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.