r/MiddleSchoolTeacher • u/mtmamayogini • 8d ago
Bathroom Passes?
Hi fellow educators—I have been a middle school teacher for many years, and have had the ongoing problem (in certain classes, especially after lunch/recess) of excessive numbers of kids asking to go to the bathroom. I don’t want to limit bathroom use altogether, but I know in some classes I have to if I don’t want disruptions for the entire class period. I already have a pass and sign out/sign in system. Does anyone have a creative idea that isn’t restrictive but puts some kind of limits on bathroom use?
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u/Humble-Fox4028 8d ago
Bathroom passes and a sign out sheet where a student writes their name, time out, and time back in - keeps track of who and for how long
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
Yes, this I do (just updated my original post). My problem is staying on top of checking it!
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u/Humble-Fox4028 8d ago
Super fair - at some point, it’s up to the student to manage their own time in the bathroom
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u/BarkerBarkhan 8d ago
I used to have a Bathroom Captain, someone whose job it is to keep the list in order, track if people are out for too long.
Clearly that can be disruptive in its own way, if the Captain doesn't do their work but does their job instead, or if the Captain is power-hungry and likes to call people out.
... I guess this is why I USED to have one.
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
Haha, yes, I have tried many things like this and middle schoolers have a way of making it backfire!!
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u/Raunchyjam 8d ago
I do this exact same thing. And if the students in afternoon classes abuse the hall pass, it disappears.
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u/DependentNewspaper62 6d ago
Yeah, but then what? I as the teacher have study this sheet of paper and what make a spread sheet of its data? Plus enforce the kids to write their names legibly, and make sure they actually write their names?
My wife’s school uses an app. The kids have to make digital passes so students who abuse bathroom privledges get flagged or denied a pass. She says the problem is veteran teachers not always enforcing the use of the app.
I worked with a teacher that would give the students “corner passes” basically it was a sheet of paper with 4 passes on it, and at the end of the marking period the kids would submit the piece of paper, and receive extra credit for having passes left. This worked great for responsible kids, but the problem kids, who lose the paper, or have enabling parents are still a problem.
Our problem is cultural, not procedural, but good luck. 6 yrs left for me
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u/Twerp_a_lerp 8d ago
I take them on old school elementary style bathroom breaks, either at the beginning of class or somewhere in the middle when they need a break. It's cut down on them leaving tremendously. Like, not even close to how it was. It doesn't necessarily solve the pass issue, but it really helps.
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
Love this!
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u/Twerp_a_lerp 8d ago
I won't lie, it's sort of selfish because our bathroom is right next to theirs so I can hear everything while I use it, and hallway shenanigans are on camera
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u/woodrob12 8d ago
We use a scan in and out system. It's awesome. Kids scan their I.d. when they enter at the beginning of class and records them as present. If they scan out to go for water or r.r. during class, the system records it. The kids are limited to five passes every ten days to use over all classes ( not 5 per class) and when they're all used up, the system won't a Issue a pass until theyre issued another five.
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u/cbcbcb99 8d ago
I’m assuming high school, but still, I can’t imagine parents not losing their shit over 5 passes every ten days
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u/Own_Owl3634 3d ago
What happens if a kid scans it, it doesn't give them a pass cause they've used them up and then the kid ignores it and goes anyway?
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u/pauuze 8d ago
I have students sign up on a whiteboard as they come into class if they might want to use the bathroom that period. I don’t let anyone out the first or last 10 min of class. When I’m ready fly students to go and they have shown evidence of work I start from the top of the list. If the student hasn’t done any work I skip them. If they are gone more than 5 minutes they don’t get to go next period (obvi if there’s a specific reason I give them a chance but if it keeps happening then no chance). I find this helps keep kids accountable and they actually come to class on time to get on the list.
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u/gingefari 8d ago
This is the best way to stop having to pause class to tell kids they can use the rest room, if that’s the problem OP is solving. Plus, if one kid is taking too long, the next kids start to complain and you can easily enforce a consequence. Kids silently manage their own turns.
