Classroom
rules help children to build notions about acceptable behaviors in the
classroom. Ideally, the children should be partners in deciding what
the rules should be. There should be very few rules, stated in simple
language, and they should reflect developmentally appropriate expectations.
It is important to remember to state the rules in a positive way—the
children need to understand what you want them to do, not just what they
are not supposed to do. The rules should be posted in any areas the children
use, including the playground and the classroom, and there should be
pictures to illustrate the words. A poster with rules in both English
and the language of the children who are English language learners, along
with pictures, helps the child to become familiar with classroom expectations.
