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 behavior is expected in your room?
Set the refresh button on classroom management with printable classroom rules posters, games to help students learn classroom procedures, behavior charades, and more teaching resources created by the expert teachers at Teach Starter!
Looking for some tips on creating classroom rules and teaching them to your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
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 behavior.
A cornerstone of behavior management and classroom management, rules may cover everything from what is acceptable in the classroom to procedures that should be followed.
How to Teach Classroom Rules So Students Remember Them
You're going to be spending a lot of time reminding your students about your classroom rules, and that's OK. The need for repetition is normal!
But how do you make the learning stick? Here are some ideas from our teacher team to teach classroom rules at the start of the school year:
- Have your students create posters that show kids following the various rules in your classroom.
- Have your students role-play forgetting the rules and then having a do-over moment.
- Lead classroom discussions about why rules are important. Talk about what to do if you feel impulsive or forget to bring your best self to class.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. For example, if you use call and response, practice it until they all get it right, and praise the class each time they respond to reinforce the positive behavior.
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 behavior when they start to roll a little bit sideways.
- Plus Plan
Good Listener Anchor Charts
Use these anchor charts to teach your students how to be good listeners.
- Plus Plan
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!
- Plus Plan
How Do I Get Home? Backpack Tags & Forms
Use printable backpack tags to organize student transportation at the end of the school day.
- Plus Plan
Hall Pass Templates
Send your students down the hall in style with fun printable hall passes using our customizable hall pass templates.
- Free Plan
Free Google Slides Template for Teachers - Pink Spots
Prepare and instruct your students on day-to-day classroom happenings with a ‘Pretty in Pink’ Google Slides Template for teachers.
- Plus Plan
Meet The Teacher Presentation Template
Introduce yourself and your classroom expectations to parents and students with a customizable Meet the Teacher Slideshow!
- Plus Plan
Keeping My Hands and Feet to Myself Mini-Book
Teach your students about the importance of keeping their hands and feet to themselves with this printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Lining Up Mini-Book
Teach your students the proper way to line up with this printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Playground Rules Mini-Book
Remind your students about playground rules with this printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Rules for School Mini-Book
Remind students about appropriate behaviors at school with this printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Classroom Hand Signal Anchor Charts
Strengthen classroom management and reduce classroom interruptions with miniature hand signal posters and bookmarks.
- Plus Plan
Critters with Character - Classroom Behavior System
Tame your ‘wild’ classroom behavior with an animal-themed classroom management system.
- Plus Plan
What Are Desk Pets? Introduction Slide Deck
Introduce your students to your Desk Pet Classroom Reward System with an engaging slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Good Choice or Bad Choice? Worksheet
Help your students differentiate between good and bad behavior choices with a cut-and-paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Just Be - Classroom Expectations Posters
Set clear classroom expectations and provide daily behavior reminders to your students with a set of colorful "Be-havior" posters.
- Free Plan
Classroom Expectations - Behavioral Visual Support Posters
Set clear expectations with a visual classroom expectations poster for the classroom.
- Plus Plan
P.R.I.D.E. Classroom Rules Poster Set
Set your expectations for classroom behavior at the beginning of a school year with a set of printable classroom rule posters.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Rules Around Us Sorting Activity
Identify rules at home, in school, and around the community with a sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
Classroom Expectations Posters
Display three of the most important classroom expectations with this set of posters.
- Plus Plan
Number Talks - Hand Signal Poster Pack
Remind your students of the basic hand signals to use in number talks with this pack of 5 poster.
- Plus Plan
Rules for Classroom Technology - Lower Grades Posters
Remind primary students of the rules when using classroom technology.
- Plus Plan
Four Squares of Learning - A Getting to Know You Worksheet
Learn your students' expectations for the new school year with this first week of school activity.
- Plus Plan
Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Expectations Sort
Review appropriate classroom behaviors with this sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
I Can Listen Poster
A poster to scaffold appropriate behavior for students when listening in class.
- Free Plan
I Put My Hand Up to Speak Poster
A poster to scaffold appropriate behavior for the students when speaking in class.
- Plus Plan
Classroom Hand Signals - Poster Collection
Strengthen classroom management and cut down on classroom interruptions with a set of classroom hand signal posters.
- Plus Plan
Respect Self, Others, and the Environment Posters
Encourage your students to respect themselves, others, and the environment with this set of 4 classroom posters.
- Plus Plan
Behavior Learning Ladder - Vertical Chart
Track your students behavior in the classroom with this set of 7 posters.
- Plus Plan
Our Classroom Rules - Set of 8 Posters
Remind students of classroom rules and expectations with this set of 8 posters.
- Plus Plan
Blurt Buttons - Classroom Management Strategy
Curb calling out in your classroom with the Blurt Button Classroom Management Strategy.
- Free Plan
Free Classroom Management Booster Pack
A free sample pack that includes classroom management resources.