Get to the heart of essential PLC work when you implement the 15-day challenge for unit planning and design. This book offers a step-by-step process for collaborative teams that builds on the three big ideas and four critical questions of a PLC at Work®. In each chapter, you’ll find practical actions for how to support all students in mastering essential learning standards. This book will help K–12 collaborative teams: Establish essential learning standards and design common assessments with easy-to-use templates - Utilize Tier 2 intervention plans that address learning gaps year-round - Reflect with colleagues at each step of the process by assessing strengths and weaknesses in crucial PLC skills - Glean insights from educators seasoned in the 15-day unit structure with real-world elementary and secondary examples - Create a collaborative, cohesive PLC culture Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Overview of the 15-Day Challenge Chapter 2: Identify Standards to Teach for a 15-Day Unit of Study (Step 1) Chapter 3: Unpack Standards (Step 2) Chapter 4: Prioritize Standards Into Three Categories (Step 3) Chapter 5: Create Common Formative Assessments (Step 4) Chapter 6: Pace and Design the Unit (Step 5) Chapter 7: Plan Tier 2 Intervention and Extension While Pacing and Designing the Unit (Step 6) Chapter 8: Teach the Unit and Act On the Data (Step 7) Chapter 9: Sustain the Process With a Yearlong (and Beyond) Pacing Guide Epilogue Appendix: Sample 15-Day Challenge Unit Plans References and Resources Index “Here it is—what teams and teachers across the United States have been asking for! Maria Nielsen has provided a clear unit-by-unit structure supported by protocols and examples to focus and support teams on their PLC journey. She has made what can become very complex doable!” -- Julie A. Schmidt , superintendent, Kildeer Countryside School District 96, Illinois “Maria Nielsen has created a practical and comprehensive road map for any school that wants to move from rhetoric to action. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in truly enhancing their impact on student learning.” -- Anthony Muhammad , author and education expert “Maria has given practical and realistic methods and tools to achieve efficiency and efficacy. This book truly embraces the spirit of continuous improvement and will benefit readers at every stage of the collaborative process.” -- Casey Ahner , education expert, Los Lunas Schools, New Mexico Maria Nielsen is an educational speaker and author who specializes in supporting teachers and administrators in the areas of professional learning communities (PLCs), response to intervention (RTI), school culture, curriculum design, the highly engaged classroom, and assessment systems. She works with state departments, colleges, districts, schools, and teacher teams across the United States. She has also presented internationally at the PLC at Work© Institute in Shanghai, China. Her passion is helping schools build successful systems to ensure high levels of student learning. Maria has been a classroom teacher and administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Utah since 1983. Maria was first introduced to PLCs as an assistant principal at Mountain Crest High School, when she attended her first PLC at Work Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. She immediately embraced this commonsense approach to the science of teaching. As a principal, Maria helped Millville Elementary earn state and national recognition as a high-progress, high-achievement Title I school. Solution Tree named Millville a national Model PLC at Work school in 2012. Maria was named the 2007 Utah Behavior Initiatives Principal of the Year. In 2010, she received the distinguished Huntsman Award for excellence in education. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Utah State University. She also earned an administrator certificate with a school principal (K–12) endorsement from Idaho State University.