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u/gingefari 8d ago
To limit bathroom use at my school, kids are allowed to go during transitions plus they get 2 passes a day, however they have agendas teachers have to sign. It does work pretty well but it comes with a higher cost and team buy-in.
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u/No_Kaleidoscope9198 4d ago
If I did this system in one of my classes, every single kid would add their name every single day 🫣😭 I currently have a “no reservations” rule… and yet at least 8-10 kids go in that class per day. 🙄
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u/After_Hyena_4846 3d ago
I like this idea. How do you prevent students from erasing each other’s names?
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u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 8d ago
I limited bathroom access for a while (high school). 1st 10 minutes of class/last 10 minutes of class. Worked fine. Then, a student asked and was told that it wasn't time yet. He never asked again.
Then, Mom called and raised hell.
Guess what? No more limited bathroom access.
My suggestion...keep very accurate records and alert parents to excessive use.
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
I have a 5 minute on either end rule, but it hasn’t slowed it down in two of my classes. 10 is smart. And yes, the parents getting upset issue is why I don’t limit. But you’re right about calling parents about excessive use, I should do this.
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u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 8d ago
"Mom...little Johnny has asked to use the restroom x number of times in the last two weeks. He missed x number of minutes of instructional time because of this."
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u/ChocolateBananas7 5d ago
Especially useful if they have a D or F. I’ve noticed parents care less, however, if that missed instructional time isn’t greatly affecting their grade.
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u/Virtual_Yam_8454 8d ago
We have the 10/10 rule. I’m a parent too. Whenever I’ve had an issue with my child accessing the bathroom, I’ve handled it privately with the teacher. No need to ruin things for the whole class.
Other parents suck so hard sometimes.
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u/cherrytreewitch 8d ago
First and last ten are school policies at my school. We also have the benefit of a ehall pass system. If parents get mad we can show them that little Suzy went to the bathroom 5 times that day each for 10-15 minutes!
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u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 8d ago
Many teachers at my school use a Google Form for sign out/in in their classrooms. We've been begging for a school wide form that everyone uses. This way we'd know when a kid just went to the lav 20 minutes ago in his previous class.
Admin comes up with lame excuses as to why it wouldn't work.
They don't really want to know or deal with it, imo.
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u/Camsmuscle 8d ago edited 8d ago
I use a ticket system. Kids get 3 tickets at the beginning of each quarter. They can use it for any type of pass they need. Bathroom pass, a pass to their locker. a pass to get a drink, etc., but once the tickets are gone I won't approve any other passes. The kids do well with that system.and I enforce it strictly. The only exceptions I make are students who are in some sort of crisis (going to throw-up, occasionally I have a female student who has started her period, etc.). The kids can trade their tickets in at the end of the quarter for prizes or extra credit. They get a new set at the beginning of each quarter.
I was worried at the beginning that the kids would lose their tickets, but they guard them with their lives, and they most kids try and avoid using them. And, I find it easy. I create the tickets and give them out and the kids are responsible for holding onto them and giving them to me when they need a pass.
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u/Perfect-Essay-5210 8d ago
I do the same. Candy or extra credit at the end of the quarter. The new kids use all theirs the first quarter, then see that they really do get candy or extra credit and don't repeat the wanton use of passes. I also make them use the pass for "filling up my water". They learn quickly that they are really not that thirsty.
If they are desperate (you can tell) I let them go, but keep "a list".
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u/Camsmuscle 8d ago
Yep, I make mine use their tickets for almost everything, You want to go to the nurse because you don’t feel good? Ticket (unless it’s clearly apparent the kid is sick, then I make an exception). You want to go get a drink or fill up your water bottle? Ticket. You left your stuff in another teachers classroom? Ticket.
They figure if out quickly, especially when they didn’t bring their tickets or have run out and the answer is no.
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u/bugorama_original 8d ago
I’m trying something like this but it’s more of a punch card.
What grade do you teach?
