How to stop hallway distractions when door windows can't be covered
School safety policies that prohibit covering classroom door windows leave teachers unable to block out disruptive wandering students. This prevents the class from focusing and forces teachers to constantly interrupt instruction.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Hanging custom curtains or shades with a tension rod to quickly block distractionsDid this help you?
- 2Keeping classroom doors locked at all times while leaving windows uncovered or doors propped openDid this help you?
- 3Using oversized or embarrassing physical objects as hall passesDid this help you?
- 4Attaching tracking tags to hall passesDid this help you?
- 5Threatening extra homework if the pass is not returnedDid this help you?
- 6banning toys or specific fidget items outrightDid this help you?
- 7enforcing strict no-tolerance policies unless mandated by an IEP or 504 planDid this help you?
- 8having students place items on a designated table until the end of classDid this help you?
- 9contacting parents via emailDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The middle schoolers are playing with them, won't put them up. They explode.”source ↗
“Three girls arguing about it in the back and I tell them to put it on the table where basically extra belongings go.”source ↗
“It wasn't their fault they stabbed it with a pencil and squished it til it exploded. It wasn't their fault they took some else's squishie.”source ↗
“I then covered the door window, and it got the class refocused on my co-teachers lessons so she can finish teaching the lesson.”source ↗
“My coteacher mentioned that covering door windows isn't allowed.”source ↗
“As for the window in the door, its supposed to be uncovered except in a lock down. However, I have pulled down the shade when students were being purposely distracting in the hall.”source ↗
“We have laminated cards but they always end up missing in someone pocket.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Why do walkie-talkies keep interrupting class all day?
- 27How to stop classroom interruptions from photo and video documentation
- 73What do you call students who copy or police classroom instructions?
- 10How to balance classroom control with letting students talk
- 9Should I let students eat snacks in class?
- 5How to stop kindergarteners from constantly tattling?