Start with the big picture: what core values should inform the way you and your students interact? Values like self-respect, positivity, encouragement and passion are all great places to start.Take those big-picture rules and u
se them to create smaller, more actionable ones. If you want to promote respect in your classroom, create rules that ask students to use positive language, respect their classmates’ property and keep their hands to themselves.Emphasize that rules are in place to guide student learning. Communicate to students that classroom rules make the classroom a safe and supportive environment for all students.
Get students involved in creating classroom rules
Take the core values you want to see in your classroom and present them to your class. Let students extrapolate and list behaviors that model key principles. Challenge them to think about what each looks like in the classroom and to develop specific scenarios that act out the rules they’ve brainstormed.After brainstorming, develop a final list of rules as a group. Which ones do students think are the most important? If they disagree with a rule, ask them to explain why.
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Discuss with them why the rule was made and how you can adjust it to the specific needs of the class.While it’s good to include students in the rule-making process, it’s also important to remember that the final say on what goes stays with you. When you explain and collaborate on the rules, students are more likely to accept and respect your authority.
Build the foundation
There are so many benefits to building a classroom that feels like a community: improved student academics, respectful discussions, and a are just a few. Classroom rules can help establish a sense of community when they’re built on collective classroom valuesClassroom rules look different for every teacher. Some use only a few, while others prefer to use more. Here are 37 rules to get you started on building your own:
- Ask questions
- Respect and listen to your classmates
- Respect and listen to the teacher
- Raise your hand to speak
- Be prepared for class
- Be quiet when the teacher is talking
- Be quiet when classmates are talking
- Share new ideas
- Keep your hands to yourself
- Respect others’ property
- Keep your workspace tidy
- Be kind
- Always do your best
- Walk, don’t run, in the hallways
- Be a good friend
- Be on time
- Share with others
- Use equipment properly
- Help keep the classroom tidy
- Listen to all the teachers
- Obey all school rules
- Finish your homework on time
- Be respectful of classmates who are working
- Have a good attitude
- Use positive language
- Follow the dress code
- Line up neatly and quietly
- Stay in your seat
- Listen with your ears and your eyes
- Contribute to discussions
- Be respectful of others’ ideas
- Follow the teacher’s directions the first time they are given
- Cooperate with your classmates
- Be creative
- Be honest
- Use technology appropriately
- Be proud of your work
