Learning the Rules!

Hi Friends... Anna here from Simply Skilled in Second. Thanks so much for stopping by today! This is my last full week of summer and then the chaos school begins on September 2nd!  :) 

Even though I am on summer break, I LOVE using my time to "THINK" about school and create new activities and lessons that I will use in my classroom with my students.

One of the MOST IMPORTANT things that I work on with my students is creating and learning the rules of the classroom!  This is something we review all of the time and even refer back to our Behavior Anchor Chart throughout the year.

On the first day of school, I read the story called Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  It is one of my favorites to read to my class.

After I read the story to them, we always brainstorm ideas of how our classroom can stay safe, fun, and happy for everyone in it.  And so begins the creation of our Classroom Rules!  I allow my students to create the rules and I ensure that I word them in a positive way.  For example, we might write....Share with your friends... Work quietly.... Raise your hand to speak, etc.  I never word them with negative words like... Don't talk during independent work....or  Don't kick or hit your friends, etc.  We also state our rules in a positive way!  

There is also on other aspect that I add to creating the classroom rules.  I always tell the students that I have one rule for myself that I never.. EVER.. break.  They are very curious to know what this rule is... and I make it a pretty big deal.  I tell my students that I will NEVER.... EVER.. EVER yell at them.  You should see the expressions on their face when I tell them that....and the silence int the room is deafening.  The look of confusion with a mixture of pure happiness is really funny :)  They always ask me a ton of questions about my rule and always ask me if I break my rule ever.. and they literally don't believe me when I tell them I have never broken my rule!  I shared my ideas on what I do the first day of school with Teachers Pay Teachers and they featured me on the blog today!!!  Check it out here....

I am always looking for a FUN way to have my students learn and write about the new classroom rules that we will be following throughout the year...and of course..it is going to be done using a flip flap book!  This will be the first one my students do on the first day of school!  I can't wait to show it to them...well..maybe I can wait a bit longer :)  LOL

Here is a tiny peek to what's in store for your little ones as they work through my

School Rules Flip Flap Book!

This summer I also made one of my Tab-Its for the School Rules as well... just to change it up a bit.  I don't like doing the same thing year after year so I try to change it up every now and then.

Here is my School Rules Tab-Its that fit in your Interactive Notebooks.

So....if you are getting ready to go back to school or are just "THINKING" about school, take a peek at my School Rules Flip Flap Book and School Rules Tab-Its to add a little fun to your

Rule Making Mojo :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs.