Walkthroughs

Walkthoughs

When we think about being self-aware, it is important to not just look at our personal needs, as important as that is, it is important to look at our practice as well. We need to be self-aware of who we are as a teacher. Do you take the time to reflect on your day? Your week? A unit? Are we the type of teacher we want to be? Are we the type of teacher our students need us to be? If you are reflecting- GREAT! What do you do with the answer? Do you say yes and move on? Do you take the information you collect from your reflection and grow? If we are not growing, we are not being the best we can be. It is important to look at our practice and find ways to improve. As educators, we need to be aware of our needs both personally and professionally. Are your professional needs being met? Are you receiving the professional development you need? Are you receiving the professional support you need? If not, who have you reached out to? I hope you feel comfortable to share your needs with your principal. Part of the principal’s job is to meet the needs of their teachers. Part of how I gather data to see where the needs of the campus are is through walkthroughs.

Teachers often feel nervous when visitors walk into their room. “Will my students be on their best behavior?” “Will they answer the guest’s question correctly?” “Which student will the guest select to talk to?” “What are they looking for?” These are just some of the questions that might run through a teacher’s mind when visitors walk into their room. I want to change that culture. I want the teacher to be excited when someone comes in. I want them to know there is no negative intention in the visit. The intent of the visitor is to help the teacher grow, to help the campus grow, and ultimately to help the students grow.

There are several different reasons we have visitors in our rooms:
                One: An administrative walkthrough- The administrative team is walking classrooms to see what is going on in classes, giving feedback to teachers, talking to students to see what they are learning, looking for trends on the campus, and looking for our own next steps. These are the most common walkthroughs here at Lance. We get into classrooms to gather data and give feedback.

Two: Teacher walkthroughs- Whether it is a new teacher or an experienced teacher, they are looking to grow as an educator, and they are observing examples of specific strategies that will help them grow. We have amazing teachers that are extremely talented. We will use our own resources in order to grow in our craft. For example, if a new teacher is working on learning Guided Math Groups, then they will go watch a teacher that is skilled in Guided Math Groups. They will take notes, talk with the person walking with them, and possibly follow up with questions to the teacher. Basically, sometimes we just need to see someone do it with our own kids.

                Three: District walkthroughs- Often times we will have district visitors walking the campus. This can be Principal Learning Teams, district administrators, or an administrator PLC. These all have specific purposes as well. Principal Learning Teams are designed to help campus administrators look at their campus from a new perspective. It is intended to push us as leaders to reach the goals we have set as a campus. Administrator PLC, either AP or Principal, are learning opportunities for all administrators involved.

                Four: Out of District walkthroughs- We are often asked to allow neighboring districts to bring teachers to observe the amazing learning that is happening on our campus. These walkthroughs may not come with feedback for the teacher; the focus is for the visitor’s own learning and growth. They may follow up with questions regarding your lesson.

                Five: T-Tess- This is the only evaluative walkthrough we do. This walkthrough comes with some flexibility and choice of when the observation is completed. You schedule it with us, so you get to choose the class we observe. This evaluation is designed to help you grow as a teacher as well. It is a piece of the T-Tess process.

Walkthroughs are one of the best parts of being a principal! Being in the classroom and giving feedback to teachers to help them grow in their craft, talking to students to listen to their learning, and being able to watch the amazing “aha” moments that happen in your rooms.

John Hattie states that building collective efficacy as a staff has a significant effect size on student learning. One of the ways we build collective efficacy is to start with self-efficacy. We need to see our strengths before we are able to effectively contribute to a team. A way we do this is by learning with and through each other in walkthroughs.

When someone comes into your room, use your positive presupposition and use it as a growing opportunity. We are a staff that is flexible, innovative, and student centered. No matter which student they talk to, no matter if they walk in right after you have taught the mini lesson and explained the instructions, no matter if they missed the students share their incredible thinking- reflect on the feedback given. They only saw a piece of the lesson and they are looking through a different perspective than you, is there something they saw that could make the lesson stronger?