Following Rules Worksheets

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When established via an appropriate and best mannered sense of being, rules can provide people with a sense of consistency and predictability that can help them establish a feeling of safety and emotional security. The overall purpose of a rule is to focus an individual to make a desired choice which is within the norms of society. As teachers we would like our students to follow rules to maintain a level of consistency that our students can rely upon. Any rule set that you apply within your classroom should cover all sides of the arguments. The best thing a teacher can do to reinforce this is break the rules and admonish themselves loudly to the class. These directives apply to everyone, not just the students. This collection of worksheets will help your student begin to ponder the merits of their actions within the rules that are set in your classroom.

Following Rules Worksheets:

In a Picture - Circle the pictures that show kids using acceptable behavior in the classroom and on the playground.

Explain - Evaluate the behaviors that you see taking place.

Match It - Match each picture to the act being carried out.

Smiles and Frowns - Put a smiley next to things that are going correct and a frown next to those that are not.

What Would Happen? - Draw a picture of what would happen if the people in your house did not all follow this an household expectation.

The Classroom - This can be a great activity for helping to establish a standard for your classroom.

Dos and Don'ts - Explore why it is important that everyone is on the same page.

Households - What is acceptable in the kitchen and around mealtime?

Bring It to Life - Draw an action that depicts common norms in your home.

Following Form - This is a good starting point for students that struggling with these concepts.

Why Should We? - Write a paragraph about why it's important and give three reasons for it.

Different Places - Students realize that there are different norms based on the setting.

Out and About - Why do the rules change when you moved location?

These Are Them - Examine what is acceptable in your classroom and what is not.

The Big 3 - Most rooms thrive on having 3 clear expectations to be followed all year long.

How to Teach Students to Follow Rules


The importance of creating a healthy classroom environment that enables and encourages students to learn cannot be overstated. As a teacher, when your students enjoy attending your classes, they'll be more willing to follow the rules. In fact, they'd "want" to abide by them because the learning and exposure you provide are much better than whiling away in time-out.

To that end, this post includes some valuable tips.


Clearly Explain WHY These Rules Exist

The best-selling book Influence: Science & Practice by Dr. Robert Cialdini talks about a famous experiment by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer. According to it, people are more likely to get a favorable response when asking someone to do something if there's a reason given.

Just putting the word "because" in your statement can be enough to convince people to do what you want them to do. Applying this to the classroom, you must explain the true purpose of your rules and regulations– which is to protect everyone's right to learn – to the students.

At the end of the day, school is about these young knowledge-seekers. So, when you show them how the directives are in place for their benefit, the students' attitude towards your established boundaries will be more positive.


Focus More on the Objectives, Not the Rules

Always remember the ultimate objective of students' learning and skill development. The rules are there to support the achievement of this target. So, the focus on action should be secondary. Spend most of your classroom time talking about effective teaching, unique learning approaches, and character/personality development.

Also, remember that students need motivation and encouragement at every step. They also need to feel a sense of accomplishment from time to time. Incorporating these elements into your teaching methodology will positively impact your pupils.


Keep It Open

Be open-ended with your rules and regulations. Keep them broad but also unambiguous at the same time. This will help you cover a wide range of potential classroom issues. For instance, instead of "no foul language" or "no hair pulling," consider using terms like "be respectful to everyone" and "treat others how you'd like to be treated." The latter two can cover most types of bad manners and bullying. They can even apply to any new behaviors you may encounter during the school year that might not have crossed your mind before.


Be Flexible

Consistency is essential when it comes to getting your message across. However, changes might occur as the academic year goes along. As a result, you'll probably have to bend your rules during certain student activities. You might even be better off ignoring some transgressions altogether.

Make it a point to acknowledge that and discuss it with your class. This will enable students to understand the importance of flexibility. You can even turn the whole thing into an interactive lesson on learning to cope with change.


Parting Thoughts

Classroom rules are important, but they should facilitate students' learning, creative growth, and cognitive development. Once your pupils understand how your class norms are designed to help them gain knowledge and build new skills, they'll be much more open – perhaps even eager – to follow them.