A well-founded set of class rules has the power to make any school year great. Great teachers know that rules make learning possible and work hard to choose them. Follow these tips for coming up with the right rules for your class and implementing them. Show
Keep It SimpleBecause rules are meant to serve students, they should be logical and straightforward enough that they make sense after minimal explanation. If a rule is confusing and/or its purpose unclear, your students will have trouble practicing it. Follow these guidelines for designing a functional set of rules that is most likely to have its intended results.
Choosing Between General and Class-Specific RulesMost teachers tend to follow a similar roadmap for rule-setting: Briefly highlight student preparedness, outline what being respectful of others and school property looks like, and set behavioral expectations during instruction. These standard guidelines are prominent for good reason. There is nothing wrong with having rules similar to those of other teachers. In fact, this can make your students' lives easier in a lot of ways. However, nonspecific rules don't always make the most sense and you shouldn't feel tied to them. Teachers can deviate from the norm as they see fit based on what will work best in their classroom. Use a combination of general and class-specific rules until you are comfortable with your code of conduct. Sample General RulesThere are some rules that can be applied to every classroom. This is true of the following examples.
Sample Class-Specific RulesWhen general rules don't cut it, teachers can use more precise language to put their expectations into words. Here are some examples.
Steps for Introducing Class Rules to StudentsAlways introduce rules to your students as soon as possible, ideally within the first few days of school. Prioritize this over other activities and introductions because rules lay the groundwork for how your class will function. Follow these steps for success when presenting class guidelines to students.
How do you establish clear rules and procedures in the classroom?Implement Classroom Norms. Create your own list of classroom norms and present them to the class.. Have students contribute additional items.. Have the class create their own items and decide on the list of norms as a group.. Include these norms in the course syllabus.. Present norms as a contract students must sign.. How do you establish rules?State the rules in terms of positive expectations of behavior you want to see. Be careful about stating rules in the form of "Don't." Think about specific examples of behavior that would demonstrate each rule. Post the rules in your classroom.
What do rules and procedures provide in the classroom setting?Establishing classroom rules and procedures helps teachers maintain class routines and student expectations for classwork and behaviors. Classroom rules and procedures that are clearly defined and posted help students understand what is appropriate and what is not, as well as the consequences for rule violations.
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