Classroom Rules and Expectations Teaching Resources
Ready to introduce your classroom rules and expectations? Or maybe your students could really use some practice to make sure they know what behaviour is expected in your room?
Set the refresh button on classroom management with printable classroom rules posters, games to help students learn classroom procedures, behaviour charades and more teaching resources created by the expert teachers at Teach Starter!
What Are Classroom Rules?
The name may seem self-explanatory to some, but there's no shame in wanting to learn more! Classroom rules are basic guidelines for students to follow, so they know what is expected of them when it comes to classroom behaviour.
A cornerstone of behaviour management and classroom management, rules may cover everything from what is acceptable in the classroom to procedures that should be followed.
Why Are Classroom Rules Important?
The exact rules in a classroom may vary based on your teaching philosophy, the age and abilities of your students, district rules and a whole lot more, but the basic premise is the same: Students need structure and order.
Well-defined rules that are implemented well and consistently enforced provide bumpers for students not unlike the bumpers in a bowling alley. Students can move around between them, but they're there to gently guide students back toward appropriate behaviour when they start to roll a little bit sideways.
What Are Some Good Classroom Rules?
Yes, we already mentioned that every teacher has different rules for the classroom — after all, what is considered acceptable behavioir by one teacher might set another teacher's teeth on edge. But there are some basic rules that can work in every classroom, or at least give you some ideas when you sit down to write your expectations out for your students.
Explore these options, and pick and choose the right ones for you:
- Raise your hand and wait to be called on rather than calling out.
- Do not interrupt classmates.
- Listen when classmates are speaking.
- Clean up any messes you make.
- No name-calling.
- Share classroom toys and supplies with your classmates.
- Try new things.
- Encourage your classmates.
- Do your best.
- Try hard things.
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Visual First-Then Schedule for the Classroom
Communicate a sequence of events with this visual first-then board and set of 48 picture cards.
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THINK Strategy - Think Before You Speak Poster
Promote positive communication using the THINK strategy and our printable Think Before You Speak Poster.
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Teacher Waiting Room - Clip System
Calm classroom chaos when students need one-on-one help from the teacher with a printable Teacher Waiting List Clip System!
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Classroom Procedures Checklist
Determine and track which classroom procedures and routines you will teach at the beginning of the school year with a classroom procedures checklist and tracking sheet.
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Attention-Grabbing Phrase Cards - Call and Response
Display and use a variety of call and response phrases in your classroom with our printable attention-getter cards.
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Visual Reward Chart
A visual reward chart along with token and reward cards to use in the classroom.
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Whole Body Listening – Poster and Worksheet
Use this poster and accompanying worksheet to teach your students about whole body listening.
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Free iPad Rules Classroom Poster
Display this classroom poster to set the boundaries and rules around using school iPads in the classroom.
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Desk Pet Habitat Templates
Encourage positive behaviour with printable Desk Pet Habitats for your students to spend their Desk Pet Dollars on!
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Student Behaviour Contract Template
Create a classroom community and ensure adherence to rules and procedures with a printable Student Behaviour Contract Template.
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Above and Below the Line Behaviours – Sorting Activity
Remind students of behaviours that are 'above the line,' 'below the line,' and 'bottom-line' with this sorting activity.
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I Need a Break - Choice Boards
Help upset students regulate their emotions in the classroom with our printable ‘I Need a Break!’ choice boards.
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Playground Rules Mini-Book
Remind your students about playground rules with this printable mini-book.
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Classroom Jobs Display
Keep track of classroom responsibilities with a Classroom Jobs Display!
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Behaviour Intervention Cheat Sheet
Keep a Behaviour Intervention Cheat Sheet at your fingertips to help manage classroom behaviours quickly and easily.
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Back to School Problem Solving Task Cards
Use this set of 20 task cards when teaching behaviour expectations during your back-to-school lessons.
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Behaviour Reflection Sheet for Upper Years Students
Use this printable behaviour slip template for students when reflecting on their behaviour choices.
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End of Day Checklist & Poster
Help your students remember end-of-day classroom procedures with a printable poster and packing-up checklist.
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Rules for School Mini-Book
Remind students about appropriate behaviours at school with this printable mini-book.
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Behaviour Reflection Sheet – Lower Years
Invite your early years students to reflect on their behaviour choices with this behaviour think sheet.
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Good Choice or Bad Choice? Worksheet
Help your students differentiate between good and bad behaviour choices with a cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Our Classroom Bee - Attitudes Rule Posters
Promote positive behaviour in the classroom with our Bee-Attitudes classroom display.
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Noise Metre Classroom Poster
Remind your students of the appropriate noise level within the classroom with our noise monitor poster.
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Good Listener Posters
Use this poster to teach your students how to be good listeners.
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Hand Signals For Classroom Management
Strengthen classroom management and reduce classroom interruptions with miniature hand signal posters and bookmarks.
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Virtual Classroom Management - Interactive Reward Charts
Track and reward extraordinary class behaviour with a set of fun digital reward tracking slides.
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Classroom Routines for Independent Work Checklist
Give your students a checklist to remind them of classroom routines to follow when working independently.
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Respect Self, Others and the Environment Posters
Encourage students to respect themselves, others and the environment with a set of printable class rule posters.
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Task Initiation Bookmark – My Morning Routine
Ensure your students start off on the right foot with this morning routine checklist bookmark!
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Sample Behaviour Goals
Print a list of 20 ideas to use for behaviour goals in primary school.
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Hall Pass Templates
Send your students down the hall in style with fun printable hall passes using our customisable hall pass templates.
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Behaviour Learning Ladder - Vertical Chart
A vertical tracking chart for students behaviour in the classroom.