Why Classroom Walkthroughs Are Important In Younger Grades

Some high schools conduct classroom walkthroughs as ways to evaluate the degree to which the teacher has control of the classroom, and even to check in on how students are behaving. While there's value that comes out of this event, classroom walkthroughs shouldn't just take place when students are older. If you're a school administrator, it's highly advantageous to have classroom walkthroughs of the younger grades, too. Here are some reasons that this practice can be a good one for your younger students.

It Demonstrates An Interest 

Children in the younger grades might be intrigued about why a school administrator has visited their classroom, but they might not think to ask questions about this visit. Still, in the back of a child's mind, he or she will know that someone from the administration department is checking in on the class and is thus interested in the classroom's progression. This is especially true if the administrator takes some time to talk to some of the students. It's important for students to feel respected by the school's administration and that the administrators are taking an active interest in each child's education. Starting your walkthroughs in the younger grades can achieve this goal.

It Forms Connections

Often, younger children don't know anyone in the school's administration department. Unless a child is sent to the office, he or she might not get a chance to meet the school's administrators. A walkthrough allows there to be some level of connection between the administration and the children, which is ideal. As the students get older, they may learn to greet the administrators by name when encountering them in the hallways of the school. A child who is struggling in some area may even be keen on speaking to an administrator and asking for help, all because of the classroom walkthrough creating this connection many years earlier.

It Emphasizes Positive Habits

When a young child has multiple authority figures saying the same message, there's a better chance that the message will get through. This is one of the reasons that teachers appreciate when parents are on the same page with them. When an administrator enters the classroom and perhaps talks to a few students about the value of homework or makes a comment that specifically relates to something that the classroom is working on, this can have a positive impact on the children. A comment as simple as something about study habits may be something that the students carry with them through the older grades.