Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Importance Of Conducting Classroom Walkthroughs

By Ines Flores


Conducting classroom dry runs is an excellent procedure for getting an overall idea of instruction in the school. Although naturally brief, these dry runs produce data patterns in terms of the different opportunities to meet the different interests and skills of the students, the types of work the students produce, levels of student engagement and instructional procedures that teachers use. These data patterns can be shared with the faculty to serve as a basis for discussion about how to increase student achievement and meet the needs of students.

Classroom visits and giving feedback to teachers can either build a competent culture of nonstop development and learning or create a setting that is filled with suspicion and resentment. Nevertheless, the stand of the school administrators will be the basis for the outcome. Just like when the feedback coming from the school administrators and principals can boost the confidence level and growth of the teachers if their classroom walkthroughs are conducted to focus on positive and meaningful practices rather than on the negative ones.

Runthroughs are utilized by school principals as well as administrators to recognize the good effort exerted by the teacher as well as invite them to a professional discussion. This is certainly an effective way for them to get data. Questions are one type of value-added feedback. For instance, school principals as well as administrators those teachers they observed if there are more methods or ways to make certain that students will become successful in content learning as well as application.

It cannot be denied that there is room for improvement in any school. The dry run procedure is an excellent way to help administrators and teachers to improve their job especially in increasing the students' learning opportunities.

Still, this method can be undermined by paying attention to small criticisms or taking some things for granted without acquiring more information about what the teachers have in mind as well as how they measure student success. The efficiency of such runthroughs depend on the respect that administrators give out to the roles of teachers as well as to the environment they intend to create.

The situation in the lecture area should be safe at all times and this is one thing that should be given ample attention. Unfortunately, there are instances when a student may cause learning distraction or put fellow students at risk. The school administrators and principals may even find students being isolated or excluded from the class.

Such situation should be dealt with right away. Intervention will be required just like having a talk with the teacher after class in order to stop problematic behaviors and ensure such practices are eliminated. Follow-up visits will be required the next day.

The understanding of school leaders should be increased especially in terms of what is going on in the classroom. Being more reflective and supporting good practice are also important. The professional culture of the school can be improved by increasing the sense of common purpose and trust. These can only be achieved by getting and sharing dry run data in a way that a positive outcome can be accomplished.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment