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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Our Classroom Bee - Attitudes Rule Posters
Promote positive behaviour in the classroom with our Bee-Attitudes classroom display.
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Time To Eat – Lunch Procedures Mini Book
Teach your students appropriate lunch procedures with a printable Time to Eat Social Stories booklet.
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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 Learning Ladder - Vertical Chart
A vertical tracking chart for students behaviour in the classroom.
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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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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.
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Technology Routines Poster
Display this set of classroom technology routines and expectations near your electronic devices for smoother usage sessions.
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Classroom Expectations Posters
Display three of the most important classroom expectations with this set of posters.
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Morning Routine Checklist Pack
Start your day right and promote independence with a morning routine checklist.
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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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Classroom Reward System - Table Points Tracker
Encourage teamwork and positive behaviour at your table groups with a new classroom reward system.
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Parent Information Night PowerPoint Template
Prepare for your parent information night with a customisable slideshow template.
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Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Expectations Sort
A sorting activity to teach or review classroom behaviours.
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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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PRIDE Classroom Rules Poster Set
Display these classroom rules posters to encourage your students to take PRIDE in good behaviour.
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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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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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Tap Light Posters – Voice Level
Create voice-level expectations in the classroom with this set of 5 posters.
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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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Remember to Write Your Name Poster (Lower Primary)
Make nameless student work a thing of the past with this poster reminding students to write their name on their work.
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Try 3 Before Me Poster
Print a "3 before me" classroom poster to encourage students to try 3 things before asking for help.
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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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I Can Listen Poster
A set of posters to scaffold appropriate behaviour for the students when listening in class.
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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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Critters with Character - Classroom Behaviour System
Tame your ‘wild’ classroom behaviour with an animal-themed classroom management system.
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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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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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Positive Self-Talk Bookmark
A bookmark with positive self-talk affirmations.
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I Put My Hand Up to Speak Poster
A set of posters to scaffold appropriate behaviour for the students when speaking in class.
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Good Listener Posters
Use this poster to teach your students how to be good listeners.
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Slicing Up Good Choices! Class Reward Tracker
Encourage teamwork and positive behaviour in your classroom with a new pizza-themed classroom reward system.