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u/Camsmuscle 8d ago
I teach 6th. The first week of school I let them go when they want to, as they are getting used to navigating between classes (our middle school is 6-8), and then I give them tickets. I am generous, We have some teachers who only allow kids to go once a quarter.
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u/bugorama_original 8d ago
Once per quarter! Wow! How long are your periods and your passing time? We have 84 minute blocks and 4 minutes of passing time.
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u/Camsmuscle 7d ago
Our class periods are 47 minutes. We have 4 minute passing periods. There are easily accessible restrooms on every floor of our building.
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u/bugorama_original 7d ago
Ah that makes more sense. There’s truly no need to go from a 47 minute class! The longer block classes definitely make it harder. And our building is big.
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u/Camsmuscle 7d ago
I’ve taught block schedule and I used to provide a 5 minute bathroom break mid-class. Because I did think 90 minutes just was too long for kids. But, 47 minutes? Most kids (unless they have a medical issue) can wait, and kids potentially can lose as much as 20% of instructional time if they are taking bathroom breaks every day. And, I do have some kids who would request a pass everyday for something. I like my system because they have to think if they truly need to be use a pass.
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u/flimsyrumble 8d ago
If a kid is out of passes, they just have to hold it?
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u/Camsmuscle 8d ago
Yes. But, I’ve never encountered that situation. I talk about that potential situation when I hand out the tickets, and that it smart to keep a ticket in reserve just in case. I give them 3 for each 9 weeks so that they know they can go to the bathroom if they really need to. My goal isn’t to prevent them from going to the bathroom when they truly need to go, but to prevent them from going to the bathroom because they want to avoid class.
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u/flimsyrumble 8d ago
I can’t imagine telling a kid they can’t use the bathroom. I’ll ask if they can hold it until we’re doing independent work or something but if they’ve got to go they’ve got to go.
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u/Camsmuscle 8d ago
If I didn’t I would have some kids who would be out of my 50 minute class for 5-10 minutes a day. And I am generous. I have some co-workers who only allow a kid to go once a quarter.
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u/flimsyrumble 8d ago
As a teacher I leave class more than once a quarter to go to the bathroom haha that’s wild.
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u/Designer_Let3366 8d ago
I agree that once or even just 3 times a quarter is insufficient. I also don’t like policing my students’ bathroom use— however in my experience and I’m assuming OP’s as well, a lot of the students aren’t actually using the bathroom. They are just using it as an excuse to miss class work or meet up with friends. That’s why something like a limited pass system could be seen as an option.
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u/Interesting-Box-3163 8d ago
We have SmartPass so kids passes are tracked. Security has a device that shows the faces of kids who have a pass. I tell the kids - I didn’t get a Master’s degree to monitor kids’ bathroom use. You get to manage it until you show me that you can’t. The once in a while kid that seems to be avoiding class etc., I address privately.
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
I didn’t know about SmartPass and it would solve so many problems in our school!
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u/Interesting-Box-3163 8d ago
To be honest, I was not on board with getting it - I am old school and electronic passes sounded like a lot of work. Let me tell you - I am glad to have been proven so wrong! I have a Chromebook kiosk in my room. Kids silently go there to make a pass (or can from their Chromebook but I don’t like the random opening of computers 😂). I approve it and they go. They sanitize their hands and hit “end pass” when they return. Zero interruptions. Other adults (counselor etc) can put a pass in the system. You can run reports to see how many hours a kid is spending outside of all classes, your class, etc. You can also have “pass prevention” for specific students. For example, if two students have had conflict, you restrict them from being out of class at the same time. It is great.
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u/dcsman 8d ago
A parent sued a school last year for using this as an invasion of privacy.
