Teacher-Tested Tips:

Bathroom Key
Submitted by: Love to Teach, 5th, Originally posted at the Discussion Forums
I have two laminated key shapes; one marked "Girls" and one marked "Boys". When one of my students needs to use a bathroom key, he/she does not have to ask permission. The student takes the key and then lays it on top of his/her desk. The other students and I can see at a glance if the key is avaliable and who is using... more »»
Grade Level(s): 3-5, 6-8

Bathroom passes
Submitted by: AnnetteG, 5th, Originally posted at the Discussion Forums
I teach 5th graders and found this works for me and my students: On the first day of school, each child receives two laminated bathroom passes. I made these out of construction paper and ran them through the laminating machines. (I actually try to make them during the summer, and then just write their names on them in ... more »»
Grade Level(s): 3-5, 6-8

Bathroom Passes
Submitted by: Cindy
At the beginning of the week, students are given 5 bathroom passes to use for visiting the restroom or getting a drink, on which they write their name. The student must give the teacher a pass in order to leave the room and it must be an appropriate time, i.e. not while teacher is teaching, testing, group work. At the ... more »»
Grade Level(s): 3-5

Bathroom Passes
Submitted by: A.Montgomery
At the beginning of the grading period (6 weeks) the students receive a bathroom pass from me. The strip of paper is stapled into their agendas. My name is on the pass and the numbers 1, 2, and 3. When they need to use the bathroom, I cross through one of the passes. I initial and date the pass. If they run out of... more »»
Grade Level(s): 6-8

Bathroom Procedure
Submitted by: Doreen W.
We have a boy's and a girl's bathroom right outside our doorway. To prevent a line, I made a sign for the boy's and the girl's bathroom. One side is red and the other green. They are attached to the wall by the doorway with velcro. When a student needs to use the bathroom, they look to see if the sign is green. If it is, they turn the sign over to red, use the bathroom, then turn the sign to green when they are no longer using the bathroom.
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2

Bathroom Routine
Submitted by: S. Buras
I have a double pocket chart next to my door. I have each pocket numbered with the students number on colorful stickers. On one side the helper places the lunch card and the other side is for bathroom stripes. I have two small boxes one holding strips of red paper and one holding strips of yellow paper. Each student is allowed one morning pass(red) and one afternoon pass (yellow). When a student needs to use the restroom he or she holds up one finger and when I acknowledge them, they place the appropriate color strip in their pocket. This allows me to look without interrupting the class to see how many times they have been but they can also look to see if they have already been. (Yes, they do forget) This has saved me many headaches and it has stopped the number of times they are leaving the room and it is quiet. more »»
Grade Level(s): 1-2, 3-5

Bathroom Sign Out
Submitted by: Kim
I have a small whiteboard with an erasable pen and eraser on the end of it by the door. When a child needs to use the restroom he/she must print his/her name on the whiteboard before leaving the classroom and erase his/her name when returning to class. I allow only one student in the restroom at a time. Students know that when a name is on the whiteboard they need to wait until that person returns. I like having the child's name on the whiteboard so I know exactly who is out of the classroom.
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Bathroom Tickets
Submitted by: teacheramy, 6th, Originally posted at the Discussion Forums
I teach sixth grade and here's how our team addresses this problem. Students receive a laminated "ticket" with their name on it at the beginning of the day. If they need to use the restroom (they hold up three fingers to signal,) they sign out and turn in their ticket. Students may not use the restroom if it's within 20 minutes of the bell, unless it's an emergency. At the end of the day, the teacher collects the unused tickets and draws a name for a reward.
Grade Level(s): 3-5, 6-8

Magnetic Name Cards
Submitted by: clarnet73
Submitted by: clarnet73, Originally posted at TeacherChat Discussion Forums I observed a teacher who had a pretty good policy during her small group reading/individual working time... each kid has a magnetic name card, and there's a spot for one boy and one girl to be out of the room at the bathroom at a time... if they need to go, and there's an empty spot for their gener on the board, if she's working with a small group, they simply hold up their name card, and she nods yes or no... they put their card on the board, and remove it when they come back. more »»

Promoting Responsibility & Respect
Submitted by: M. Riggenbach
My method is fairly simple. You only need a wipe off board and the time it takes to have a classroom discussion. Posting a board next to the door allows students to leave without disrupting the flow of the lesson and also allows you to know where everyone is at all times. If it is ever an issue of "over-use" the stu... more »»
Grade Level(s): 1-2, 3-5

Secret Code: Less Distractions Finally!
Submitted by: Katiessu, 3rd
I was tired of students always raising their hand at inappropriate times to use the bathroom. Finally we made a system. When a child need to go to the bathroom they raise their pinky finger. When they recieve a silent nod from me they may go. If they need to get out of their seat for a tissue or to sharpen a pencil they raise two fingers. This works very well and the kids feel like they have a secret code! :)
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2, 3-5

Sign In & Out Sheet
Submitted by: Sarah
I was tired of my students always interupting me to use the bathroom while I was teaching so I made a system. The students get two "tickets" at the beginning of the day. They may use the tickets to use the bathroom, go to the lockers during class, get drinks; basically anything out of the room during class. They turn i... more »»
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Sign out
Submitted by: Curtis
I have a notebook on my desk and I require my students to sign out to go to the restroom or get a drink. They may sign out three times per week. For each time over three they serve recess. Very effective.
Grade Level(s): 3-5

Time Out
Submitted by: Fran
I use a system called time out for managing behavior as well as for students who constantly request to go to the bathroom or their lockers during class time. I will ask the student is it worth 5 minutes of their lunch time to go to the bathroom or lockers. If the answer is Yes, I allow them to go, but at lunch time the... more »»
Grade Level(s): 6-8, 9-12

Time to earn some tickets!!!
Submitted by: Amanda
When my students have to use the bathroom they use tickets. Throughout the day if students are doing a good job I give them tickets. When they need to use the bathroom, get a drink, go to lockers or anything outside the classroom they put two fingers up and they put their tickets in a jar by the door and go. At the end... more »»
Grade Level(s): 3-5

Using Sign Language
Submitted by: Amanda Post (A to Z Teacher Stuff), Kindergarten
I have my students use sign language to let me know when they need to use the bathroom. I will either nod my head yes or no, so it does not have to interrupt what we are doing. To make the sign for "toilet" make a sign language T (fist with thumb between the index and middle fingers) then turn the wrist from side to side.
Grade Level(s): Preschool, K, 1-2, 3-5