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Class rules poster (free, editable printable)

Five numbered rules in type big enough to read from the back of the room, with a short line under each to say what it looks like. Rewrite them in your own words and print.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
Rule | what it looks like
Colour
Our Class Rules, page 1Our Class Rules1Be kindWe use kind words and gentle hands2Listen when others talkEyes on the speaker, one voice at a time3Try your bestMistakes help us learn4Take care of our roomWe put things back where they belong5Ask for helpRaise a hand and wait, or ask a neighborWe made these rules together.

To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.

About this sheet

Rules work best when there are few of them, they are stated as what to do, and the class helped write them. This poster holds up to eight rules, each as a short sentence with a line of detail underneath, because a bare rule such as Be respectful means different things to different children. The detail line is where you say what it looks like: Wait until someone finishes talking. The numbered circles make the list easy to refer to (Remember rule three) without naming a child. Print it in color for the wall, or in black and white and let the class color it as the last step of making their agreement.

Grades: Pre-K to 8. Best in: August, September.

How to use it

  1. Write your rules in the box, one per line, with a short description after a vertical bar: Be kind | We use kind words and gentle hands.
  2. Edit the line at the foot, for example the date the class agreed to the rules, then print on letter or A4.
  3. Read the poster aloud with the class, act out one example for each rule, and post it where every student can see it from their seat.

Five ideas for class

  1. Write the rules together in the first week. Ask the class what they need from each other, group the answers, and turn the three or four biggest groups into rules.
  2. Have every student sign the foot of the poster, or add a thumbprint, so it feels like an agreement they made and not a notice you posted.
  3. Revisit one rule each Monday for five weeks: model it, practice it and talk about what it looks like when someone is doing it well.
  4. Refer to a rule by its number when you give a reminder. A quiet Rule two, please is less personal than naming a child.
  5. Print a small copy for each desk or folder so the rules go home, and families can see the same words you use in class.

Related

Questions

How many rules should a class have?

Three to five is typical for young children, and up to eight for older students. A short list is easier to remember and to enforce.

Should rules be written as dos or don'ts?

Write them as what to do. Listen when others talk is clearer than Don't interrupt, because it tells a child the behavior you want to see.

Can I use it for a club or a homeschool?

Yes. Change the heading to Our Family Rules or Club Agreement and write the rules that fit. The poster does not assume a school.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

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