2.4 Conserving Mental Bandwidth for Classroom Walkthroughs
Module Progress
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I need to eliminate the expectation of providing brilliant feedback and just focus on having a presence in the classroom.
Shaun Cleary
Assistant Principal
I need to eliminate the homework. It is definitely a barrier. Emailing my notes before leaving the room would simplify the process and ensure that the teachers hear from me without me having to draft a more formal write-up or schedule meetings with everyone.
Tosha-Lyn Francis
Principal
At this time, the complication that I feel I have is cognitive demand. For the days ahead I will need to consider that I need to leave the room with little to no homework.
Bonita Hayward-Demmons
Principal
Currently I'm using a form. I would like to eliminate the form and go to using the notecards that you provided.
Dr. Hipolita Hernandez-Sicignano
Principal
Keeping it simple and using the notecards will help streamline the documentation process.
Joe Santicerma
Principal
I am creating a roadblock by expecting there to be explicit feedback every time I go into a classroom. I get into the rooms but then nothing more happens on my end. I have tried a few simple feed back forms - but that was not the solution for me.
Lee Barrios
Principal
It is important to focus on being present in the moment, and not focus on note taking.
Christine Larson
Assistant Principal
Providing feedback. It is okay if there is not a lot to say or the feedback is not amazing. I just need to focus on being present and paying attention to what actually is going on.
Nadia Luenig
Assistant Principal
I need to allow myself to not have brilliant feedback every time I enter a classroom. I also need to remember that I don't have to have a post conference every time either. Just get into classrooms.
Deanna Albert
Assistant Principal
Not give myself the homework. I think I find that I want to make sure my walkthrough is thorough and productive for the teacher so I make it harder on myself.
Katy Rohr
Director of Early Childhood
I need to work on building my mental bandwidth. Days when I am mentally prepared I do great. When I feel off mentally or emotionally I struggle to get i to classrooms. I also need to put in place systems to get me out of my office. I know I shouldn't but I allow myself to get stuck there.
Lisa Henline
Principal
Mary Baker
Principal
Whoa...Justin...your one-liner of "Perfection is the enemy of the good" definitely hit between the eyes! That is probably my biggest problem with mental bandwidth overall. I definitely need to manage my expectations for myself to have brilliant feedback for someone, when meaningful will do. And, I love the idea of leaving the room having an email sent, and absolutely no "homework" for myself. Those two things would be freeing!
Donna Spangler
Instructional Coaching Department Chair
Don't go into the classroom with Einstein approach. Be present!
Nicholas Edwards
Principal
"Just Do It" don't have to be perfect
Marc DeMarco
Director of Special Services
I need to eliminate the need to always have a suggestion or comment. I also need to make sure if I want to say something, I do it immediately, as leaving it to be done later just creates a longer To Do list.
Geanna Trelease
Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for Special Education
This is what I needed to hear. "Perfect is the enemy of the good." I have always felt like I needed to have "Einstein Level" feedback for my teachers which has kept me out of the classroom. I appreciate the simplicity of "being present and pay attention." I can do this!!
Angie Rasmussen
School Director
I do not have complications. I am ready to go!
Jeff Salmeri
ELA Supervisor
I need to remove the written notification or the form to be filled out, or really just remove the idea that I need to document everything. I have been told so many times that I need to document every interaction I have with a teacher that the idea of not doing that is a mental barrier for me. I feel like if i can get past that I will be able to be successful with my walkthroughs.
Anthony Egan
Assistant Principal
Being present and not distracted. I go in with the best intentions but sometimes my role gets in the way- either the lesson flow stops as soon as I walk in or my phone starts with other issues.
Beth Fischer
Assistant Superintendent
While I rarely use a form, I have been trying to log visits into our district platform. I need to find a way to reduce that piece while keeping up with district expectations. I also need to minimize expectations. I feel like I'm not doing my job if I don't have a complex email to send so I need to allow myself to see the notes as sufficient.
Ximena Rodriguez
Assistant Principal
I need to eliminate forms and don’t hold myself to always having something insightful to say during a walkthrough. I like the idea of emailing notes before leaving the classroom, which I would typically do with my form so the teachers got some form of feedback, even if it was a smiley face.
Tanya Newell
Principal
For me to eliminate or to free up my mental bandwidth. I need to eliminate the homework that I'm giving myself afterwards. So I really like that. Idea of when you leave the classroom be done. I think that's great. I have moved away from forms this year already, which I think feels good that resonates for me. Nobody really likes having a form filled out about them. I've switched to sending more informal emails after the fact and that works for me.
However, right now in my routine, I do that, you know, I go back to my office and at some point during the day, so maybe I've done a couple of classrooms in a row or maybe I do a classroom on the way to the cafeteria for lunch duty and then the next, you know, the next free, 15 minutes or so that I have, that's when I send the email. So I think that's going to take a little bit of practice on my part. It might feel a little bit awkward sitting at the back of the room. Sending that email before I go, but I think it just takes practice and that's what I have to do.
I also have to think about being okay, with not having that much to say sometimes, and I think I'm more comfortable with that now than I was in my first years as a principal. I've got the relationships with my team. I've got those tools already in place. So it's okay to say, hey, you know what? I'm just cruising through. Thanks. I really enjoyed the lesson today, but I think sometimes I still fight that urge to feel like I have to say something profound.
Aimmie Kellar
Principal
I need to eliminate the idea that every teacher needs a follow up or post conference after going into a classroom.
Jill Talewsky
Supervisor of Mathematics
I'm excited to start using notecards.
Dr. Hipolita Hernandez-Sicignano
Principal
I feel like I have to leave explicit feedback for the teachers.
Estelle Benson
Principal
At this time I am not taking written notes as I do my walkthroughs. If o see something that needs to be addressed , When I return to my office , I email the teacher to come see me regarding my visit. Having a way to immediately email them before leaving the class would save me time when I return to my office.
Eloisa Acevedo
Principal
Limiting homework, unnecessary homework to do after the observation is one area that I need to improve in. And sending feedback or notes right away is one strategy that I plan on implementing, moving forward and understanding that not every teacher requires feedback. The guy that I work with is actually Mr. Lee.
Khalid Oluewu
Principal/Lead Learner
