Growing Together

Developing and Sustaining a Community of Practice in Early Childhood

Kathi Gillaspy, Megan Vinh, Nancy Surbrook-Goins, Sarah Nichols

• Publisher: Gryphon House Inc.
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780876598306
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

Communities of practice are an age-old phenomenon representing teamwork. Whether it's researchers developing treatments for a disease, artists collaborating to create a new art form, or educators sharing best practices to enhance early childhood learning, communities of practice are about connection and shared purpose. Growing Together: Developing and Sustaining a Community of Practice in Early Childhood will help you define, create, and promote a community of practice to foster collaborative problem solving and enhance professional learning experiences. You will learn key strategies and techniques to help you:

• Develop a shared vision and structure
• Leverage tools to invite members and build a community
• Build member engagement and investment
• Master facilitation and evaluation strategies for ongoing professional learning

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Defining a Community of Practice

Chapter 2

Creating a Community of Practice

Chapter 3

Building the Framework

Chapter 4

Facilitation Strategies

Chapter 5

Assessing a Community of Practice

Chapter 6

Using Evaluation to Enhance a Community of Practice

Appendix A: Creating Space for
Mutual Engagement, Joint Enterprise, and a Shared Repertoire

Appendix B: Structure and Formatting Considerations for Your Community of Practice

Appendix C: Logistics Checklist for a Virtual Community of Practice

Appendix D: Logistics Checklist for an
In-Person Community of Practice

Appendix E: Sample Annual
Needs-Assessment and Impact Survey

Appendix F: Sample Annual Quality-Rating and Suggestion Survey

Appendix G: Sample Premeeting Registration Form and Survey

Appendix H: Sample Postmeeting Survey

References and Recommended Reading

Copyright

© 2019 Kathi Gillaspy, Megan Vinh, Nancy Surbrook-Goins, Sarah Nichols

Published by Gryphon House, Inc.

P. O. Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023

800.638.0928; 877.638.7576 (fax)

Visit us on the web at www.gryphonhouse.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or technical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States. Every effort has been made to locate copyright and permission information.

Cover image used under license from Shutterstock.

Library of Congress Control Number:2019943628

Bulk Purchase

Gryphon House books are available for special premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising use. Special editions or book excerpts also can be created to specifications. For details, call 800.638.0928.

Disclaimer

Gryphon House, Inc., cannot be held responsible for damage, mishap, or injury incurred during the use of or because of activities in this book. Appropriate and reasonable caution and adult supervision of children involved in activities and corresponding to the age and capability of each child involved are recommended at all times. Do not leave children unattended at any time. Observe safety and caution at all times.

Introduction

Who Should Use This Book?
We hope this book will be used by our partners in the field of early childhood, such as early interventionists, special educators, administrators, professional-development consultants, technical-assistance providers, program directors, teachers, child-care providers, students and professors of early childhood development and education, service coordinators, and home visitors. This book can be used by one person to explore or reflect individually, or it can be used by programs or teams to establish a community of practice (CoP). It can support preservice and in-service coursework to help prepare new early childhood professionals, to support practicing professionals in their daily work, and to assist state agencies in furthering professional learning in their locations. Most importantly, it can help individuals determine how a CoP can further their own learning and can provide them with the tools to begin one.

The Purpose of This Book
This book explains what a CoP is and how you can start one. Regardless of your job title or where you are in your professional career, you can create your own CoP with others who share your interests. This book discusses how to successfully begin, sustain, and facilitat...