Classroom Procedures Book for the Bathroom

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.

My solution to teach how to properly use the restroom in our classroom on the first day of school (and throughout the first week) is to create and use a social-story style procedures book!

Why it works

The reason for using a social-story style of book to teach this classroom procedure is that it works!

Students see me, their new teacher, living out the procedures... but they can insert themselves into the story... making it successful.

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 this simple little book!

An additional benefit is that it also was very successful for my students on the Autism spectrum.

See the book

If you love this idea and just want to steal my copy to use in your classroom - you've got it!

But the cool thing is, you can make one too. I'll share how I made it.

How I made it

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.

Then I created easy, expectations-based text to match our procedures.

My inspiration to create the text came from (affiliate book) No David!.

It includes:

• knocking on the door
• being polite
• being tidy
• washing

I wanted my new students to feel like they could begin chiming in to say, "NO!" as they see me throwing waded up paper towels on the floor.

But, really, any simple text will make this work. But keep it simple - there's a lot they are taking in these first days of kindergarten.

Just remember... I tried to make mine a little over the top since I wanted to add humor.

No matter how you {and I} think it turned out... it worked!

How to make your own

So, do you want to make your own? I've got your back.

Teachers have requested a copy of this for years to make their own version. Now you can!

1. Take photos of you doing each set of the routine as you want to teach it AND a couple of photos of you doing the incorrect thing if you want to go for humor, as I did.
2. Insert your photos into this editable Classroom Bathroom Procedures Book (you'll need Google Slides or PowerPoint to edit it). You agree to these terms of use. [downloading help]
3. Change the text to match your bathroom and to match your expectations.
4. Remember: keep the text simple!
5. Print double-sided.

I used these fonts for the editable book in case you want them too:

Cover Title: KB Stick to the Plan | Text: ABC Print | [How to install a font]

Classroom bathroom FAQ

Some of you have had questions about how our bathroom procedures work after reading this book - so let me help you!

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.

What are the "wash your hands" and the "remember to flush" signs pictured in your book?

Oh - those are cute chevron wash and flush reminders I made.

Grab your free wash and flush classroom sign reminders.

I even put one in a photo frame (so it wiped off easily) and put it above our classroom sink.

What else do you do to teach bathroom and restroom procedures?

I'm so glad you asked!

Here are my top 3 tips to teach the classroom bathroom to make it easy on you and your new kinders.

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 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 Pencils and Crayons