
3
What do we do if they don’t learn?
What evidence-based practices have you implemented, and for how long?
4
What will we do if they already know it?
What independent or student-led opportunities have you provided to elevate their learning further?