1% Classroom Walks: Why Quick Visits Matter More Than You Think

A classroom walk isn’t about appraisal. It’s not about clipboards or checklists. It’s about taking the pulse of your campus. Two to three minutes in each classroom, every day. 

On the surface, it seems small. You step in. You step out. Teachers hardly notice. 

But here’s why it matters: 

• You’re visible to students and staff, building trust through presence. 

• You’re scanning for safety, behavior, and learning conditions. 

• You’re noticing instruction in action—how questioning is used, how much time is spent on worksheets versus hands-on learning, and how engaged students are. 

• You’re connecting dots across classrooms, then using those insights in conversations with counselors, custodians, and your leadership team. 

• Most importantly, you’re giving teachers immediate feedback. A compliment here. A quick adjustment there. Those small nudges compound. Teachers improve 1% each day, and that momentum changes a school. 

It’s not about being in classrooms for long stretches. It’s about being consistent, visible, and intentional. That’s the work that shifts a culture.