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The 15-Day Challenge
Simplify and Energize Your PLC at Work® Process
Simplicity of the PLC process and energy to drive the work are essential for teams to collaborate successfully. Author Maria Nielsen provides you with the structure and tools you need to confidently utilize both of these staples to become a high-functioning professional learning community.
Benefits
- Establish essential learning standards and design common assessments with easy-to-use templates.
- Utilize Tier 2 intervention plans that address learning gaps year-round.
- Reflect with colleagues at each step of the process by assessing strengths and weaknesses in crucial PLC skills.
- Glean insights from educators seasoned in the 15-day unit structure with real-world elementary and secondary examples.
- Create a collaborative, cohesive PLC culture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Overview of the 15-Day Challenge
Chapter 2: Identify Standards to Teach for a Fifteen-Day Unit of Study (Step 1)
Chapter 3: Unpack Standards (Step 2)
Chapter 4: Prioritize Standards Into Three Categories (Step 3)
Chapter 5: Create Common Formative Assessments (Step 4)
Chapter 6: Pace and Design the Unit (Step 5)
Chapter 7: Plan Tier 2 Intervention and Extension While Pacing and Designing the Unit (Step 6)
Chapter 8: Teach the Unit and Act on the Data (Step 7)
Chapter 9: Sustaining the Process With a Yearlong (and Beyond) Pacing Guide
Epilogue
Appendix: Sample 15-Day Challenge Unit Plans
REPRODUCIBLES AND VIDEOS
Chapter 1
- Videos: Introduction and Overview
- Figure 1.2: Identifying Standards for the Unit
- Figure 1.3: Unpacking Standards Into Learning Targets
- Figure 1.4: Creating Common Formative Assessments
- Figure 1.5: 15-Day Challenge Planning Chart
- Figure 1.6: Plan Tier 2 Interventions and Extensions
- Figure 1.7: Identify Students for Tier 2 Interventions or Extensions
- Figure 1.8: Completed Fifteen-Day Planning Chart—Elementary Example
- Figure 1.9: Completed Fifteen-Day Planning Chart—Middle School Example
- Chapter 1 Reflection: 15-Day Challenge
Chapter 2
- Videos: Step 1 and Teams in Action
- Identify and Prioritize Standard for a Unit Template: Step 1
- Chapter 2 Reflection: Identify Standards for a Unit
Chapter 3
- Videos: Step 2 and Teams in Action
- Figure 3.2: DOK Levels Chart
- Standards Unpacking Template
- Chapter 3 Reflection: Unpacking Standards
Chapter 4
- Videos: Step 3 and Teams in Action
- Identify and Prioritize Standard for a Unit Template: Step 3
- Chapter 4 Reflection: Identifying and Prioritizing Standards
Chapter 5
- Videos: Step 4 and Teams in Action
- Figure 5.1: I Can Student Self-Assessment Form
- Figure 5.2: Common Assessment Scenario Recording Chart
- Figure 5.4: Unit Assessment Map Example
- Figure 5.5: Assessment Questions Example
- Figure 5.7: Data Questions Template
- Quantify Assessment Questions Template
- Chapter 5 Reflection: Common Assessment Practices
Chapter 6
- Videos: Step 5 and Teams in Action
- Figure 6.1: 15-Day Challenge Planning Chart Template
- Chapter 6 Reflection: Pacing and Designing a Unit of Study
Chapter 7
- Videos: Step 6 and Teams in Action
- Figure 7.1: Build Your Unit While Planning Strategies and Materials for Tier 2
- Chapter 7 Reflection: Planning Tier 2
Chapter 8
- Videos: Step 7 and Teams in Action
- Figure 8.2: Item-Analysis Sheet Template
- Figure 8.4: Common Assessment Team Data Sheet Example
- Figure 8.5: Group Students for Tier 2 Intervention or Extension Template
- Chapter 8 Reflection: Intervention and Extension
Chapter 9
- Videos: Sustaining the Process and Teams in Action
- Figure 9.1: Yearlong Pacing Guide Example for Integrated Math 1
- Chapter 9 Reflection: 15-Day Challenge Review
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Books
- Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2019). Make it happen: Coaching with the four critical questions of PLCs at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2022). Formative tools for leaders in a PLC at Work: Assessing, analyzing, and acting to support collaborative teams. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Buffum, A., & Mattos, M. (Eds.). (2015). It’s about time: Planning interventions and extensions in elementary school. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Buffum, A., Mattos, M., & Malone, J. (2018). Taking action: A handbook for RTI at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Buffum, A., Mattos, M., Weber, C., & Hierck, T. (2015). Uniting academic and behavior interventions: Solving the skill or will dilemma. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Conzemius, A. E., & O’Neill, J. (2014). The handbook for SMART school teams: Revitalizing best practices for collaboration (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Daniels, B. L. (2020). PLC at Work and your small school: Building, deepening, and sustaining a culture of collaboration for singletons. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. W., & Mattos, M. (2016). Learning by doing: A handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (3rd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Mattos, M., & Muhammad, A. (2021). Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: Proven insights for sustained, substantive school improvement (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- DuFour, R., & Marzano, R. J. (2011). Leaders of learning: How district, school, and classroom leaders improve student achievement. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Ferriter, W. M. (2020). The big book of tools for collaborative teams in a PLC at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Francis, E. M. (2022). Deconstructing depth of knowledge: A method and model for deeper teaching and learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Friziellie, H., Schmidt, J. A., & Spiller, J. (2016). Yes we can! General and special educators collaborating in a professional learning community Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Kramer, S. V. (2015). How to leverage PLCs for school improvement. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Leane, B., & Yost, J. (2022). Singletons in a PLC at Work: Navigating on-ramps to meaningful collaboration. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Marzano, R. J., & Waters, T. (2009). District leadership that works: Striking the right balance. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Mattos, M., & Buffum, A. (2015). It’s about time: Planning interventions and extensions in secondary school. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
- Sonju, B., Kramer, S. V., Mattos, M., & Buffum, A. (2019). Best practices at tier 2: Supplemental interventions for additional student support, secondary. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
