Classroom Walkthrough Tips for School Leaders
A guide to making quick, 5-10 minute classroom walkthroughs count.
5-10 min
A School Staff Exercise: Start, Stop, Continue
A start, stop, continue template that invites big conversations.
Alissa Christensen
A 15-minute team exercise that surfaces fresh ideas, clears out what's not working, and celebrates what's already going great.
Why try it
When staff have a structured, safe way to share feedback, great ideas stop staying bottled up. Start, Stop, Continue gives everyone a voice in shaping your building's culture — and gives you a clear, actionable snapshot of what your team actually needs. It's a simple ritual that builds trust, reduces friction, and shows your staff that their perspective genuinely moves things forward.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Set the stage
Tell your team you want their honest input on simple things you can do as a building to improve. Frame it as a no-pressure brainstorm, all ideas are welcome and nothing is too small.
2
Create the cards
Choose which printable works best for your team and hand them out during a staff meeting for staff to fill out.
3
Collect input anonymously
Ask every staff member to fill out one response per category. Collect them anonymously, tape an envelope to your door or set out a box. Anonymous input means more honest input.
4
Review and decide
Read through all responses and choose one or two ideas from each category to act on. You don't have to do everything suggested, just focus on what's most impactful and realistic right now.
5
Communicate the decision
Close the loop with your team. Share what you heard, what you're acting on, and why. When staff see their feedback turn into real action, they'll trust the process and look forward to the next one.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Digital version
Use a Google Form instead of cards for teams that prefer digital input or work across multiple buildings.
Poster version
Print the included posters and hang them around the room. Give staff sticky notes and five minutes to add their responses under each category. It's a quick, visual way to get everyone contributing right away.
Classroom edition
Adapt the exercise for teachers to use with students to gather feedback on classroom culture and routines.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep the tone positive
Frame them as things that have run their course, not failures. If you're keeping something despite pushback, use it as a chance to explain the why to your team.
Leader Tip #2
Celebrate wins with the whole team
Since responses are anonymous, share what's working publicly at a staff meeting so everyone knows their collective voice made a difference.
Leader Tip #3
Add items to the list yourself
Modeling openness as a leader makes it safer for everyone else to be honest.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Alpaca Pulse Check-In
Turn insights into action
With just three simple questions, Alpaca's Pulse Check-In helps school leaders listen to their teams and act where support is needed most.
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