WBT Wednesday- Classroom Rules

Updated for 2020

This all still applies but there is a 2020 Rule 5 update! Rule 5 is now "Make our dear team stronger!" See all the gestures, including for the newest Rule 5 HERE

The classroom rules are the first cornerstone to me of Whole Brain Teaching and Step 5 of WBT FastTrack.  Classroom rules are usually one of the first things you teach your class on the first day so they are one thing that is not easily changed after the beginning of the school year. That said if you are looking at this information and it is not the beginning of the year changes are your classroom rules are not working so don't be afraid to switch to these rules. 

The best way to master WBT Basics is to teach the Five Classroom Rules. I LOVE the Five Rules because they cover every possible issue that may come up in class with Rule 4 and Rule 5. 

Here is a great set of Rule posters from the official WBT TpT store with the Diamond Rule and updated Rule 5

 Before the Rule 5 update, I used the posters shown in Chris Biffle AKA Coach B's first book, Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids.

Here is my Diamond Rule Poster

The Amazing Andrea Schindler who is on the WBT executive board and runs the Kindergarten Facebook group showed me one rule I do add, The Big Rule: ALWAYS Listen to your Teacher when they are Talking! This rule is key for our younger ones because they can't follow directions they didn't listen to. Here is a PDF for you to use for The Big Rule, just click HERE to download.

There are many posters on TeachersPayTeachers in different themes. These posters should all be free, just search WBT or Whole Brain Teaching. I like having my posters printed and laminated before the first day. To build community and buy in I have my students share out different ways we can follow the rules and ways we would be breaking the rules to create an anchor chart. You could also create posters with your students and guide them to creating these rules. 

Here are  2 videos on the Rules with the updated Rule 5 with WBT Executive Board member Heidi Martin