Case
Bathroom Chaos

In our school, we have one hallway for pre-k, k, and first grade. With all of the classrooms (15) we only have one bathroom for our boys and girls. Each bathroom has four stalls, but it is so chaotic when we take bathroom breaks. I am starting to have issues with my kids misbehaving because of all the overcrowding and craziness in the bathrooms. I teach kindergarten and can't always go with every student to the restroom because I am in the classroom with the rest of my students. I need some advice on how to monitor behavior and keep my students from making poor choices when going to the restroom independently.

Posted on: 10/12/15 | Views: 1241
Solution #1
Top Solution
At my school, we use bathroom monitors. It works really well, even for K! The bathroom monitor goes to the front of the line, goes in to the bathroom counts the open stalls and allows that number of students to enter. When a stall opens up, they send another student in. They are also in charge of reporting misbehavior as well as letting the teacher know when all students have finished. Just make sure you are very selective about your student choice!

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #2
I teach Kindergarten as well. At the beginning of the year I teach my students proper and improper bathroom behavior. Occasionally, I have to go back over the rules of bathroom time. Until your students can manage going to the bathroom independently, you might consider going as an entire class at certain times of the day that do not interfere with Pre-K and First grades. Also, the teachers of these grades should get together and collaborate on the timing. If each grade had certain times they went to the bathroom as a whole class then that should cut down on the overcrowding.
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Solution #3
A possible solution would be to take the kids to restroom as a class but have them line up outside each entrance. For example, the boys on the boys side and the girls on the girls side. Only allow a couple of students in at one time and once someone comes out the next student in line can go in. This will regulate the amount of children in the bathroom at one time and if the break is being monitored they will be less apt to act up in the restroom.
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Solution #4
I have this same issue, except I the only first grade classroom on a hall with a bunch of second, fourth and fifth grade classrooms. Whenever I have a student that is consistently misbehaving in the bathroom, and I know because the responsible students have already told me what they are doing in there, I always send a responsible student as a bathroom monitor. And if the student goes quickly, is not loud and does not make a mess they are rewarded for their smart choices.
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Solution #5
Go over bathroom rules. Then, have a sign-in and sing-out sheet. Have the students fill it out before hand and after. They should take a maximum of 5 minutes in the bathroom.

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #6
When I have substituted for primary classes, the teacher has students sit against the wall and wait for their turn to be called. They then go to the restroom and are expected to come back and sit down where they were before. This system works, but you have to be observant and strict. Do not let students get water unless they are told. Do not let students use the restroom until they are told. It takes a little bit of time, but it makes it more organized.
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Solution #7
A lot of times, assigning a leader for the bathroom, pencil sharpener leader, and book leader, helps. If you have a student that you can trust a lot with their job, other students will see that and have a deeper feeling like maybe they can be a leader if they can be responsible. A lot of times, if children see other students being responsible, they will want to be responsible and behave as well.
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Solution #8
I would coordinate a bathroom schedule with the other teachers. Have groups of 4-5 students go and give them a set time. Of course if there is an emergency I would let the student go with a partner to the restroom.

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #9
When I was in grade school we had the same situation. There was one bathroom for a large group of students. So we had bathroom monitors as part of classroom job assignments. The bathroom monitor would stand in the bathroom with a clipboard and write names of any students doing anything wrong. This even included talking. It was great because the consequences were enforced so the students really listened.

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #10
In a classroom I interned for they had a bathroom chart and each student would move their magnet if they leave to use the restroom and move it back when they return. These were kindergartners and they knew the rules that more then one in the bathroom was not allowed. I do not think they need designated bathroom breaks but can dismiss themselves when need be.
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Solution #11
I believe that proper bathroom procedures should be reviewed and understood at the beginning of the school year. That way this problem does not have to occur daily. Most schools should have bathroom monitors and you should not have to leave class to take a child to the restroom. That is extremely distracting to the rest of the student's learning.

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #12
It would be best to get together with all of the teachers and create a time for bathroom breaks. This way, there are no clashing classes. For students who need to go during class, assign a bathroom monitor who can go check the bathroom with whoever needs to use it. If it is too full, they can come back and be sent again in the next few minutes.
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Solution #13
I would designate a couple of your most trusted students to be the bathroom monitors and make sure that students are behaving when using the restroom. I would also let the students know that if the misbehavior continues there will be consequences.
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Solution #14
We have bathroom trouble as well, mainly because we just do not have enough bathrooms in our school. One thing we have done is to pair up. One teacher takes the boys and the other takes the girls. It is time efficient and the monitoring one at a time seems to help, especially if a male teacher can do the boys for the older students.
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Solution #15
I would consider electing the most trustworthy student to monitor in the bathrooms. Maybe when the students are doing wrong in the bathroom, the monitor will put some sort of sticker on their shirt, so they can know they are misbehaving and change their behavior.

I agree with this solution.

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Solution #16
Maybe you could send a responsible friend with the students who are misbehaving. This way they know they are being held accountable for their behavior. If the responsible friend gives a good report then that student earns something that goes along with your classroom reward system.

I would also use this and have a positive reinforcement.

Great ideas

I agree with this solution.

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