On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities [Hardcover]

Roland Barth (Author), Barbara Eason-Watkins (Author), Michael Fullan (Author), Lawrence Lezotte (Author), Douglas Reeves (Author), Jonathon Saphier (Author), Mike Schmoker (Author), Dennis Sparks (Author), Rick Stiggins (Author), Rebecca DuFour (Author, Editor), Robert Eaker (Author, Editor), Richard DuFour (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1932127429 | ISBN-13: 978-1932127423 | Publication Date: February 1, 2005

On Common Ground is the first book in the Leading Edge series. The Leading Edge is the undefined space where leaders venture to impact change it is the place where transformation begins. The Leading Edge series unites education authorities from around the globe and asks them to confront the important issues that affect teachers and administrators the issues that profoundly impact student success. The experts contributing to this anthology do not prescribe one method to transact change. They embrace the mission, trusting that teachers and administrators the true change leaders will venture to the Leading Edge to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will guarantee the success of their students. On Common Ground provides a valuable tool for educators who are doing the hard work of improving their schools. This resource offers teachers and administrators a coherent conceptual framework and specific, practical strategies for moving forward with their improvement efforts. Any listing of North America s leading authorities on school improvement would include the authors in this book. These authors agree on many of the best strategies for raising student achievement and support the premise that students would be better served if educators: Embrace learning rather than teaching as their school s mission Work collaboratively to help all students learn Use formative assessments and a focus on results to foster continuous improvement Assume individual responsibility to take steps to create such schools Although they stand on this common ground, clear differences emerge regarding their perspectives on the most effective strategy for making professional learning communities the norm in North America. The differences, however, focus on the means rather than the end. These educational leaders have found common ground in expressing their belief in both the desirability and the power of professional learning communities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The stakes are high, but success could enable us to reach levels of quality, equity, and achievement."

— --Mike Schmoker, February, 2005

About the Author

Richard DuFour is one of the nation's foremost authorities on applying the principles of Professional Learning Communities in the real world of schools.

Robert Eaker is a nationally respected authority on instructional leadership and has written widely on the issues of effective schools and student achievement.

Rebecca DuFour is co-author of Getting Started and is a presenter at conferences throughout North America.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Solution Tree (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932127429
• ISBN-13: 978-1932127423
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No Silver Bullet, but . . ., June 10, 2006

By 

Luann Richardson (Onawa, Iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities (Hardcover)

If you want to read a book that combines brief overviews of the work of many well-regarded leaders in the field of education, this book is a good beginning. Those who work in public education and understand the need for re-structuring and re-culturing our schools will appreciate the authors' laser-like focus on student learning through the development of professional learning communities.

The authors of the various chapters of this book focus on the essential elements that most impact student achievement. Rick Stiggins discusses assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning. Douglas Reeves focuses on curriculum and the importance of power standards and differentiated assessment. Jonathon Saphier stresses the need for high expectations for all students and suggests what educators can do when students aren't learning. And there are more . . .

In these times of student and teacher accountability, all educators must use data to make decisions, including those regarding staff development. Professional Learning Communities provide educators with the structure for collaboration and learning. Teams of teachers and administrators work together in a PLC to create an environment that supports school improvement to result in greater student learning.

Developing a PLC in your school is certainly not the silver bullet. However, the book is a good one to read to gain an overview of what educators can do to positively affect student achievement. If you are already familiar with the work done by many of our educational leaders, you may need to go deeper. In that case, this book is probably not for you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On Common Ground, May 29, 2006

By 

Liz Standish "Liz Standish" - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities (Hardcover)

As the processes of school improvement shifts from regulatory compliance to authentic work in schools, it is essential to build a broad understanding of decades of thinking on school reform. This book offers a strong summary of the concepts most likely to bring real change in the only place that matters, the classroom. We have spent decades talking about change and the learning community concept has the potential to be the catalyst of change.

On Common Ground can build a broad foundation of knowledge however; other resources are needed to detail the specifics. The best highlights include:
1) Michael Fullan on building collective capacity.
2) Doug Reeves on anaylsis of student work and feedback.
3) Rick Stiggins on assessment for learning.
4) Jonathon Saphier on motivation.
5) Mike Schmoker on urgency.
6) Larence Lezotte on shared leadership.

If your goal is to building common understanding about contemporary thinking in the area of school improvement, On Common Ground provides a great starting point.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Message, June 4, 2006

By 

Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities (Hardcover)

Rarely do I find a collection of essays by multiple authors to be a great book. Too often the prose is uneven and the authors, despite the assertions of the editors, come off as talking at cross purposes. This book is no exception.

It is not without value. The theme of this book is the importance of professional learning communities in education and I am a supporter of the concept. I didn't need the authors to convince me of this. Perhaps the most perceptive comment made in the book is that teachers already know how to teach well, they know the best practices, we just need to give them an opportunity to work together, develop mutual support and implement them. The problem is that, on a practical level, this is a hard thing to do in an evironment where scheduling conflicts and self-contained teaching is the norm. What would be nice is to have authors who say more than "this is difficult but you must do it" and instead give some practical suggestions on how to do it. There are some here but not enough.

Perhaps the editors would have been better off authoring the entire book themselves. Some of these essays only pay lip service to PLCs as they wander off into theories that are more personal. I respect Michael Fullan's work on sustainable systems but he didn't seem to really fit here, as did some of the other authors with their own axes to grind.

Still, if a reader goes into this book with eyes wide open, then there are things of value to be found. And, in the tough world of education, anything of value is worth considering.