The dreaded "Can I go to the bathroom?" solution

How many of you dread each class waiting for that first kid to ultimately ask to go to the bathroom and then start the rest of the class asking?  This is definitely one of the major issues you face in any classroom, but I always hate letting students go because most of the time they take forever to return and then they miss important instruction.  My first year teaching was a disaster when it came to the bathroom as I did not keep track of when a student would go, how many times they were going, ect.  I would end up with students that would always go during my class and I would let them go whenever.  Last year I did a full sheet of passes for the entire year and each student was given a pass for each 3 week period.  If students did not use the pass they were given 5 points on a test during that 3 week period.  In theory this was a wonderful idea, not so much in practice.  As an English teacher it is extremely hard to always be on top of grading and the passes became such a burden that by December I was done!  Some of the problems I had was: 1) getting the correct points on the right test, 2) many times a test/quiz did not line up with the pass due dates, 3) and getting it back to them on time for them to use the next pass.  It just did not work for me, but one of the things I did implement that I plan to keep is that students could not ask to go while I was up instructing the class.  This was one of the best things and it solved the problem of missed instruction time.  This year I have devised a new pass system that will be a lot less upkeep for me, but still keep the students accountable.

 This will be what my new pass is going to look like, but I plan to run it on colored paper and laminate it.  When I print it I will have 10 on a page so it is going to be business card size.  I will write each student's name on the card in permanent maker and when they want to go to the bathroom (at the appropriate time) I will just hole punch the appropriate number.  Each student will have 8 chances to go during a semester, but they are going to be responsible to keep up with the pass and bring it to class each day.  At the end of the semester I will have them turn in their passes and if the student has 6 or more left I will give them 10 points on their semester exam.  

Every teacher wants this to happen...

but we all know that this is never the case.  If you would like to use this pass head over to my TPT store and you can purchase it for 1.00.  Bath Room Passes
If you have any other suggestions or ideas for battling the pesky bathroom business please let me know in the comments below!

~Whitney