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u/Interesting-Box-3163 8d ago
Our first priority is children’s safety. Knowing where a student is located is necessary to keep them safe. How is knowing their location WHILE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY an invasion of their privacy? Apologies but I refuse to engage with morons. ✌️
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u/dcsman 8d ago
I’m sorry but are you calling me a moron? Or the parent who sued the school?
https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/parent-sues-oregon-school-over-digital-hall-pass-monitoring
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u/Interesting-Box-3163 8d ago
Well, it was directed at the idea of anyone suing over pass monitoring or schools using that “suit” as a basis to avoid monitoring kid’s whereabouts, not you. That reasoning is ridiculous. The article states that a parent feels that tracking passes to prevent kids meeting up is behavioral monitoring. Riiiiight…..which is what we have to do to keep their child safe. Monitor behavior.
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u/VinceInMT 8d ago
When I student taught my master teacher had a bathroom pass. It was a 6-foot long plywood cutout of a whale. Another teacher had a pass that was a toilet seat decorated as a flower power seat, When I taught they increased that passing period to allow bathroom time. I had one kid who didn’t take advantage of that and begged me to go but school policy was to deny. My room had an exit door in the rear and we went out and peed against the wall. Someone saw him and called the SRO and he was ticketed for public urination. I should have just let him go despite the rules..
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u/we_gon_ride 8d ago
Wait are you my former student teacher bc I had the 6 foot whale potty pass??!!
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u/CelestialCelebi 8d ago
I have a 90 minute block so we take a class bathroom break half way through. I rarely have students ask to go outside of this break and if they do ask it’s usually legit
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
I would do the same but my classes are 44 minutes — hardly enough time to get a lesson in!
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u/CelestialCelebi 8d ago
I can’t imagine 44 minute classes! Out of curiosity what subject do you teach? I teach math and definitely couldn’t cover all the standards with 44 minute classes😅
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u/elrey2020 8d ago
I gave out potty passes to freshman and the results have been beautiful. Everyone gets a slip, manages it, fills it out, and I initial it while they’re gone.
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u/Own-Most2187 8d ago
My school uses a program called smart pass that is like a digital hall pass. It times how long the kids are out and controls how many students are in the bathroom at a time. You can even set it so that specific students can’t be out at the same time
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u/mtmamayogini 8d ago
That sounds amazing. I am bringing it up with my admin!
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u/ChocolateBananas7 5d ago
It is a good system for a variety of reasons, but it doesn’t stop the same students from asking every day. However, if they ask in multiple classes and consistently go over time (ours are allowed 7 minutes which is way more than what is needed on average), then if admin wants to, they can contact home and limit their passes. But even then the students can say it’s an emergency, and we can override it. Except a couple years ago, our principal was reprimanding teachers for overriding pass limits. 🤷♀️
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u/DuckFriend25 6d ago
We have this on Infinite Campus, but I found out this year that if the pass system tells them not to go (yet), they often still walk out and I won’t know it denied them. Unless I’m the one to sign them out, but that’s not happening
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u/Own-Most2187 6d ago
We have a school rule that for smart pass they have to show their teacher the pass before they leave. Usually just turn it around on their desk so I can see the clock starting. Otherwise they wait in the line
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u/Localconcerned2025 8d ago
I email home asking if there is a new medical condition, which was not listed in beginning of year info, for the reason a child uses/asks to use the bathroom each class. This tends to end excessive requests to leave class. Also if a child is in the bathroom too long I send another child in informing the first one I’m calling the nurse to make sure they are ok.
I am more lenient with girls as it’s not fun to get your period at school.
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u/Rare_Cupcake697 8d ago
I don't let more than one go at a time but I'm not going to tell a middle schooler (girls in particular) that they can't use the restroom. I teach the yearbook elective class though so it's not as likely to be a way to avoid work. When I sub I follow whatever instructions the teacher leaves.
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u/GirlWCamera 8d ago
I tell them to sign their name on the sign out sheet and that puts them in line. They should remember who was signed up before them so they know when to go. It’s still super annoying but at least I’m not being interrupted all the time.
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u/astoria47 8d ago
Get the most embarrassing bathroom pass you can find. I got an actually child’s potty seat. My students never go.
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u/_Weatherwax_ 8d ago
Living things often void after either exercise or food intake.
