RTC COLLEGIAL LEARNING CIRCLES
CALL FOR PROPOSALS!

2012

Meaningful professional development for teachers has been found to be job embedded, teacher-driven, and focused on actual student work. Teachers in individual schools or across disciplines coming together to learn from examination of their students’ work is one of the most valuable forms of professional development. The Rochester Teacher Center, Rochester Teachers Association, and the Rochester City School District are encouraging this kind of professional learning among teachers. In order to facilitate ongoing, collegial development initiatives, the RTC is pleased to offer support for teams of teachers wishing to form or formalize Collegial Learning Circles. Collegial learning circles are small groups of learners who are engaged in their own professional development and are gathered to support each other’s learning.

Funds are intended to support efforts that engage educators in reflection and growth, keep content and pedagogical knowledge current, and improve culturally responsive child-centered instructional practices to result in increased student learning. These efforts may take any of the following topics.

• classroom application of new learning;
• work with parents and families or consultants;
• peer observations and coaching;
• classroom demonstration lessons;
• materials development and curriculum writing;
• examination, sharing, and discussion of student work; and
• connecting parents/families to the curriculum.

Up to $700 will be available to support the work of the circle. In addition, facilitators of each collegial learning circle will receive a stipend of $650. Circles focused on English language arts and math learning that reflect culturally responsive student-centered pedagogies will be eligible to receive additional support from specialists in these fields.

Facilitators will be responsible for:

• attending and participating in facilitator preparation and support seminars from 4-6 p.m., Jan 26, Feb 14, April 3, April 26, and Sat, May 12  (9 a.m.-12 p.m.);
• facilitating a group compact that outlines the group’s agreement regarding purpose, meeting schedule, final product, and method of evaluating expectations;
• ensuring regular communication among members of the collegial learning circle;
• coordinating or compiling a final group product; and
• completing and submitting  the circle’s self assessment.

Circle members will be awarded professional development hours upon completion of circle commitments and products. Circle members are also eligible to receive compensation for participating in any of the RTC conferences: Looking at Teacher Work, Parent/Teacher and Community Education Forum, Institute on Teaching and Learning Informed by Cultural Knowledge (Dates will be posted on the RTC website)

Attached is the application form for the RTC Collegial Learning Circle grants. Grants will be awarded based on their ability to contribute to effective practice and enhanced knowledge.

The deadline for submission of proposals is December 9, 2011. All projects must be completed by May 11, 2012. Have questions or want to discuss your ideas? Please contact Susan Goodwin, RTC Director at 262-8080 or at.