How to Make Rules Your Class Will Actually Follow
Running a classroom can seem as impossible as controlling a pack of wild dogs. Regain control by making rules your class will actually follow.
Up next in Teaching Tips (4 videos)
Whether you're looking to become a teacher or need help handling your students, these videos will help.
You Will Need
- Paper
- Pencils
- Computer
- Printer
- Camera
- Markers
- Poster board
Steps
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Step 1
Work with the class
Work with your students and ask them to help you create the rules for the classroom. Have them write down their suggestions on paper.
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Step 2
Think about actions
Come up with the most important actions and behavior the class should follow. Talk about goals the class should strive for in terms of grades, work habits, and behavior.
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Step 3
Discuss reasoning
Discuss the reason behind the actions and behaviors, and elaborate on what makes them important.
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Step 4
Write the rules
Review what your students wrote and what was discussed in class, and write a set of rules that expresses the class's goals.
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Limit the number of rules to six. Three rules are optimal.
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Step 5
Keep it short and simple
Keep the rules short and use easy-to-understand language. Make sure the tone of the rules is respectful to your students.
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Step 6
Post the rules
Type and print the rules. Make a poster with a class photo and signatures of all of your students. As a class, decorate the poster, and then hang it where it can be seen.
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According to a 2005 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, there is an average of 3.8 students per instructional computer with internet access.
