Communities That Learn, Lead, and Last: Building and Sustaining Educational Expertise

by Giselle O. Martin-Kniep

Communities That Learn, Lead, and Last offers a fresh and compelling perspective while providing practical guidance for schools and districts on how to develop "professional learning communities" that serve to instill educational ideals, share wisdom, improve practice, and enhance capacity across the system. Comprised of any combination of teachers, school leaders, staff developers, district personnel, and even students, professional learning communities, as described in this book, break new ground and challenge the status quo by focusing on the reconciliation of individual and organizational expertise, vision, and needs through a variety of collaborations, activities and projects?ranging from classroom-related work to broader issues of policy, leadership, and organizational improvement. Depending on their needs, maturity, purpose, and membership, professional learning communities can be centered on learning, leading, or lasting. Showing how such communities can become the means for improving teaching and learning, as well as promote and sustain educational innovations, the book maps out the community-building essentials, providing guidance, tools, and carefully crafted rubrics.

213 pages, Hardcover

First published December 4, 2007

Reviews

[Lyddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

In terms of the writing, Martin-Kniep seemed more interested in impressing than communicating clearly. Although she did address time-constraints, she was very idealistic about how people would approach and act in a professional learning community and glossed over important practical concerns.

She also wrote a few things that were quite off-putting. She asked "how can we begin to document increased loyalty and empathy?" Documenting someone's loyalty within a work environment doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Will we be required to take an oath? She also wants people's live to "revolve around" their work, as opposed to work being an important part of their lives.

There are more interesting articles about the topic. I'd look for those before reading this.

[Lisa]

Am reading this during the summer. This author is the leader of a conference that I attend twice a year. She has wonderful ideas about creating professional learning communities.