Designing PLPs Module Session

It was helpful to have an introduction to the PLP legislation which I had not read before. Here is a quote from the State Doc that I found particularly interesting:

While the requirement for PLPs applies to grades 7 through 12, Act 77 also makes it clear that the Legislature believes that “personalized learning and personalized instructional approaches are critical to students in kindergarten through grade 6 as well.” It is also clear that the Legislature has placed the emphasis not on the plan as documentation, but on the planning process. The definition of PLP includes “documentation of an evolving plan developed on behalf of a student in an ongoing process involving a secondary student, a representative of the school, and, if the student is a minor, the student’s parents or legal guardian and updated at least annually by November 30 … ”.

I chose this to pull out of the document because I like the way it addresses the lower grades. That is support for me and my work as I think that the earlier this work starts the better off the students will be when the stakes get higher. It has also helped me think of how this is reducing the divide between Elementary and Middle levels in our building.

It's not about what the PLP will look like but always keeping in mind what it is for! This quote from the session is meaningful as I get more clarity about the work I want students doing. I'm moving away from the format and the idea that it is a portfolio process, and learning to keep in mind the important work that thinking about your thinking is.

Keep in mind the 3 key pieces of the PLP puzzle...About Me, Goals, Reflection

Transferable Skills get covered with authentic activities

I did not have intentional sharing of goals with families last year. Nor did I encourage conversation with parents and their children to the extent that it could have happened. The fact that sharing PLPs with parents is in the law...it needs to be a bigger part of my relationships with parents not just for the law but for increasing individualized teaching.