Skip to main content
Student Services » Tardy/Late to School/Absences

Tardy/Late to School/Absences

A student who is tardy/late or absent may...
 
  • be struggling with a home-based issue
  • worried about something happening at school
  • struggling with self-esteem or feeling unsuccessful about an academic issue
  • being bullied or teased
  • struggle with separation from a trusted adult
  • feel unwelcome or out of place in the classroom
  • have a legitimate medical condition that impacts them
  • get distracted between classes or transitions
  • linger in a preferred setting 
  • have processing speed or executive functioning challenges
  • be a slow eater
  • have a poor concept of time
 
When supporting a student who is tardy/late or absent, some general strategies involve
 
  • check in and coordinate with family and office staff to gather more information
  • explore the situation with curiosity, not consequence
  • work with the student to set timers
  • preview the upcoming transition
  • coordinate with other teachers on your team to close the period/activity before with ample time to make the transition for that student
  • schedule/rearrange the schedule to have most preferred subjects at the time that is the most challenging for on-time arrival (develops connection/motivation)
  • use humor to help the conversation about causes
  • have staff in the hallways between classes
  • consider your "hard boundaries" (ex:  If a student is not in their seat at the bell but outside the door, consider the two options--getting them into the room for learning or sending them to the office effectively missing additional instructional time.  Both are appropriate at times but select thoughtfully.) 
  • talk about the facts neutrally--without judgment; share the details
 
Interventions may include
 
  • consider your interventions/consequences in light of what the student has control over vs. a parent of home challenge that is out of their hands
  • use a check-in/check-out system
  • build in highly preferred transition activities (i.e., iPad game time for arriving to school)
  • build in rewards for on-time arrival; monitor and reinforce frequently 
  • identify and use a transition person (staff or TA) who can move with the student from one location to another
  • be very aware of greeting a tardy student--be happy they arrived, rather than your first interaction being a re-direction/negative one (your interaction may reinforce tardiness/avoidance or a positive connection to school)
  • call or email the students directly to encourage them to come to school/your class; make them feel wanted
Literature Links
 
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
I Don't Want to Go to School by Nancy Pando
I am Not Going to School Today by Robie Harris
Late for School by Stephanie Calmensen
 
 
Teacher Readings
 
Attendance Support Strategies--Teaching Tolerance
Attendance Impacts--Understood.Org