Do you have students who never seem to listen? Having a hard time saying your class rules are non-negotiable?
Don't worry, you are not alone! Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem. You can have effective teaching rules that benefit your students and you! Creating classroom rules can be a challenging task, but we have all the tips and tricks you need to make it easy.
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Why Class Rules Matter
The 30 best classroom rules
Effective Approaches to Classroom Rules
How to create your own class rules
respect class rules
frequently asked questions
See why classroom rules matter
Well, there are many reasons why you should have classroom rules. Here are a few:
1. Set expectations and consequences
Establishing rules in your classroom creates a respectful environment where students know what to expect from you and vice versa. Set boundaries and make it clear that the classroom is not a place for anarchy or chaos. You can limit offenders by applying the consequences described in the rules.
2. Give the students an overview of the lesson time.
Everyone likes to be in control of their day. It's useful not only for you, but also for your students to know what's coming next. You can easily plan a lesson by considering all the activities you have prepared and how long each one will last. An overview of the semester will help your students stay on course and increase their engagement with what is being taught.
3. Reduce behavioral problems
Class Rules are a great way to do thiscope with behavioral problemsin the class. They get all students on the same page so they know what's expected and can adjust accordingly. When there are consequences for not following the rules, students are less likely to behave in class.
4. Increase productivity
You'll find that your students are more engaged when they know what's expected of them. They will not wander around or seek advice on how to spend their college years. Having class rules makes it easier for you to manage your time efficiently and achieve what you came here to do.
List of 30 classroom rules
Now that you know the benefits of classroom rules, let's look at some of them. We have compiled a list of 30 basic rules for you. If any of these are not appropriate for your students, you can change them as needed. Are here:
Related reading: Engaging social-emotional learning activities for the classroom1. Show up for class on time.
2. Raise your hand to speak or volunteer.
3. Follow the school dress code.
4. Don't cheat or copy other people's work.
5. Complete all tasks.
6. Listen to the teacher as he speaks and answer his question.
7. Respect everyone in the class.
8. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.
9. Respect school property.
10. Keep your language clean and appropriate for the classroom environment.
11. Don't leave your seat without permission.
12. Do not eat or drink (except water) during class.
13. Learn at least one thing you didn't know before you came to class.
14. Ask for help if you don't understand something the teacher just said and be respectful when you ask.
15. Arrive on time for every assignment or exam (except for medical or other emergencies).
16. Do your best every day, no matter how much time you have left in class.
17. Never give up on yourself or your goals.
18. Be open to new ideas and change without prejudice!
19. Treat others as you would like to be treated, with kindness and respect.
21. Be friends with everyone in the class and keep your friendships strong.
22. Listen to what the teacher says and follow the instructions carefully.
23. Apologize if you make a mistake or accidentally hurt someone.
24. Tell the truth!
25. Raise your hand when you have questions and wait for them to call you.
26. Nobody should feel bad for who they are.
27. Respect the ideas and opinions of others, even if you disagree with them.
28. Be proud of your work and turn it in on time.
29. Don't let anyone influence you to do something you know is wrong.
30. Always do your best. Never give up!
And there you have it, 30 classroom rules that will keep your students engaged and productive in the classroom! Some of the rules may only apply to certain subjects or grades. Feel free to change/delete rules that don't apply to your classroom. Now let's learn how to create your own rules that work best for you and your students.
Class Rules: What's the Best Approach?
Now that we've explained why class rules are important, let's talk about how to create them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; depends on youteaching styleand what you want to achieve in the classroom can be rigid or flexible.
Rules that are too strict or inappropriate for your class.
There is something very strict. And if you already have behavior problems in your classroom, no rules will help unless you significantly change the way your students perceive and understand the purpose of the rules. Depending on the nature of the lesson, it can be difficult to have appropriate rules for each student. Sometimes the number of advantages does not outweigh the number of disadvantages.
Rules too flexible or not respected by students
If you have flexible class rules, your students will want to use them. And if you don't respect them yourself, they may not be very effective. You can create a hostile environment in your classroom if you or your students don't take the rules seriously.
How to set your own teaching rules and create a culture of positive expectations
In order to set rules that work for everyone, it's best to know what type of class it is and how strict it needs to be. Everyone has different expectations, so don't force yourself to follow a particular model. If you don't want a rigid list of rules, that's fine. You can still have a positive classroom culture by being flexible with guidelines and focusing more on student behavior than their actions.
Here are some simple steps you can take to get started:
Related reading: The Best Classroom Management Strategies for Better Participation1. Choose your keywords carefully
First you need to decide what words to use when discussing the rules. Your students need to know that these aren't just guidelines, they are real expectations that they must meet. You may refer to these as your "classroom guidelines" or "classroom guidelines." Whichever words you choose, make sure your students know what they are.
2. Make them clear and understandable
The next step is to clarify them, especially if you are making a list with more than one rule. Use easy-to-understand words so students don't get confused or misinterpret the rules themselves. You can also create a presentation or handout with examples of the rules in specific situations so students know how to respond. Using Splashlearn
3. Communicate with your students
Once you have your list of rules, share them clearly and frequently with your students. Keep a copy of it for all your students to see and post lesson reminders for them to refer to. When it comes to class rules, repetition is essential when it comes to reinforcing them with your students.
4. Adjust them based on classroom feedback.
Based on your effectiveness, you will learn what works and what doesn't work well in your classroom. Make changes to improve on the go instead of waiting until the end of the semester or school year. You can also adjust or modify them based on your students' feedback to make them more comfortable with it.
5. Don't overdo it
Too many rules can have the opposite effect, so it's best to keep things simple. If you're having trouble creating enough rules, focus more on behaviors than actions. For example, when a student fails to follow non-verbal cues such as raising a hand or remaining silent during class discussions, this is behavior that needs to be addressed.
