Activity Directions: Beliefs, Principles, and Assumptions about Professional Learning

1. Schedule leadership team members to participate.

2. Review the “Principles we live by” handout for grounding the team.

3. Make copies or give participants access to handouts.

a. Handout: Principles We Live By

b. Handout: Professional learning beliefs that underlie assumptions

4. Provide flip chart and markers

1. Share the “Principles we live by” reading (can be read to team or projected at the beginning of meeting.)

2. Divide team into small groups (3-4 people)

3. Distribute Activity Handout: Professional Learning Beliefs that underlie Assumptions or accessible link for the activity.

4. Have participants complete the individual beliefs column with their personal thoughts on what the area means and how it might be achieved. Add other areas as desired or invite individuals to add their own areas.

5. Share individual assumptions in small groups.

6. As a small group, complete the “Small Group Beliefs” column recording a shared understanding.

7. Bring the large group back together to share observations. Record the overlaps and differences. Invite members to inquire about overlap areas to seek clarity. Invite those with differences to advocate for them. Invite others to inquire about them.

8. Build consensus on the assumption areas and create statements to guide future planning for professional learning.

1. Make copies or give participants access to handouts.

a. Activity Handout: Professional learning assumptions

1. Distribute Activity Handout: Professional Learning Assumptions or accessible link for the activity.

2. Have participants individually review the assumption statements and identify their level of agreement.

3. Have participants individually identify how these assumptions are carried out in the current system.

4. Discuss and record any assumptions that the team sees as areas for improvement.

5. Use this information for further professional learning planning.