[Ms. J]

I have students who I am sending to the bathroom in pairs due to safety reasons. I have a handful who appear to be going just for social reasons.
What strategies do you use to cut down on going to the bathroom? Do you use bathroom passes or have other consequences for students who don't use the restroom at breaks when they are supposed to?
I hate to say "No" because I don't want accidents (but I find I am saying it more and more), but I am just tired of this whole pair bathroom thing.

I didn't use to do the pair bathroom thing, but last year we were instructed to have our students go in pairs for safety reasons, and the admin wanted us to continue doing so.

I know this is a silly question, but I'd like some ideas!
Thanks!

[teachjam]

It is not silly. The bathroom is the place where most of our misbehaviors occurr. I now only use the br pass for one at a time. Our principal wants us to do this too. It works much better than with two people who DO tend to socialize.

[SnackNapRead]

I make a mental note of who has already gone during any one block of time. Then, if they signal that they need to go again, I tell them to wait until after lunch. (Unless I can tell it's an emergency or something is wrong) I also tend to notice who goes and when, so if I can tell that it's an avoidance strategy for a particular child, I say no and try to redirect their attention.

On a side note... sending in pairs seems crazy! lol I can see the admin's view on safety, but how far is the bathroom from your room? In this case, it seems as though pairs would CREATE problems, not solve safety issues.

[robinsondlh]

I love this question because it seems to be something I can battle every year. The thing that seems to work best for me, is making them write their names on the board when they use the restroom. This gives me a visual of who has already gone to the restroom. They know that they are allowed to go once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, during my class. Now, in between all this they have PE every day, and specials that they can use the restroom in...plus lunch. It seems to alleviate some of the breaks they "NEED" to take.

[scrobinson]

Here is an idea that I got from another teacher. Make a chart with smiley faces (each child in your class needs a smiley face) Make the eyes out of rhinestones or buttons would work and attach them with velcro. Whenever a student has to use the bathroom he/she pulls off an eye from their smiley. This gives them two extra chances to go during the day because I am sure that you take them whole group If they need to use the bathroom more than two times then they would receive a consequence.

[jhwkr]

I give plenty of breaks throughout the day so that there really is no need for them to leave the room for an 'emergency'. I tell them that if its an emergency, then they can sign out and go. I have a sheet for them to write the time they leave and the time they return. If they are gone too long (I set the time to 3 minutes - we are a couple doors down from the restroom,) then they must owe me some time to make up for it. (Loss of free time or recess time...) I tell them that if they are having to use the restroom a lot then I call their parents because they might want to take them to the doctor to make sure everything is okay. I play it up a little but I say it very seriously so they know that I will actually call. (I haven't ever had to call a parent... ) Oh - and they get 3 minutes a DAY, so only one emergency break per day.

In the past I have given my kids 'chips' for restroom breaks - I gave 5 per week. I just used some plastic colored discs and put their initials on them - you can use an egg carton to keep them in so when you hand them back out at the beginning of the week it goes quick. When they had to leave for a break then they gave me a chip. At the end of the week, they traded their left-over chips in for whatever...

As far as the pair thing - I'm not sure if I understand it - so if a student has to use the restroom during class time, another student has to go with them for safety reasons? If so, could you have a classroom job for it? One specific student could them? Maybe let them know that you only choose resonsible students for that job... Or maybe you could strategically pair them so that that same pair goes every time? Put the more responsible students with the ones that seem to goof around?

I met this teacher that use a really great strategy for tattleing, restroom break issues, and things like that. He kept a small memo pad and pen with him everywhere he went - every time a student asked to use the restroom or wanted to tattle... he would take it out, flip to page, and begin to write everything the kid said like he was taking notes for a report. He did it very seriously... He would slow the student down in his story and write EVERYTHING, noted the time, place, etc... It usually only took one time for the kids to not do it again. Very funny to watch, especially the kids face when he whips out the memo pad and pen . I wish I had the personality to pull it off - my kids would see right through me and play it up I'm sure.

[b2kiefer]

I give quite a few breaks. They know to go before coming into class, and then I give them another break to go right after recess. When they come back from lunch, they get another break ( I start reading our class novel then, and many hurry fast so they don't miss the story), and then I give another break after the last recess. I have a few ask to go, but they usually wait until the breaks. Behaviorwise, they know we are waiting for them to get back, so they usually aren't too long. I try to schedule something exciting for when they are getting back, so they are excited to hurry back to class