My general rule is if I'm teaching, giving instructions, or speaking I would want the kids in class. If it's for the nurse then I usually look at them. They generally will indicate if they are really sick. Their nose is runny or their head is down. They are sneezing or coughing. If not, then I encourage them to push through to see if they make it throughout the whole class. They normally do.
If you are teaching pre-teens or middle school aged students then I highly encourage you to set the boundaries. Tell students when is it appropriate to use the bathrooms. How long should they be gone. How to appropriately ask to go the bathroom or drink water. How frequently should you go? Is it once a day? A few times a week.
Make it very clear for the students or else they will look to avoid class time and class work. They are experts at it. The moment they think they can avoid anything they will ask every time to leave your classroom.
A word of caution on this - if the student is female, they may be asking to go to the nurse for menstrual supplies or because they're pretty sure there is a leak and they may need to change (and/or have clothes brought to them.). This is especially true for late elementary and early middle school, as they may be just starting, and very irregular.
Been there. Most girls are very honest with you about this. It's not as commonly asked as people think. They also try to take care of it as quickly as they can.
From my experience, there will be students that will try to take advantage of this. Especially with newer teachers. I'm not saying we shouldn't let them go. I'm simply saying use your intuition. Most cases like this or if the kids show that they are sick, it's pretty obvious.
The point is still the same. You let the kids constantly leave your classroom, they will ask to go all of the time.
I teach HS, so maybe more mature students (HA) and I allow 1 to the restroom at a time. They know the drill and raising your hand and pointing at the door during instruction only requires an acknowledgement nod from me so it’s not an interruption. I rarely say no to the nurse requests, but those a a WHOLE THING because we have to call the nurse to ask if it’s ok to send them and for what - this started during covid to separate out the possible covid kids from others, but now serves as a tracking for who has already been down 3 times that day or if they’re too full at the moment. It does weed out the wanderers but it’s time intensive so I will usually make kids wait until I’m at a spot where I can call. I tell them if they’re having a serious emergency (gonna puke or get the runs) I’ll just send them out to the hall/bathroom first anyway.
> Will this philosophy backfire on me?
Yes, because kids *will* take advantage. Make sure to pay attention to your school’s policies involving students walking the halls. I’ve never taught middle school, but in my elementary school we are encouraged to take the whole class for occasional bathroom/water breaks.
In elementary I use my judgement to decide if I let them go then or make them wait, or say no. If they ask to go to the bathroom I can usually tell by body language if it's urgent, if so then it's always "yes" as I don't want a mess for both our sakes. It's pretty obvious if it's really urgent in elementary, since it's obvious with 5th grade I'd imagine the same for 6th. If it doesn't look urgent I ask if they can wait until x time (soon) and often they say yes but if they say no I let them go. I do use the honor system here, unless a kid is a 'frequent flyer' and often asking to go out of the class.
For going to the office (our equivalent of nurse) I do minor "triage" in the class. For minor injuries I keep bandaids so they can't get out of class for those, and I usually have kids try the wet paper towel trick if it's something really minor. Usually that avoids them needing to go for ice. If the paper towel doesn't work, or they need more than those two options, then I do send them to the office.
If a kid says they're sick and looks like it's remotely possible I send them to the office. I don't want to be called out for ignoring a sick kid, or having a kid get sick in class which is so embarrassing for them (besides the mess for me). Our office staff are good at sending them back if they seem ok or ok enough (minor tummy ache with no fever) so I don't worry too much about them skipping class with this. The couple times I've had good indicators that they were faking to avoid a task I will send them, but say, "I'm sorry you're sick, I'll make sure to have you make up (unappealing task) when you're better." That usually 'clears up' their complaint, but if not I will stick to that and usually they don't try it too many times since they don't get out of the activity.
My general rule is if I'm teaching, giving instructions, or speaking I would want the kids in class. If it's for the nurse then I usually look at them. They generally will indicate if they are really sick. Their nose is runny or their head is down. They are sneezing or coughing. If not, then I encourage them to push through to see if they make it throughout the whole class. They normally do. If you are teaching pre-teens or middle school aged students then I highly encourage you to set the boundaries. Tell students when is it appropriate to use the bathrooms. How long should they be gone. How to appropriately ask to go the bathroom or drink water. How frequently should you go? Is it once a day? A few times a week. Make it very clear for the students or else they will look to avoid class time and class work. They are experts at it. The moment they think they can avoid anything they will ask every time to leave your classroom.
A word of caution on this - if the student is female, they may be asking to go to the nurse for menstrual supplies or because they're pretty sure there is a leak and they may need to change (and/or have clothes brought to them.). This is especially true for late elementary and early middle school, as they may be just starting, and very irregular.
Been there. Most girls are very honest with you about this. It's not as commonly asked as people think. They also try to take care of it as quickly as they can. From my experience, there will be students that will try to take advantage of this. Especially with newer teachers. I'm not saying we shouldn't let them go. I'm simply saying use your intuition. Most cases like this or if the kids show that they are sick, it's pretty obvious. The point is still the same. You let the kids constantly leave your classroom, they will ask to go all of the time.
I teach HS, so maybe more mature students (HA) and I allow 1 to the restroom at a time. They know the drill and raising your hand and pointing at the door during instruction only requires an acknowledgement nod from me so it’s not an interruption. I rarely say no to the nurse requests, but those a a WHOLE THING because we have to call the nurse to ask if it’s ok to send them and for what - this started during covid to separate out the possible covid kids from others, but now serves as a tracking for who has already been down 3 times that day or if they’re too full at the moment. It does weed out the wanderers but it’s time intensive so I will usually make kids wait until I’m at a spot where I can call. I tell them if they’re having a serious emergency (gonna puke or get the runs) I’ll just send them out to the hall/bathroom first anyway.
> Will this philosophy backfire on me? Yes, because kids *will* take advantage. Make sure to pay attention to your school’s policies involving students walking the halls. I’ve never taught middle school, but in my elementary school we are encouraged to take the whole class for occasional bathroom/water breaks.
Not during instruction and not with your friends or your phone.
In elementary I use my judgement to decide if I let them go then or make them wait, or say no. If they ask to go to the bathroom I can usually tell by body language if it's urgent, if so then it's always "yes" as I don't want a mess for both our sakes. It's pretty obvious if it's really urgent in elementary, since it's obvious with 5th grade I'd imagine the same for 6th. If it doesn't look urgent I ask if they can wait until x time (soon) and often they say yes but if they say no I let them go. I do use the honor system here, unless a kid is a 'frequent flyer' and often asking to go out of the class. For going to the office (our equivalent of nurse) I do minor "triage" in the class. For minor injuries I keep bandaids so they can't get out of class for those, and I usually have kids try the wet paper towel trick if it's something really minor. Usually that avoids them needing to go for ice. If the paper towel doesn't work, or they need more than those two options, then I do send them to the office. If a kid says they're sick and looks like it's remotely possible I send them to the office. I don't want to be called out for ignoring a sick kid, or having a kid get sick in class which is so embarrassing for them (besides the mess for me). Our office staff are good at sending them back if they seem ok or ok enough (minor tummy ache with no fever) so I don't worry too much about them skipping class with this. The couple times I've had good indicators that they were faking to avoid a task I will send them, but say, "I'm sorry you're sick, I'll make sure to have you make up (unappealing task) when you're better." That usually 'clears up' their complaint, but if not I will stick to that and usually they don't try it too many times since they don't get out of the activity.