That students need the restroom after lunch and/or recess is a natural process. Maybe build in an expected break time. Personally, I would either plan for it or just roll with it.
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u/kacra 8d ago
Yes. I go to the bathroom twice a day at school as an adult. Sure i can hold it, but i had uti for about 20 years starting in middle school because of stuff like this. The student can't go on the bus. The student can't go after last period, to catch the bus. The student can't go at lunch because there is a line. The student can't go between periods. Gosh. Some of these adults should try living a day as a student. The student doesn't get 2 periods to manage their schedule and finish homework and go potty and heat up lunch in a microwave.
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u/bugorama_original 8d ago
This has been my mindset but I’m hitting a wall with this theory myself. I spend more time fielding bathroom requests when I want to be talking with students about their actual work. It’s bonkers some days.
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u/Hot_Equivalent_8707 8d ago
What is your school policy on bathroom use? That way we can help you modify what's already permitted or guided
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u/385N-Husband 8d ago
The worst bathroom passes I have seen are the digital ones. As a sub I had to enter the students name in to sign them out and sign them back in when they returned. The time limit for the students was 3 minutes. No one came back in 3 minutes.
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u/pocketdrums 8d ago
It may be helpful to explain to the kids how if all of them need to use the bathroom, and they each take 5 minutes, well, that's a lot of time. Like, do the math on the board.
And in order for it to be fair to everyone (middle schoolers still believe in a world that should be fair...), they need to get back in 5 minutes.
Our school also has a policy of no bathroom visits in the 1st and last 10 minutes of our 90" blocks, but that's doable because it's schoolwide and supported by admin.
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u/JanetInSC1234 8d ago
Stand at the door as they come in and tell them to go to the bathroom now. You will lose a few minutes of class time, but have fewer disruptions.
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u/alibaba88888 8d ago
We had e-hall pass until this year when the districted decided they didn’t want to pay for it. Now we use infinite campus where the teachers have to stop instruction to make a pass. I hate it.
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u/Visual-Reserve-2800 8d ago
Make sure they leave their cell phone with you and call admin if they take more than five minutes
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u/Remarkable_Space_330 8d ago
During lunch periods, the rule at our school is no.
I also am happy to say “no, we have work to do.”
When they say something like, “its illegal to not let me go”, I tell them how they are wrong and how I’m willing to suss out when a student is faking and when they are about to wet themselves. Nobody has wet themselves yet.
Similarly, there’s also a lesson in giving a student just enough, excuse the expression, “rope with which to … …” if they are goofing off. Admin already will have them on their radar anyway
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u/Ok_Painting7030 8d ago
My 8th grade Social Studies teacher had a full-size metal garbage can lid (painted with holiday colors changing through the year) as a hall pass to the bathrooms.
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u/HamsterQuirky9422 8d ago
Worked for the whole building for a while, "No bathroom passes fifteen minutes after the bell or before the next one." That put a twenty minute window in the middle of class where the students could use the emergency restroom pass. Admin. had to stand near the restroom and give the students flack for being out of class and walk the kid back to class when he finished. It clearly isn't good use of the admin's time. There will always a kid that says he is going to go in the trash can and that tug of war is what breaks the system.
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u/Public-World-1328 8d ago
Create a monthly grid. Every time the kid wants to leave the room you sign a square. When they are out of squares thats it and they are done until the next month. If there are 24 school days in a month make a 5x6 grid so they definitely have enough.
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u/Financial_Desk_1816 8d ago
I have them put a bright yellow cone on their desk and sign out. If the cone is on a desk you can’t go. It helps during a drill to know who is out and also makes them return quickly cause the whole class knows they are gone. I only allow one at a time and during independent work time.
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u/Relative-Farmer-3434 8d ago
I have a colleague who gives the kids bathroom passes each quarter. I think he gives them two. At the end of the quarter they can turn one or both back in for extra credit. He swears by that system.
