Classroom rules poster: how to write the rules, with templates
Keep to three to five rules, word each one as what students should do (“Raise your hand to speak”), and write them with your class in the first week. Print them big enough to read from the back of the room and point to them often.
No account needed to edit. AI needs a free account (20 AI uses a month).
Templates to start from
Class rules
Numbered rules in big type for the wall.
Classroom poster
Class agreement
“Together, we promise to…” with a space for signatures.
Classroom poster
Voice levels
From silent to outside voice, for younger classes.
Classroom poster
Daily schedule
The day's routine at a glance.
Classroom poster
Growth mindset
Phrases to swap “I can't” for “I can't yet”.
Classroom poster
How many rules?
Three to five. Students remember a short list, and you can actually enforce it. If you have more, most of them are routines (how to hand in work, how to line up), which are better taught and practised than posted as rules.
Write rules as actions
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| No shouting out | Raise your hand to speak |
| Don't be late | Be in your seat when the bell rings |
| No phones | Phones stay in bags unless we're using them for learning |
| Don't be mean | Treat others the way you want to be treated |
Example rules by age
- Preschool and kindergarten: Listening ears. Gentle hands. Walking feet. Use kind words.
- Elementary: Follow directions the first time. Raise your hand to speak. Keep hands and feet to yourself. Be kind and helpful. Try your best.
- Middle and high school: Arrive ready to learn. Respect people, property and ideas. Do your own work. Use devices for learning only.
Class agreements
Older students often respond better to an agreement they helped write and signed. Draft it together, put it on the class agreement poster, and have everyone sign it. Revisit it after a break or when things slip.
Poster size and placement
- 18 × 24 in is readable across most classrooms; 11 × 17 in suits a smaller room or a second copy by the door.
- Hang it at students' eye level near where you teach from, not behind your desk.
- Use the same colours and fonts as your other posters so the wall doesn't look busy.
- For a bulletin board, the bulletin board kit prints big letters and headers on letter or A4 sheets.
How to make it in CatalogProFlow
- Write the rules with the classBrainstorm what a good learning day looks like, then group ideas into three to five rules.
- Open the rules posterChoose class rules for a list, or the class agreement if you want students to sign it.
- Type your rulesClick each rule and replace it. Keep each one short enough to read from the back of the room.
- Or let AI draft themPress AI design, choose the grade and type the focus. It suggests rules you can edit with your class.
- Print it bigClassroom posters come in 18 × 24 in and 11 × 17 in. Print at a print shop, or download a PNG and print it on several sheets. Download a PNG free with an account, or a print-ready PDF with Teacher Pro or a one-time $2.99 unlock for that design. You can also print straight from the PDF on any home or school printer.
Questions
How many classroom rules should I have?
Three to five. A short list is easier to remember and to apply fairly.
Should students help make the classroom rules?
Many teachers write rules with the class in the first week. Students who helped make the rules tend to understand them better.
What size should a classroom rules poster be?
18 × 24 in reads well across most classrooms; 11 × 17 in works in smaller rooms.
Can I print a large poster on a normal printer?
Download the poster and print it at a print shop, or print on several letter or A4 sheets with your printer's poster or tiling setting, if it has one.
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