Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) connect teachers and are essential to preserve and enhance the teaching profession. PLCs offer forums for teachers to share, focus on improvement, increase student learning, and foster collaborative and innovative thinking about teaching and learning.

Key focus areas include culturally responsive teaching, effective instructional strategies, collaborative planning, and data-driven instructional practices, amongst other topics.

Faye L. Lewis, an assistant principal in Essex County New Jersey, shares her insight on Professional Learning Communities Made Easy.  This slideshare addresses the basics of PLCs and provides some examples, illustrating the roles that teachers play.  Pflugerville ISD is implementing their Professional Learning Communities as they focus on collaborative planning, data collection, and concentrational learning to improve student success.

Professional growth is fundamental to effective teaching.  Teachers should model goal-setting, accepting responsibility for individual learning, and the strategic use of technology through their own educational endeavors as students.

Teachers can help foster a love of lifelong learning in their students by sharing the challenges and benefits of being a model learner.

In the true spirit of a professional learning community,  Life Long-Learning for Teachers and Students is a wiki that encourages readers to add to the article about effective teaching for lifelong learning.

Professionalism in teaching requires dedication to students and to the profession. Student learning and achievement are primary goals and motivating factors behind maintaining professional conduct, utilizing effective instructional decision-making strategies, and developing an professional growth plan.

Teachers demonstrate professionalism by showing commitment to students and their learning, acting with integrity and honesty, and adhering to school and district policies and procedures.

The Professionalism in the Classroom video offers a variety of teaching scenarios where teachers role play situations addressing the importance of being on time and prepared,  keeping relationships professional, following established rules, and knowing their content.