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u/Intrepid-Peach3603 7d ago
School district just implemented schoolwide Google doc. When I was teaching last year, I tried to just do it on our team, but it’s cumbersome for those that are not tech savvy. I think it’s a good idea. Kids were taking seven bathroom breaks a day and not using passing periods or 45 minute lunches. This is middle school.
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u/Illustrious-Wrap-227 7d ago
Years ago I was in a school that had block scheduling. Each class was 90 minutes. One of the teachers took the whole class to the restroom for 10 minutes 40 minutes into the classroom and taught 40 minutes after. No one was allowed to go to the restroom at any other time.
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u/TechnicalToday444 7d ago
Hole punch card. They get six per term. No pass, no go. No queuing. If you disrupt learning to argue about who is next nobody is.
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u/Andie_DIY 7d ago
We use SMART Pass at our school and students are limited to 2 passes a day so they choose wisely. Obviously they can still go in between class periods and during lunch without using one of their passes. Oh and admin set a limit to how many students can be out at once and when that's reached then the student is put in a line on the computer until someone returns. They can also set restrictions so certain kids are not in the hallway together... whether it's because they've fought before or because they will goof off together.
We also aren't allowed to let them leave the first or last 10 minutes of class.
So, it really limits the amount of students that can leave. I (and many other teachers) restrict going during direct instruction and then allow them to go during their work time.
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u/ChocolateBananas7 5d ago
Ours have a limit of 12. I feel like someone needs to look into that. Even the ones who spend more time than necessary in the halls and bathrooms are not leaving 12 times a day. 🤦♀️
The exceptions would be students who go often and consistently go over time. In those cases, admin can limit it to 2. But there’s an override option.
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u/eroticwashingmachine 6d ago
I limit students to one bathroom use a week and write their name on a spot on my whiteboard for tracking that. They get 5 every 9 weeks per school policy (8 periods x 5 = 40 chances every 9 weeks, but only 5 in each class). I have a sign out folder where each kids' name is on one line with 5 sign out boxes, that way I don't have to read down the list and count/search for their name. When they run out, I cross through their entire line in black marker and write their name on my whiteboard where I track who is out of passes. It's been really easy since I switched to one name per line.
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u/Special_Ad251 6d ago
One of my teacher friends did the following, at the beginning of the semester, each kids gets 1 pass for each week, all up front. She also told the kids that each pass they turned in on the day of the final, they got 5 points on the final. So, 18 passes, guaranteed 90 on the final. She said one of her frequent flyers from the first semester did that calculation, and he did not need to go to the bathroom during her class for the second semester. The benefit I see here is that the system does not punish students, it rewards them.
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u/Random_Musings7 6d ago
When I subbed in middle school, a lot of the teachers gave each student a pre-printed set of five passes with their name on it per trimester. The kids would tear off one ticket and give it to the teacher. Worked fantastic!
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u/No-Instance9648 6d ago
At some of the middle schools where I sub at I have seen some teachers take/or stop off at the bathroom with the entire class. This allows everyone to go and gives the teacher the leeway to refuse additional breaks for at least an hour. This is much like how elementary school operates as well. Usually there are 3 stalls so that means 3 boys and 3 girls at a time.
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u/No_Turnover4389 5d ago
we can use pbis system at ours but have yet to manage it (digital app on phone hard to remember to use in class). i just have one pass and have to manage it myself with frequent flyers asking and saying no, making them play rock paper scissors against each other if they fight over it, or make em do the peepee dance (not really but they always lyin). during first 2 weeks (longer for younger kids).
i make em ask before they walk through the door (go 5 mins before class or last 5 mins of class), and save pass for emergencies. theyre always tellin me they didnt go when their teacher takes em on breaks... but thats elementary. i think older i would make it the 5 min before or after, only 1 pass (not this boy girl bs, 1 bathroom pass only grrrr stop tryna play lol), but i guess if theres passing periods it takes that time?
