Mr. P and the Bathroom Pass Notebook

Having students leave class to use the restroom is never convenient. No matter how many times you remind them to use the restroom before school, during lunch, at recess ,etc. it's always going to be a hassle. For teachers who choose to monitor the restroom ins and outs, I've seen two ways to do this...

First, the Printed Bathroom Pass. Here are a list of reasons why I'm going to pass on bathroom passes.

1. Having to print them out.
2. Watching students frantically search for their pass.
3. "I lost mine and I really have to go!"
4. Tearing off passes one at a time.
5. "I don't have any more and it's an emergency!"
6. Printing them again.
7. "I had a bathroom pass but then I traded someone who really needed it and they didn't give me one of their new bathroom passes like they said they would." 

Second, the Bathroom Pass Notebook.  I saw this in Mr. P's 4th grade class and thought it was a great way to monitor bathroom in and out's. It works like a sign out sheet, here is an example.

• Bella has 3 bathroom passes for the week. 
• She may leave the classroom at a teacher-approved time.
• Before leaving, Bella finds her name and writes the date in the first column. 
• The two empty columns indicated she has two more bathroom passes that week.

I like the notebook because I don't have # 2,3,4,5 and 7 happening during a lesson! I don't throw away little pieces of paper I spent time printing and cutting out! (Okay, #5 WILL happen, but a teacher can tell a real emergency from a fake one!)

•  Laminate one sheet, rinse and reuse!
• Keep it in good view! Wouldn't want a little rascal signing out on another student's name...
• No roll over minutes ;)
• I'm sure there are many more...let me know if you have one to share!.

P.S. The picture of the toilet paper comes from my favorite inspirational speech about teachers...