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=//**Doing Whatever It Takes at Pinson Valley High: How WE Respond When Kids Don't Learn**//=

A Professional Book Study by the Teachers of Pinson Valley High School Spring Semester 2009

 **//What is it?//** Professional book talks are: **//Why is it important?//** A professional book talk is important because: **//When is it useful?//** Professional book talks are used when **//How is it used?//** The professional book talk process includes:
 * An opportunity for educators to engage in professional discourse around a specific topic of teaching and learning.
 * Individuals committed to reading and discussing a selected book, guided by the question: "How will this book influence professional practices at both the classroom and school level?"
 * It initiates the opportunity to examine and discuss a professional topic selected by a cohort of peers.
 * It encourages school-wide community dialogue on diverse educational issues that impact student achievement.
 * It maintains staff interest in contemporary issues, topics, programs, and educational theory.
 * It offers the opportunity to constructively contribute to school identified areas of interest.
 * It offers a supportive environment for staff members to engage in job-embedded practices for personal and professional growth.
 * A group of educators wish to explore a topic in which they all share a common interest.
 * There is a need to examine and discuss a school-wide issue lending to changing a practice or implementing a new instructional focus.
 * There is a need to bring staff together to examine/study a topic from different perspectives.
 * Identifying a topic, reviewing and selecting a book for study.
 * Engaging in formal and informal dialogues around specific content in the book.
 * Presenting information from a specific perspective designed by an individual or small group.
 * Studying in order to make recommendations to impact instruction for promoting student achievement.