Fire Drill Safety!
Imagine two classes being in the library for the first time this school year during our first fire drill. One is a fourth grade class with an experienced teacher. Another is a kindergarten class with a fairly new teacher. The kdg’s are touring looking for their runaway Gingerbread cookies when the principal announces we will have a “practice fire drill.” He explains there will be a loud noise and they must listen to their teacher’s directions.
I immediately translate what’s going to happen and who’s going to do what. Fourth graders are to line up at the far door with their teacher leading them out. They will be the leaders and model what to do during a drill. Kdg’s will follow them without running or talking. I will follow so I can close all the doors.
Fourth graders main concern: Do we have to leave behind our library books that we just checked out? No, I reassure them. If they are already in your hands, I expect you to simply go quickly to the door. Simple answer. Fire drill begins. Kdgs immediately throw their hands over their hears and hunker down. Kdg teacher and I get them to take down their hands so they can listen for directions and file out the door behind the 4th graders.
After the drill is over, the principal tells me this was the most remarkable drill ever. Here came all these fourth graders down the hallway still reading their library books during a fire drill. When I told him about their question, he said, “I wouldn’t want them to leave their books behind. I’d want them to grab 2 or 3 more on their way out.” What a great school to work in. I love my principal’s attitude.