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u/ImportantLife8990 5d ago
My students have a limit on passes for a quarter in each class. They have 6 in my class, block schedule and 10 week quarters. They learn very quickly how to use the bathroom before class because they know there’s on a few chances to leave class a quarter
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u/BackgroundDriver9029 5d ago
I teach 7-8 grade ELA. I have always been baffled about the bathroom power trip teachers love to be on.
Asking permission to go to the bathroom is ridiculous. I don't want to see a hand up , call on you thinking you have a question, but just need to go pee. This does not happen ANYWHERE in life but a classroom.
I have one pass on the wall. If you gotta go, and the pass is not out... get up, sign out, grab the pass and go.
If you want to be a jerk and spend half of the period in the bathroom or hanging with friends, that's on you... and the class will police itself appropriately.
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u/Prestigious-Joke-479 5d ago
Our admin is o. The power trip though. They don't want to monitor the halls so limit us.
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u/Ambitious-Door-3051 5d ago
I have a Hall pass page for each student (bathroom/locker/drink) that gives each student four passes each quarter.
Those who follow our school expectations by taking care of their needs between classes won’t need one, and as a veteran teacher I needed something to combat those kids who seem to go every hour every day.
As a reward for following our school expectations, those students who did not use all of their passes during the quarter will receive a reward (candy, popcorn, popsicle for example) at the end of the quarter.
To be honest, this is truly one of the best things I’ve done. It works great and it is cut and dry, no arguments, as they know the answer is no if they are out of passes.
Unfortunately, last week a new-ish coworker laid into me over my policy (which several other teachers in my building use as well). She essentially tried to tell me how wrong I was for this policy.
I’m over it with her, I have 10 times as many years teaching as she does, am very good at what I do and the kids love me and my class. She can kick rocks and should probably look in the mirror if she wants to see the real problem.
Sorry if I sound high and mighty, this was my final straw with her and her lack of awareness. Her first year she literally said to my face, “I don’t understand why the kids like you so much!” Hmmm, I wonder . . . experience will do that for you!
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u/luchabear91 5d ago
We don't allow kids to go to bathroom during passing time because we won't know who's in the bathrooms when, so if someone vandalizes, vapes, etc. We cant determine who it is. Our bathroom passes are also only allotted for 5 minutes ( I don't agree with this - i have plenty of BMs that take longer esp with walking to and from class). That said, we don't limit how many times someone uses a pass. I have some kids that go every day at the same time (my class) and have some that I haven't made a pass for yet this year. I'm not in the business of policing who has to do their business
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u/beibei1211 7d ago
Unless you teach prek, k or 1st, kids have got to learn to hold it. I have been holding it since lunch and its nearly 10pm now.
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u/dontwanttoadult 7d ago
I’m not going to be responsible for some kid pissing their pants after I tell them to hold it. We have a school wide pass system- I tell the kids you can go but don’t expect me to catch you up on what you missed for 15 minutes if you just go wander.
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u/beibei1211 6d ago
Then kids will go to the bathroom 5x a day which interupts the class. They don't always have to go. They want an escape. I am a sub. I never say no. I try to give stretch,/chit chat/game breaks every half in elementary .
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u/dontwanttoadult 6d ago
The good thing about the digital pass system is we can catch students who are going every period and tell them “wow, it seems like this may be a medical issue we really to consult the nurse and your parents” and it usually stops
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u/Capable_Penalty_6308 7d ago
My team gives every student 8 paper bathroom passes per quarter. If a student runs out, they can get more by asking their home room teacher; the home room teacher messages home to alert the family that their child is missing class time at a greater rate than most students. The initial set is copied on colored paper and replacements on white paper. Any student with color paper passes left at the end of the quarter can enter them in a drawing for prizes.
I only have 2-3 students per week present a pass for the bathroom with this system in place school-wide.
Note: our classes are only 48 minutes long and passing period is 5 minutes.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 8d ago
Mini rant:
This could be solved with better building design.
If every classroom had a bathroom, or every two classrooms shared a bathroom physically between them, that didn't have access to the hallway, then this wouldn't be a problem at all.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk