Podcast - Teacher Podcast - Episode 19: How to Be an Effective Contributor in Your Teacher PLC - teacher plc
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Episode 19: How to Be an Effective Contributor in Your Teacher PLC

Joining a teacher PLC is like joining a family. Sometimes you fit right in and seamlessly work your way into the group. Other times, it feels like you’re the out-of-place-in-law wondering how you ended up surrounded by such dysfunction.

Any time someone new joins a teacher PLC, there are growing pains and dynamics shift in order to accommodate all the members. Joining a PLC that has been working together for several years can be challenging, whether you’re a brand new teacher or just a new member of the group.

In this episode, we talk about what you can do to ensure you are an effective contributor in your teacher PLC.

How to Be a Superstar in Your Teacher PLC

Who doesn’t want to be the darling of the teacher PLC? Here are some of the suggestions we offer to up your PLC IQ. Be sure to listen to the full episode for all the details.

  • Have a voice. Show you want to contribute to the team.
  • Be kind and respectful, but stand firm about what’s important to you.
  • Be willing to compromise or find common ground.
  • Be a problem solver.
  • Be honest about what you will and won’t do or use in your classroom.
  • Offer to contribute rather than waiting for someone to “assign” you a task.
  • Be willing to have your work edited or commented on, and be willing to edit or comment on the work of others.
  • Figure out what unique strengths you have that can benefit the PLC and then offer them to the team.
  • Learn to appreciate other teammates’ strengths and be willing to (within reason) overlook their weaknesses.
  • Try to build positive relationships. Teaching is hard. We all need encouragement.
  • If you need help with something ask for it.
  • Start small and manageable.
A strong teacher PLC allows you to grow and develop as a professional.

A strong, effective teacher PLC is invaluable to the longevity of your career. If you approach all your interactions with that in mind, you’ll be so much more willing to make it work with your PLC.

Related Teacher PLC Content

We find it beneficial to spend a little time norming our grading within our PLC, especially when we assign the same work. Teachers have PLCs, but so do students . . . they’re always comparing notes about teachers! Not only does norming help to ensure consistency and equity, students also appreciate it, especially at the high school level. For better or worse, they are in competition with one another, and we want to make sure we’re providing a level playing field.