Classroom procedures play a huge role in a kindergarten teacher‘s day. Wouldn’t you agree?
Here is one of my top tips on how to teach kindergarten classroom procedures for using the bathroom in our classroom.
Whether you have a bathroom in your room or not, this tip may work just as well for you.
Need reminders for washing and flushing? I’ve got you covered there too!
My solution for teaching how to properly use the restroom in our classroom on the first day of school {and continually throughout the week} is to create and use a book!
It took a dose of “get over yourself” as I had another teacher take pictures of me showing the routines and procedures we use. I tried to be a little over the top to add humor to help break the ice the first day of school.
Last year was the first year I used the book and I had students using the bathroom signs, washing hands and knocking all on day one {say what?} so I’m giving credit to the book!
Where did the inspiration come from to create the text? No David! This way students could begin to chime in a little {although my authorship could use a little work}. It also was a huge benefit to my students on the Autism spectrum.
How do we make taking turns and keeping privacy work in our classroom?
We just have two paint chips (red/green) that are stuck together with double sided stick tape. They are hole punched onto a clasp-ring on (affiliate) 3M hooks. Students flip the cards to signify if a bathroom is available or in use.
Can’t get enough? See the whole classroom restroom procedures book in pdf form.
It includes knocking on the door, being polite, being tidy and washing… with a little humor {or so I’d hoped}
Just remember… I tried to make it a little over the top since I wanted to add humor. No matter how you {and I} think it turned out… it worked!
Remind yourself to make one for next year, pin this!
What are your tips and tricks to teaching bathroom and restroom procedures to kindergartners?
If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly
More on Bathroom Routines
- Bathroom Reminders – Free Printable
- Simple Chart for Teaching When to Use the Restroom
More on Classroom Routines
- Starting off the School Year Successfully
- Building a Visual Schedule for the Morning Routine
- Kindergartners Can Prepare their own Folders
- Creating a System for Lost Tools
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Thank you so much for this! As a new teacher, I’ve been trying to find fun ways to teach the MANY procedures for Kinder! Making a social book is awesome! Can’t wait to make my own 🙂
You’re welcome! So glad it can help cover those -oh-so-many procedures in a helpful way.
– Leslie
I just have to say THANK YOU for your wealth of knowledge and resources! I am switching to kindergarten this fall and, even after teaching for 20 years, I am getting lots of great new ideas from you. I truly appreciate your sharing-thanks so much!
Hi Jill! Thank you very much for sharing your appreciation with me! Welcome to the land of kindergarten – I hope you love it and have a fantastic year.
– Leslie
why can I not download the free printable bathroom signs? It takes me to the Kindergarten works and never can download ?
Hi Nancy, I’m not sure what might be going on. You’ll need to go to this article (https://www.kindergartenworks.com/classroom-management/wash-and-flush/) which has the link to the download page. On the download page you can opt to share the article in exchange for the download. You’ll find instructions on the download page. Hope that helps!
– Leslie