Professional Learning Community 

Ms. Jessica Irene Colson
KG Teacher

At the beginning of the academic year, our team embarked on our Professional Learning Team (PLT) journey. We were assigned the strategic intent of improving literacy instruction throughout our school, which should inevitably lead to greater success criteria for student attainment in literacy.
As educators, we can become so consumed in our own subject’s requirements, that when we hear the term ‘literacy’, we think, ‘Let’s leave that up to the English department’. However, each subject broken down, has its own set of terms and jargon; and without a good understanding and command of literacy, learners aren’t able to successfully gain knowledge in any subject matter. Our PLT consists of a diverse group of teachers, including kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school educators across all subject areas, working collaboratively to reach common goals. Our members chose to implement school-based action research. By using this strategy, we had the opportunity to address common issues and everyday concerns faced within our sections, subjects and classrooms. We initially analyzed the evidence gathered through student data and the KHDA report, which highlighted areas of concern. This initially felt as if it was a near-impossible mammoth task. However, we brainstormed ideas that would be attainable and measurable and therefore created weekly tasks for ourselves. We set ourselves small tasks that we would go on to implement in our classrooms and then return with evidence to prove whether the strategies were showing success or not. We are currently in the process of formulating our main objectives for our PLT. This will be done using the SMART goal technique. One such goal is; “By the end of the 2019-2020 academic school year, we want to see an illustrated word wall (integrating all subject areas) displayed in each classroom.” Personally, I have found that being a part of this team has been rewarding within itself. It has truly empowered me to make positive changes within the school community and within myself.

Ms. Jessica Irene Colson