RSA #1, Developing and Sustaining Professionalism Within Gifted Education

RSA #1, Developing and Sustaining Professionalism Within Gifted Education. By: Coleman, Mary Ruth, Gallagher, James J., Job, Jennifer, Gifted Child Today, 01/01/2012, Vol. 35, Issue 1

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            This week we were to focus on the learning. It is important for everyone to focus their time on the missions and goal of the Professional Learning Community (PLC).  Everyone has different strengths they bring to the PLC but it is the job of the leader to keep the community focused while playing to everyone’s strengths. 

            In Developing and Sustaining Professionalism Within Gifted Education (2012), Coleman, Gallagher, and Job explains the “new paradigm of teacher professionalism”. They show a parallel to the professionalism of a doctor.  The doctor never works alone, he/she will work with nurses, other doctors in their practice, and other specialists in order to give their patients the best possible care.  Cole, Gallegher, and Job explain that “the traditional view of the teacher is of a solitary figure at the front of a classroom (2012)”, but the new paradigm is that teachers need to be a part of a collaborative group. The article then went on to describe how the use of collaboration will allow for teachers to identify and teach Gifted and Talented children.  They go through the steps from identification through curriculum development and implementation.  The article then goes through the importance of all of the standards of an effective PLC.

            Coleman, Gallegher and Job enhances the idea of “focus on the learning” presented in DuFour, DuFour, Eaker and Many’s Learning by Doing . DuFour, DuFour, Eaker and Many (2012) show that a well-run PLC will allow the teachers the ability to provide the best learning to their students.  The two agree that collaboration with other professionals will not only help the student but will also provide the teachers continuing education. Both agree also that the leaders (administration or state departments) must provide the necessary tools to help the teachers run an effective PLC.

References

Coleman, M. R., Gallagher, J. J., & Job, J. (2012). Developing and Sustaining Professionalism Within Gifted Education. Gifted Child Today, 35(1), 27-36. Retrieved November 3, 2012, from http://web.ebscohost.com.cucproxy.cuchicago.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cc5cdf02-7afd-4601-91d2-3635e67dff35%40sessionmgr104&vid=8&hid=113

DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., & Many, T. (2010). Learning by doing: a handbook for professional learning communities at work (Second ed.). Bloomington, Ind.: Solution Tree.