Three Reasons Classsroom Walkthroughs And Observations Are Ideal For Parents
If you are the parent of a child who is in school or will be in the near future, it is worth your time to consider the value of a classroom observation during the year. You should also aim to complete a classroom walkthrough at the beginning of the school year. Walkthroughs are also ideal if an unexpected event occurs during the school year that results in you needing to send your child to a new school. Some parents mistakenly think that educators will think that they are being bothersome if they request a classroom observation. However, in most private and public school settings, parents are welcomed to make the request. Some schools may require a classroom observation form to be completed in advance. Others may welcome drop-ins. The following points will help you to understand how these options benefit parents, teachers, and students:
Familiarity
A classroom walkthrough will allow you to familiarize yourself with the set-up of your child's class. This is important if your child is in elementary or preschool and will spend most of the school day in the same classroom. It will also help your child to get an advance view of where their desk and other important areas of the classroom are located. Classroom observations will allow you to become familiar with how your child's day typically goes.
Behavior
Some parents decide to request classroom observations when there are behavior issues reported by teachers or administrators. These concerns are not always aggressive behavior. For example, it might be a concern if a student is often sleepy in class. The parent may want to witness this themselves. Sometimes children may have some behaviors such as excessive talking that also occur. Parents may want to visit the classrooms of their children in an effort to encourage their children to act responsibly. Observations may also be allowed for good behavior or during testing. If you request a classroom observation during testing, aim to not be a distraction. If possible, do not sit in close proximity to your child. You might be a distraction or make them nervous, which could negatively impact the outcome of the test results.
Curriculum
Perhaps you are a parent who wants to know how to better help your child with their homework. Many parents have forgotten some of the academic principles they learned in school because they have not "set foot" in a classroom in many years. By observing the way your child's teacher teaches important concepts, you will be better equipped to help your child with homework.
