4 Positive Classroom Rules to Achieve
Student Success in 2022
Positive Action Staff
Classroom Management Articles
Without proper guidance, children will inadvertently self sabotage their future.
Developing the principles that lead to success doesn’t often come independently.
That’s why it’s critical to put rules in place at home and school to empower children
to succeed.
In the classroom, rules help control student behavior and set the tone for effective learning.
Plus, they guide children’s actions and promote consistency making the learning environment
predictable. This gives children the safety they need to get ahead in their physical, emotional, and
social development.
However, when the rules negatively focus on what not to do and emphasize punishment, they do
the opposite of providing a safe space for children to learn and grow. This usually leads to student
behavior taking a turn for the worst.
That’s why creating positive classroom rules carries the day when it comes to controlling
behaviors, managing expectations, and fostering mutual respect between the teacher and students.
Let's explore some positive classroom rules to position your students for success in 2021.
What Are Positive Classroom Rules?
Positive classroom rules are principles that govern children’s behavior through positive means.
The rules are often agreed upon by the teacher and learners.
Positive rules differ from traditional rules in that they’re not based on what children shouldn’t do,
but rather on the actions they should take to produce positive outcomes.
Moreover, unlike traditional rules, they don’t encourage punishment, which often sets children up
for failure.
For example, instead of, “Stop talking out of turn or you’ll be punished,” positive rules say, “Raise
your hand and ask your turn to speak so we can all listen to each other's views.”
In most cases, positive classroom rules don't just apply to the students; they govern the educators
as well. By doing so, the teacher becomes the role model for the learners.
Keys for Setting Positive Classroom Rules
When it comes to setting rules there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each classroom needs a
unique set of rules depending on the learners in your class and the school environment.
However, here are some basic guidelines you need to follow when setting your class rules:
They should be clear and easy to understand
Keep them brief and easy to remember
Set a positive tone and ensure the rules aren’t stifling
They should be broad enough to cover as many misbehaviors as possible
Have a clear plan for what happens when someone breaks the rules
With these guidelines in mind, you can create a set of rules that suits your specific situation.
It's extremely important to include the students in establishing these classroom rules. If the
students don't accept the rules, they won’t be bothered to follow them, which will undermine any
desired positive results.
Here are a few of the main overarching rules you can implement in your classroom.
Rule 1: Maintain Your Work Ethic and Always Try
Your Best
Building a strong work ethic in your students right from the beginning can help them increase
their focus.
This rule talks about developing a positive work ethic in everything from how students participate
in class to assignments.
Specifically, this rule encompasses:
Completing all work
Keeping a positive attitude even when the work is hard
Being organized
Working on good behavior
Participating in all class activities
Not cheating on homework and tests
How you frame this rule will depend on your learners. For example, in a first-grade class, you
might say, "we always do our best."
For middle school children, you might frame the rule to read, "we complete all our work on time
and always do the very best we can."
Rule 2: Listen and Follow Instructions
This rule emphasizes the importance of respecting authority and always being responsive to
instructions quickly.
It’ll govern how learners stick to established routines and follow the teachers’ expectations.
The rule on listening covers a range of behaviors that have to do with:
Safety protocols
Classwork
Schedules
Assignments
Interactions with the teacher
Rule 3: Respect the Teacher and Other Students
Respect is an essential ingredient in all communications. Establishing respect towards other
people sets the tone for how students interact with the teacher and other learners.
Specifically, the rule entails:
Listening to teachers and all other staff
Listening to the views and opinions of other learners
Being kind and using positive words
Using a respectful tone
Courtesy
Not damaging class materials
Respect for other people's personal space
Rule 4: Safety First: Keep Hands, Feet, and Objects
to Yourself
Instead of making rules that focus on what not to do, like “don't hit others” and “don't fight,” this
rule focuses on what students can do to make sure everyone is safe.
This broad rule prevents a lot of the issues that arise in the classroom like:
Hitting
Throwing objects
Bullying
Fighting
It promotes a safe classroom environment where everyone can learn and work together in peace.
Using Positive Classroom Rules for Student Success
Positive rules allow for a positive classroom environment. Students learn to respect the teacher
and each other. The classroom becomes a safe place where all students can learn and try their best,
leading to more successful educational outcomes.
Most importantly, positive rules set the platform for the holistic transformation of students. They
develop a positive outlook towards life and challenges, setting them up to be well-adjusted
individuals.
Imagine if positive rules didn't belong only in the classroom?
If the whole school implemented a program that focused on positive discipline and a positive
curriculum, the result would be a phenomenal improvement in discipline and grades.
With Positive Action, the dream of a positive and successful learning environment is a
reality.
"This is what school should be for all children everywhere: a place where people want to be; a
place where they are safe to learn and grow."
This is what Dorothy Solomon (former Artist in Residence for the Arts in Education program in
Utah) had to say when she came across schools that had implemented the Positive Action
curriculum.
It's more than just a theory; the Positive Action curriculum has brought transformation to schools
for many years. With Positive Action, the school becomes a launchpad of dreams.
Children grow a new found love for learning, teachers are happy—not overwhelmed, and the
administrators can do their job and not spend hours handling disciplinary issues.
“Over a 12-year period, as I conducted writing residencies throughout the region, I learned to
recognize Positive Action schools when I walked through the door. At a Positive Action school, I
could count on receiving respect and attention from students, teachers and administrators; I knew
that the students would do their best in their writing and their behavior. Our results were always
amazing, our performance programs inspiring. So many students produced stellar work that I
began to track the difference between "ordinary" schools and Positive Action schools.” Dorothy
Solomon.
