Classroom rules

 How to establish Classroom Rules

Introduction:

    Learners  have rights and responsibilities in their school society. They have the chance to share in setting some classroom rules.  After creating the rules, the students will also share  in monitoring the rules through participation in a classroom council that will hear complaints and recommend needed changes.

Objectives:

1. learners become able to think about the need for rules in life.
2. Learners will compare their rules with other groups.
3. Learners will make a set of rules to be applied in the class.
4. Learners will gain respect for rules in their daily life.
5. 
   

Materials:

Charts, pencil, blank overhead sheets, overhead markers, poster, boards, markers, and poster paint.

Procedure:

1. Learners write down some rules they have at home.
2. Divide class into groups of about four. Each group needs a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.
3. In each group, assign a speaker and a recorder.
4. Groups  compare their rules at home with their groups.
5. Ask: "Why do we need rules?"
6. Give the groups fifteen minutes or so to discuss this question.
7. The recorder writes on a piece of of paper about five reasons.
8. The speaker discusses his group's reasons and with teacher's leadership.
9. Each group needs an overhead sheet and an overhead marker.
10. Within their group, have students come up with 10 - 12 classroom rules ,
11. The recorder should record these on the overhead sheet.
12. The speaker of each group will take turns putting their sheet on the overhead and discussing each with the class. The teacher should write each rule on the board.
13. Discuss the rules on the board with the entire class. With the help of the class, narrow down the rules by combining them.
14.  For example:
    • Don't hurt somebody.
    • Don't be mean to somebody else.
    • Keep your hands to your self.
    • Don't interrupt each other.
    • Don't steal from somebody else.
    • These can all be combined into one general rule: Students will respect other students and their property. Try not to end up with negative words in these rules such as: Don't or NO.
15. Have each student write down these few narrowed down rules.
16. Students should take home their list and think about what these rules mean and how they can make the class run smoothly using these rules.
17. Before class the next day the teacher should type up these rules with a statement saying that students will abide by the rules they have set for themselves with a place for the student to sign. Have a copy for each student.
18. The next day in class discuss what they thought about.
19. Students sign the sheet stating they'll follow these rules.
20. Give each group copies of the lists of rules .
21. Within their groups, they should discuss these rules.

Rules Follow-up:

1. Teacher can observe students reasoning skills through their discussions of the questions why do we need rules.
2. Teacher can observe students comparing and contrasting skills when students compare their rules to the other students' rules.
3. Teacher observes social skills of students working in groups.

A model:

1- Be respectful to everyone at all times.
2- Keep hands, feet, and all other objects to yourself.
3- Raise your hand to speak.
4- Be prepared.
5- Arrive on time.