Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Are Walkthroughs Just for the Classroom?

Today, I will be doing a walkthrough with my custodian and lead maintenance rep from the district.  This got me thinking.  Are there other areas I should be looking at besides the learning that is happening in the classrooms?  The obvious answer is yes.  The more difficult question is how to track and share that info with the staff (custodians, cafeteria staff, secretaries, EA’s, TA’s, and other abbreviationsJ). 

Today, despite the bigger question, I am going to focus on what areas we should be walking through.  In my next post, I will discuss some thoughts and ideas on how to track and share that data.

·         Before school bus, cafeteria, and playground areas:  As an administrator, it is important that you walkthrough and see these areas throughout the year.  Many students will face conflict issues because there is a higher concentration of students in unstructured time over a larger area.

·         Passing time:  Go out and see how kids walk in the hall.  Are they following the protocols taught at the beginning of the year?  Are they being safe?  Does staff watch the halls?  Are bathroom areas monitored?

·         Recess/Lunch:  Check the lunch line and drop off procedures.  Also, look at how students are dismissed from the cafeteria.  Is it orderly and safe?  Are students being responsible?  Do they have enough time to eat?  Once outside, are rules posted for games and different play structures?  When the bell rings, do students line up safely?  Are teachers picking up students in a timely manner? 

·         The Office:  What is the expectation for customer service at the front desk?  Is there an expectation for how the phone is answered?  Do visitors get recognized quickly?  What is the sign-in procedure for your school? 

·         After School:  This is the most confusing time of the day.  Kids that should have rode a bus end up walking with a friend, or parents forgot that someone else was picking up.  Therefore, it is imperative that there are clear expectations that are being followed through at the end of the day.  Also, be sure that pick-up procedures are communicated to parents. 

·         Safety Walkthrough:  This is the area that got me thinking…be sure to walkthrough with your lead custodian.  First, safety issues need to identified and fixed.  Next, look for issues that are making it hard for teachers to do their jobs.  Finally, identify cosmetic fixes that need to be taken care of…staff, students, and parents want to have pride in their school no matter the age. 

Please feel free to comment on areas that may have been missed and/or your thoughts.  I selected these areas because of safety and the effect on the culture of the school.  This is by no means a complete list, but it should get the creative juices flowing.