6. Use effective disciplining strategies
Instead of worrying about class rules, focus on how you will deal with breaking them. There are many ways to respond to misconduct and discipline students accordingly, so don't get bogged down in the number of rules you have for individual students. They need to know that the rules are not there to make life difficult for them, but to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.
7. Don't use the same rules in every classroom.
Your students will notice when you use the exact same rules with other classes or teachers, so it's best to adapt them to your own teaching philosophy. You can always start with another teacher's list of rules to use as a base, but make it your own by adding or removing a few over time.
8. Make them easily accessible to students
Make sure they are easily accessible and available for your students to refer to when needed. By keeping physical copies in different locations, e.g. B. in front of or on the whiteboard, on the desk or in a folder, they are easily accessible.
9. Don't let the rules rule you.
Remember to keep things balanced by not allowing the rules to become too focused on your students during class time. It's also important to give positive praise when they take necessary action or behave well.
10. Start at the beginning
Some teachers like to start with the rules in the first few days of class, others prefer to wait until later when their students are more comfortable with things. You can even start using them right away if you know your students will be different and need some adjustment time. It all depends on how well they work for your specific students.
11. Make them age appropriate
Consider what type of rules are most useful for your class and needs. They must be age appropriate. Therefore, when teaching elementary school students, it is not recommended to use complex words or phrases that may be overlooked. When in doubt, it helps to choose phrases you are familiar with, such as “Raise your hand before you speak” or “Come prepared to class”.
How to comply with class rules
Many teachers wonder exactly how to keep their students up to date on following class rules. Here are some effective methods.
Related reading: Implementing Restorative Practices in the Classroom1. Draw consequences
If students are breaking the class rules, you should address them by giving them an aConsequencesuitable for your actions. If they didn't follow one of your rules, just explain why and what the general rule is so they understand better.
2. Use positive reinforcement to reward good behavior
teachers who usepositive reinforcementFind out with your students that students don't need as many consequences because they are already good. Be sure to compliment good behavior when you see or hear it, but avoid saying negative things about bad behavior as it can lead him to think it's okay to misbehave.
You can give out tokens throughout the day to those who behave well, which are converted into credits at the end and can be used for special privileges like a student of the day, early break or choosing your own seat.
3. Monitor class performance
The key to effective instructional policies is a system that works for you and your students, so be sure to monitor their performance throughout the school year. You can useSplashAprenderto gain insight into overall and individual student performance to help you understand where they need to work the most.
4. Be consistent with consequences and rewards.
It is imperative that you consistently enforce your rules and reward good behavior if you both want to function well in your students' school lives! Make sure you comply with any specified penalties and rewards, otherwise they will not encourage compliance.
5. Stay positive
From day one, it's important to maintain a positive classroom environment where your students feel safe and comfortable so they want to behave as little as possible. Once you set up this type of classroom, you will find that most problems can be solved without consequences since they are minimal to begin with.
6. Be patient
Remember that this process takes a lot of time and patience, so don't be frustrated if you're still having trouble from time to time. Before class begins, discuss the rules with your students and ask them to help you develop problem-solving methods. By keeping lines of communication open, you can resolve issues that arise so you don't have to punish anyone.
7. Use technology as an additional resource
Teachers who use classroom management software like SplashLearn find that it helps them interact more effectively with their students. The platform offers comprehensive assessment and attendance tracking so you can continuously monitor your student performance throughout the school year and access helpful student performance resources.
8. Be prepared for emergencies
Unfortunately, even the best class and student rules can lead to accidents. Because of this, you should have a plan in place for how your class will deal with emergencies before they happen, so you are prepared should something happen. The more prepared you are in advance, the more effective you will be in an emergency.
Conclusion
The list of lesson rules will be endless, but here are 30 basic rules to help you create your own or refine the ones you already have.
From simple things like "Raise your hand before you speak" and "Come prepared to class" to more complex concepts like teaching students how the brain works so they can process information better and gain a higher level of understanding and achieve success in school.
It may seem overwhelming at first, but once you start applying these principles, it's easy to see why teachers who apply them feel less stressed overall. Let us know if you can think of anything we've missed and we might just add it to the list!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can you make the rules meaningful to students?
Kids are easy to please and science proves it! Many factors go into making the rules meaningful to students. We suggest that you allow students to participate in creating the rules. When that happens, everyone feels like they have a stake in what's happening and that things are fair for everyone. In addition, they will feel that their opinions are heard and valued by you as an educator.
How can I make sure the students trust what I say?
Teachers need to be credible in their classrooms. When you are the teacher, your goal is to gain your students' trust so that they will listen to you when you need them. There are several possibilities for this. First, create a classroom culture where your students know that what they say matters and is applied. Second, never say anything you don't mean. If you do this, your students will quickly learn to ignore you when necessary. Finally, make sure to follow through with the consequences you revealed earlier!
How Many Class Rules Should You Have?
We all know that too many cooks spoil the broth in the kitchen. The same goes for the class rules. Teachers who can quickly grab their students' attention without talking too much tend to have fewer rules. However, this may not be suitable for all learning levels or age groups. Also, teachers need to consider what their school expects of them in terms of the rules. Ultimately, no one can say for sure how many rules you should have in your classroom. It's best to consider all of the above and come up with a list that works for you!
What is the most important rule in class?
This all depends on what you want to achieve as a teacher. For example, some teachers say that the most important rule is, "Raise your hand before you speak." We think this would be beneficial for students who have trouble staying focused or who don't know when it's their turn to speak in class. When working with students who are having a hard time staying focused, this may be one of the most important rules.