Often times teachers only think of counting their students when they are headed out on a field trip or going outdoors to play. But getting into the habit of counting children should start even when you are in the classroom all day!
Here are a few tips for keeping safe track of your students…
- Keep a folder or clipboard with a checklist of names of each of your students on it.
- Before leaving one room to go to another, look at each child’s face as you count him or her and place a check mark beside his or her name.
- Count the total number of children before leaving one location to go to another and before returning from one location to go to another.
- Walk backwards and face the children as you lead them from one place to another so you can make sure no child decides to stop and fix a shoe or runs off for any reason at all.
- If you have more than one teacher, place one teacher at the front of the line and another teacher at the back of the line – keep all the children between the two of you.
Fieldtrip
- If you are going on a field trip, be sure to bring your master checklist of names and know exactly how many students and adults you have going on the trip.
- Recruit extra adult volunteers to help you keep a low child to adult ratio.
- Assign each adult a specific number of children and give each adult a checklist with the names on it that they will be in charge of.
- Count the number of children before leaving any building and before getting on the bus or in a car and count often all throughout your trip.
We have all heard the stories of a child who was left behind on a field trip, left on a bus, or a child who walked out of a childcare building and was found walking in the middle of the road – I read that in the news.
Don’t take counting children lightly…
Count, Count, and Count again – a child’s life just may count on it!
I am constantly counting my kids. Not so much when we are in the classroom because I have to keep the door closed where we are located. But when we leave the classroom, go to the lunchroom, are in the gym, on the playground, I am constantly counting.
I am so thankful teachers, like you, make counting an important part of their daily routine!
Sometimes it is difficult to count them, especially when they are running around on the playground. I feel a bit paranoid but I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I tend to be obsessive about this – not so much in the classroom but whenever we leave the confines of it. I guess it comes from an experience in my youth – I worked at a conference center with preschoolers. As we walked to the playground one day, a parent picked up a child from the end of the line and the other teacher did not tell me. I looked for 5-10 minutes for the “missing” child until the other teacher said, “Oh yeah. She left with her mom.”
Oh boy – I would be having a little discussion with that teacher:)
These are great tips! I find myself counting my kids when we’re out and I only have 3, lol! I’ve substituted at their preschool before and I’m paranoid about where all the kids are at any given time.
If I had three of my own kids I would be counting all the time too:)
i do all time and we dont leave rooms much but my counts change so i do it a few times a day , then meals and outside and in . am always worried am going to forget whos here
It is a great practice Jess! Well done:)
I agree with you on this. In my daycare center, I do have my own room, but at certain times of the day, as parents bring in their child; children leave for the day; and as well at certain times children from other groups may visit, or join us, as child care staff leave for the day – we are in flux, and so I am always counting to ensure I know where each child is. I was fortunate to start my child care career in a wonderful center with an extremely involved director, who was on the floor lots… Read more »
Love the idea of singing a song to keep their focus on you and what you are doing together as a group! At our school, I can say that the number one question I hear being asked all day is – “How Many?” LOL! I love that your director was so involved – she obviously has made quite the impression on you and your teaching skills!