Establish Standard Classroom Procedures

Develop and Publish Classroom Rules

Sample Rules and Consequences

Consequencesfollow a behavior, and serve to do one of three things:

Reinforce or maintain it – Positive; Example: Praise or reward

Stop or eliminate it – Negative; Example: Loss of privilege

Teach a new behavior– Corrective Example: student contract/growth plan for calling out in class.

- Ginger Tucker’s First-Year Teacher Notebook.

Different classrooms will have different rules and procedures depending on the needs and dispositions of the teacher and the students, but there are general categories, such as

General expectations for behavior
Beginning and ending the class day or the period
Transitions and interruptions
Materials and equipment
Group work
Seatwork and teacher-led activities

General rules and procedures at the Elementary level typically concern:

Politeness and helpfulness when dealing with others
Respecting the property of others
Interrupting the teacher or others
Hitting or shoving others

General rules and procedures at the Secondary level typically concern:

Bringing materials to class
Being in the assigned seat at the beginning of class
Respecting and being polite to others
Talking or not talking at specific times
Leaving the assigned seat
Respecting other people’s property

Action Steps:

1. Organize the classroom for effective teaching and learning.

Easy access to learning centers, technology, and equipment
Decorating the room (what students see entering and leaving, wall spaces, posters, student pockets, bulletin boards)
Have materials (pens, pencils, staplers, tissues) prepared and organized
Physical arrangement of student desks and teacher work area

2. Establish a small set of rules and procedures

General behavior
Beginning and ending of school day or class period
Transitions and interruptions
Use of materials and equipment
Group work
Seatwork and teacher-led activities

3. Interact with students about rules and procedures

Discuss the need for classroom rules and procedures, and brainstorm with the students what rules and procedures should be followed in your classroom
Post the most important set of classroom rules.

Examples of Classroom Rules

1. Respect others – when someone is speaking, listen.

2. Follow directions.

3. Keep hands, feet, objects, and unkind remarks to yourself.

4. Bring required materials to class.

5. be in your seat when the bell rings.

6. Raise your hand.

7. Remember the rules we set for leaving your seat or leaving the classroom:

Maintain respect and quiet, think before you act, and minimize disruptions to

the learning process.

The Five Be’s

Be punctual – with yourself and your assignments
Be prepared – with your brain and your materials
Be responsible – for yourself and your own learning
Be enthusiastic – it’s contagious!
Be positive and respectful – to others and to your teacher

The Spirit of the Rules

Everyone in this classroom

Has the right to learn
Should be able to be wrong without being embarrassed
Should do unto others as you would have them do unto you
And feel accepted for who they are.

4. Periodically review rules and procedures, making changes as necessary.

Review is necessary when students seem to be systematically violating or ignoring a rule or procedure
Perhaps the rule or procedure is cumbersome or punitive.
Students may outgrow a rule or procedure, or their maturity eliminates the need for the rule or procedure.

5. Use classroom meetings

Classroom meetings might be scheduled regularly for 10 minutes on Friday every week or two.
The techer and students bring up issues relative to classroom management, including rules and procedures.
For example, in a high school science class, students may bring up the fact that the procedure for distributing equipment needs to be modified.
Even if the rules or procedures are not altered, the message conveyed to the students is that the management of the classroom is in their control.

Marzano, The Art and Science of Teaching and Classroom management That Works