Establishing Rules and Expectations in the Preschool Classroom

The beginning of the school year is always a hectic and busy time.  It feels like there's so much to teach and so little time!  Establishing routines and procedures is a big part of the early childhood classroom.  Children thrive on expectations and routines, so taking the time to set them up from the beginning is crucial and will help the school year go smoothly.

Creating class rules can help with establishing expectations.  Class rules help the students to know how they are expected to behave in the classroom.  While many preschoolers are still learning to use their words and manage their impulses, they want to do well.  I truly do believe in the concept that "children do well if they can."  Knowing exactly how they can do well by establishing class rules sets them up for success.

In our classroom, we have 4 rules that cover most "problems" that typically arise in the classroom.  We teach one rule a day so that the children can really wrap their heads around it and understand what it means.  We introduce the rule, talk about what it means, role play as is appropriate, and discuss the application in the classroom.

Our rules - 

In our class, we:
Use our walking feet inside
Keep our hands to ourselves
Use quiet voices inside
Treat others with kindness

Once the students know the rules, we refer back to them throughout the school year when needed to remind them of the expectation.  Being clear and consistent is key to maintaining good classroom management.  As the year progresses, we witness children remind each other when someone is breaking a rule.  That's when you know they really get it!

You can find this colorful downloadable printable of our class rules at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  You can also find these same rules with a striped border in my TPT store.  Please leave feedback and let me know what you think!

Be sure to check out the matching printable of Rainbow Center Signs, with 24 different signs for all of the play-based and educational centers in your classroom.  

For more ways to create a positive classroom community, check out this post about starting the school day on a positive note using circle time songs and chants.

Looking to make extra cash or get a deep discount on clothing?  Or maybe you want a side hustle to pay bills or pay for vacations?  

Or maybe you're just looking for some cute and comfortable clothing for your closet?

Zyia Active is the answer.  Learn more about Why Zyia is Perfect for Teachers.