and Virgel Hammonds, chief learning officer of KnowledgeWorks (www.knowledgeworks.org).
Last, and most important, we could not have undertaken the monumental task of putting our thoughts on paper without the endless support of our families and friends.
To my beautiful wife, Erica, you are and always will be my biggest cheerleader, my rock, and my best friend. To my children Brady, Cameron, Liam, Owen, and Zoey, dream the impossible and always remember that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. To my parents, Michael and Maria, thank you for your continual support, love, and inspiration along the way.
—Brian
Thank you, with love and gratitude, to my amazing wife, Stephanie. I am forever grateful to you for your love, support, and belief in me. And to Grace, Garrett, and Will, for being the beautiful and wonderful people you are. You each inspire me to be the best person I can be, and I am blessed to learn from and grow with each of you every day. Thank you, as well, to my mom, Linda, my sisters, Wendy and Amy, and to Brian, Nathaniel, James, and Judith for your unending support and love. And to Dad, who still guides me and always will.
—Jon
Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:
Rick Bell
Assistant Principal
New Prague Middle School
New Prague, Minnesota
Paul Cone Jr.
Middle School Principal
Canisteo-Greenwood Central School
Canisteo, New York
Julie Delaney
Principal
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School
Davenport, Iowa
Tim Garcia
Principal
McCook Elementary School
McCook, Nebraska
Brig Leane
Principal
Fruita Middle School
Fruita, Colorado
Michael Roberts
Principal
Desert View Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon
Ryan Rydstrom
Associate Principal
Prairie Point Middle School and Ninth-Grade Academy
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Justin Syroka
Principal
Cheshire Elementary School
Delaware, Ohio
Cindy Washinowski
Principal
West Middle School
Sioux City, Iowa
Visit go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks to download the free reproducibles in this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Reproducible pages are in italics.
by Chris Sturgis, Cofounder, CompetencyWorks
1 Understanding the Components of an Effective Competency-Based Learning System
A Definition of Competency-Based Learning
Competencies That Address Important Skills and Dispositions
2 Building the Foundation of a Competency-Based Learning System Through PLCs
The Four Critical Questions of a PLC and Competency-Based Learning
The Three Big Ideas of a PLC
Reflection Questions
3 Developing Competencies and Progressions to Guide Learning
The Relationship Among Competencies, Standards, and Learning Progressions
Grain Size
Multiple Pathways
Competency Development
Learning Progressions and Grading
Embedded Professional Development to Support Understanding of Learning Progressions
Shared Understanding Through Vertical Teams
Project-Based Learning and Competencies
Reflection Questions
4 Changing to Competency-Friendly Grading Practices
The Flaws of the Traditional Grading System
Essential Grading Practices of a Competency-Based Learning System
The Need to Change Grading Practices Over Time
Reflection Questions
