How You Can Support Students Who Leave The Room Without Permission
Elopement can be scary. No, I don't mean running off to get married... I'm talking about when students leave the classroom without permission. When this happens, it can be frustrating (for all involved), distracting, and even dangerous. Thankfully, there are some strategies that can help you prevent, handle, and process these situations.
Having systems set in place, knowing what to do when a child leaves the room without permission, and having the right conversations after the fact can make a big difference. Keep reading for practical ways in which you can support students who struggle with this.
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Strategies For Preventing Elopement
Thankfully, there are some things that you can do ahead of time to help the child stay in the room, or at least make it more difficult for them to leave unnoticed.
One thing that can be helpful is moving the student’s desk to a spot in the classroom that is away from the door. Doing this makes it a little bit harder for the student to physically leave the classroom. If the student is far from the door and decides to leave the classroom, the teacher may have more time to intervene before the student makes it out of the room.
Another strategy that will help the teacher notice the child leaving the room is to keep the door closed and place bells on the door. When the door opens, the bells will make a noise that will alert the teacher so that he/she can try to stop the student.
Many times, students leave the classroom because of a need to escape a situation or feeling. Try providing a safe space within the classroom where the student can go to meet that need. It can be as simple as a chair or desk in the room that is away from other students and activities. You can also include resources to help students feel calm, such as fidgets, headphones, or these free breathing posters.
When The Student Has Left The Classroom
Once the student has left the classroom - the first priority should be the child’s safety. Make sure that you know where they are and follow any protocol or plan that your school has. Once the child has been located and his/her safety is confirmed, here are some things to keep in mind:
Make sure that all students are supervised. If you are a classroom teacher, collaborate with other staff members to ensure that one person can be with the student who left the room and one person can remain with the rest of your class.
Take steps to make sure you are calm. Try some deep breathing, positive self-talk, or hand squeezes to help your body and brain feel more regulated. The more calm you are, the better you will be able to support the student.
Keep the student in view, but give them space. In many cases, chasing the student can make things worse. Chances are that if a student has left the room, they are feeling upset. Allowing them to take time to calm down is an important step in their return to the classroom.
After The Elopement: When The Student Is Calm
The most important part of supporting students who leave the room without permission is the processing that happens once they are calm. During this time, it can be helpful to have an honest conversation about why the child left the room, how the teachers/other students felt, and what the student needs in order to make sure they stay in the room next time. During this conversation, ask the student to think about what will help them stay in the classroom. By asking them what they need, the student will feel listened to and supported. If possible, follow through on any suggestions that the student offers.
At this time, it’s also helpful to consider why the student left without permission. The student may be able to tell you this information, or you may have to think more about what happened before the student left that caused the elopement.
Here are some common reasons why a student may leave without permission:
Pursuit of a preferred activity - i.e., leaving the classroom to go do something they enjoy
Desire for attention and connection from an adult
Task avoidance
One tool that can help you identify the motivation behind the behavior is the QABF (Questions About Behavioral Function) Form that you can download for free here.
Once you have an idea of why the student is leaving without permission, work together with the student, family, and other staff to come up with a plan to decrease the behavior. Some interventions that might be helpful are:
Coping skills training
Academic support
Frequent, structured breaks
Assisting the student in using appropriate communication methods
For more information on this step, check out this article from the NIH National Library of Medicine.
Students leaving the classroom without permission can be challenging for everyone involved. My hope is that you can use these strategies to prevent, handle, and process these situations. For more tips on supporting student behavior, grab my free behavior cheat sheets by signing up below. They are perfect to keep on hand, or even to give to families and other school staff!
