Professional Learning Communities

Features

Shared Vision, Team Learning, and Professional Learning Communities
Sue C. Thompson and Earline McKelvy
An effective professional learning community can only emerge in a school culture of trust, risk taking, and support.

When Two or More Are Gathered
Brenda A. Dyck
One teacher describes her journey from telecollaboration newby to professional learning community veteran.

Learning Together Creates Community in Hawaii
Cher J. Coit, Brian S. Kaneshiro, Christina J. Simpson, and Elizabeth K. Smith
Students in a master's program in Hawaii realized how important it is to learn together.

End Direction Overload: Foster Self-Reliant Teachers
Carolyn Bunting
Direction overload. This life-threatening condition is brought on by too much unsolicited, unnecessary, and often confusing advice. Fight back.

What's It Like Over There? Answers to the International Teaching Top 10
Linda Hoiseth
Ever thought about teaching overseas? This veteran international teacher answers those frequently asked questions.

The Red-Headed Stepchild: Give Us Some Respect
Alicia Wenzel
Tired of being asked why you teach middle school? This author has your answer.

Enough About You, Let's Talk About Me: Student Voice in the Classroom
Molly Mee
Socratic Circles tap into young adolescents' need to relate their learning to what's going on in their lives.

Reaching Students Through PSAs
Janet H. Dick and Robert Ruder
One middle school tapped into the morning announcements as a way to let students know about a student support program.

The Community Gives Back
Daniel Schwartz
Faced with a tough decision that would affect both school and home, one principal witnessed first-hand the concept of a caring community.

Contagion
Lisa Ericson
Why do we work with young adolescents? This poem says it all.

Departments

Editor's Note
Patricia George

Perspective
Sue Swaim
The Importance of Being Highly Qualified and Highly Effective

News to Use
Information to promote effective middle level education

Teams in Action
Nita Saunders
The Panda Team and Community Service

Hot Links
Brenda A. Dyck
Professional Learning Communities: Everything Old Is New Again

Teaching in the Middle
Rick Wormeli
Creating Wonder Still Works

Web Exclusive Bonus
Rick Wormeli
Adding Wonder to Your Classroom

The Mark of Leadership
Gary Schomburg and Dale Geyer
Struggling Students: The Principal's Role in Intervention

Research
What's happening in education research today?

Reviews & Resources
Books and resources of interest to middle level educators.

Megaphone
Amusing, interesting, and provocative comments from the field of education.

Spotlight on Social Studies
Brenda A. Dyck
Extreme Makeover: Developing Canada's Young Citizens