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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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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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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Classroom Procedures Scoot Game
Review classroom and school procedures as a back-to-school activity with a game of Scoot!
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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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Critters with Character - Classroom Behaviour System
Tame your ‘wild’ classroom behaviour with an animal-themed classroom management system.
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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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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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We Are... Class Rules Posters
Set your new students up for success with this set of 11 classroom expectation 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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Our Classroom Bee - Attitudes Rule Posters
Promote positive behaviour in the classroom with our Bee-Attitudes classroom display.
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I Can Listen Poster
A set of posters to scaffold appropriate behaviour for the students when listening in class.
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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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The Science of Independent Learning — Printable Classroom Poster
Poster to help students learn independently in the classroom.
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The Magic of Independent Learning - Full Poster
Poster to help students learn independently in the classroom.
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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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Charades-Inspired Good Behaviour Game
Explore appropriate and inappropriate behaviours at the beginning of a new school year with a Good Behaviour Game.
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Morning Routine Checklist Pack
Start your day right and promote independence with a morning routine checklist.
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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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How Do I Get Home? Backpack Tags & Forms
Use printable bus and car rider tags for schools to organise the dismissal process at the end of the school day.
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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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Playground Rules Mini-Book
Remind your students about playground rules with this printable mini-book.
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Retell Writing Activity - Classroom Routines and Procedures
Practise writing stories of characters who demonstrate a proper understanding of classroom expectations with this back to school retell writing activity.
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Mystery Prize Picker - Interactive Behaviour Rewards
Reward your students with special surprises by using our interactive behaviour reward picker!
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Classroom Store Kit
Set up a classroom economy and open your very own Classroom Store with a printable classroom store starter kit.
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What are Desk Pets? Introduction Slide Deck
Introduce your students to your Desk Pet Classroom Reward System with an engaging slide deck.
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Desk Pet Application
Encourage students to boost their behaviour by implementing a Desk Pet Adoption Drive in your classroom, starting with an application!
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Classroom Rules and Expectations – Cut and Paste Worksheets
Start your year off right by reviewing classroom rules with a cut-and-paste, writing and drawing activity.
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Back to School Pamphlet
Share important information with parents and guardians with this back to school printable pamphlet.
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Back to School - Procedure Exit Tickets
Assess student knowledge of classroom rules and procedures with quick and easy exit tickets.
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Design Your Own Procedure Anchor Chart Template
Design your own custom classroom procedure anchor charts with a customisable anchor chart template.
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I Can Follow the Rules at School – Mini-Book
Use this mini-book to review or introduce school and classroom rules to your primary students.