If you’re a school principal, then you know just how important it is to be involved in the day-to-day workings of your campus. One of the best ways to do this is to conduct regular classroom walkthroughs. When principals conduct walkthroughs on a frequent basis, positive outcomes occur for all stakeholders on their campuses. The school becomes a true learning community, and everyone—from teachers and students to parents and administrators—reaps the benefits.
Stakeholder Benefit #1: Students Benefit from Increased Instructional Time
When principals take the time to walk through classrooms on a regular basis, they get an up-close and personal look at what’s happening in each one. This allows them to identify any areas where instructional time is being wasted. For example, if a teacher is spending too much time talking instead of teaching, or if students are spending too much time transitioning between activities, the principal can work with the teacher to make some changes. As a result, students benefit from increased instructional time—which means they learn more!
Stakeholder Benefit #2: Teachers Benefit from Improved Morale and Job Satisfaction
Another stakeholder group that benefits from frequent classroom walkthroughs is teachers. When principals take an active interest in their classrooms, teachers feel valued and appreciated. This increased sense of job satisfaction can lead to improved morale—which is essential for keeping good teachers on staff. In addition, when principals provide feedback to teachers after walkthroughs, it gives them an opportunity to improve their practice. This can also lead to increased job satisfaction as teachers see their own professional growth.
Stakeholder Benefit #3: Parents Benefit from Improved Communication and Transparency
Frequent classroom walkthroughs also benefit parents by increasing communication and transparency between home and school. When parents know that the principal is regularly checking in on classrooms, they feel reassured that their child is getting a quality education. In addition, when principals share information about what they’re seeing in classrooms with parents, it allows for more open communication about their child’s schooling. This increased transparency is beneficial for everyone involved.
There are many reasons why principals should conduct regular classroom walkthroughs. When they do, positive outcomes occur for all stakeholders on their campuses—including students, teachers, and parents. Classroom walkthroughs help increase instructional time, morale and job satisfaction among teachers, and communication and transparency between home and school. All of these benefits make conducting regular classroom walkthroughs well worth the effort
