PLC in the Elementary School

I have little experience in working in an elementary school, so much in this chapter of Dufour's book did not apply to me as a high school teacher.  There were some truths, however, that apply to all educational levels.  The fact that there was difficulty getting students to stay after school for remediation is a common thread, with excuses of transportation problems and other activities.  The school that was used as a role model, Boone's Mill Elementary in Virginia, had to identify essential outcomes.  A brief description was given of the SOL tests administered in the state of Virginia and the word "rigorous" was used to describe them.  At this point in my reading, I had to pause to reflect since I live and teach in Virginia and I know from my own experience that these tests are not at all rigorous.  In fact, the cut scores demonstrate the lack of rigor on these tests, proving that they are indeed meant for "minimum competency" so that all students can pass and federal dollars will still flow freely to the state.  That said, it is commendable that BMES took measures to make sure that all of their students were being reached at whatever level they started.  The most interesting part of this chapter in the book dealt with tutoring and assistance offered by volunteers, including parents, grandparents, college students and others.  This idea is one that should and could be implemented in any school that has struggling students.  Of course, I believe more volunteers would be lining up to work at an elementary school than a high school, but we should be willing to take whatever help we are offered whenever it is offered.  I also liked the idea of having workshops to train parents about what would be taught during each marking period, thus sharing the responsibility for the students' learning with the parents or guardians.  I think that ownership of the learning belongs with the students and the responsibility to help the child learn should be a joint venture between the teachers and the parents.  It is when all of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the teachers that the system begins to fail because the student does not feel any need to learn; after all, it is seen as the fault of the educator when learning does not occur.  In fact, the fault lies with the students, the parents and the school..they work together towards success or go separately into the abyss of failure.