I work in a large center and I am always counting heads especially after transitions. When all the classes are out on the playground we have a chalkboard to write down the names of the children who are being taken inside for potty/drink breaks and which teachers take them. In addition to counting heads I even do a roll call sometimes. Yes, it’s stressful and yes, it’s time consuming but I don’t want to chance losing a child even for a moment. I once had a teenage aide take one of my kids in for a drink of water and forgot to write her name on the chalkboard ( or even write that she was taking some kids in the building) and when her grandmother came I didn’t know where she was but fortunately another teacher had seen K. taking her in.

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