Classroom Rules, Rights and Responsibilities

Concepts for all Beginner Teachers to Consider

Apr 24, 2009

Teachers want to ensure there is harmony within the classroom. For students to feel safe, it is essential for children to understand their rights and responsibilities.

A good classroom management technique, especially for beginner teachers, is to negotiate the class rules with students. However, just listing and displaying class rules is not enough. Some students don't see the point in following rules. If they see an easy way to get what they want, they will take it, even though it might mean bending the rules slightly. Their way of thinking is, "If I don't get caught, it's OK."

Young children don't understand that breaking the class rules can have a negative impact on their teachers and peers, or if they do, they don't see why it matters. That's why it's so important for them to comprehend the reason for rules.

In understanding rights and responsibilities and how these relate to the class rules, children are more likely to follow the class rules.

What are Rights and Responsibilities?

According to Kid's Health, all humans have basic rights to enable them to live in a world that is "just and fair". Some of the key basic rights for children at school include

However, for every "right" that students have, they also have the corresponding "responsibility" to ensure the rights of others are being met. For example, students have

How do Beginner Teachers Teach Rights and Responsibilities?The first thing the beginner teacher should do is to help the class understand the concept of rights and responsibilities. Only then can you begin to negotiate class rules with the students. A whole unit of work can be done around this theme to cement these concepts.

Refering to the rules and their consequences often is key if they are to stick in students minds. Also use the terms "rights and responsibilities" as much as possible in the classroom.

Instead of telling students, "Don't do that", make them accountable for their own behavior. Try posing, "Which rule were you not following?". Once the student responds you could ask, "Whose rights were affected by what you did?". Then you could finally ask, "So how could you be more responsible next time?" As well as the individual student being responsible for their behavior, it also gives the other students the message of what the teacher expects. Think of it as being the students' conscience.

Students will understand better if they can be placed in the situation of having their rights taken away from them. As a whole class, in a "Community Circle", discuss the feelings and emotions of having particular rights taken away. Students need to understand how others feel if they act inappropriately.

Discuss the statement "Treat others how you want to be treated". This statement is based on rights and responsibilities, it just uses a more basic language.

Have students create role plays. Beginner teachers can do this by providing negative scenarios for them and have students produce positive alternatives and act these out. A good tip is to video their performances. Kids pay more attention when they see themselves on TV.

Base reward systems totally around rules, rights and responsibilities. Be sure that students are weened off rewards when they have gained the appropriate behaviors.

Be sure to stick strictly to the class rules and ensure students also know the consequences for breaking these rules. If students see a beginner teacher that is inconsistent with following up on class rules, then they will test the boundaries at every opportunity.

It is also crucial for the beginner teacher to be a good role model of what they expect from the students.

A beginner teacher who bases classroom management techniques around students being responsible for each others' rights has taken a huge step in having a successful year with her students, both behaviorally and academically.

Students that feel their rights being met are more confident and more likely to succeed in other areas.

The copyright of the article Classroom Rules, Rights and Responsibilities in Classroom Management Tips is owned by Mathew Wiebusch. Permission to republish Classroom Rules, Rights and Responsibilities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.