I generally don’t have much of a problem with students coming late for class. I think that’s due for a couple of reasons:

* I’m clear with all students that class starts three minutes before the bell rings. Since our school is divided into Small Learning Communities (300 students stay together with the same twenty teachers for four years, and we’re geographically all in the same place) students definitely don’t need seven minutes to physically walk to the next class.

* I think most students just like being in my class (at least, most of the time)

The occasional issue, though, arises for first period and right after lunch.

When a student is late, I ask them to go outside with me and I say something like:

“It makes me sad when you’re not in class at time. I look forward to seeing you. It makes me feel like you don’t want to be here and you don’t like our class. I’m sure you don’t want to make me said, do you? Can you be on time in the future, please?”

I typically say it in an exaggerated tone. And, except for very rare situations (students who face particular transportation or behavior challenges), it usually only takes one time. It actually seems to work best sometimes with students who have major behavior challenges.

It gets the point across clearly, it seems to work, students re-enter the classroom focused on learning, and I feel good about it. Sounds like a win/win.

In many ways, it has similar elements to my “Be Niiiiiicccccceeeee” strategy.

What strategies do you find works to deter students from coming late to your class?