FREE printable Whole Brain teaching rules to put in picture frames and display in your classroom. Use them to teach students the rules in an active way.
Whole Brain Teaching: Rules That Just Make Sense
Today, I’m sharing how I use and post Whole Brain teaching rules in picture frames for my classroom.
What are Whole Brain Teaching Rules?
Whole Brain Teaching is a style of teaching where instruction seeks to actively engage every learner in activities. The whole brain teaching rules are just one aspect of the teaching method that I will be sharing today.
My favorite part of Whole Brain teaching are the classroom rules and I have been using them in my classroom for a few years now with a lot of success. They are fun to learn, easy to remember with actions, and effective at getting students to remember the rules. Please note that I am using an adapted version of the rules that I prefer for my own classroom needs. Click here to see the original Whole Brain rules.
I start by printing my rules large and in color. I found these super affordable frames at Ikea because they matched my classroom colors. You could find something similar at almost any dollar store. I post my rules in a highly visible location for my students to see and for us to practice each morning. I introduce each rule and we discuss what it means. We also share ways that we can do what the rules are asking.
My Whole Brain Teaching Rules
I teach the Whole Brain actions that go along with each rule and poster.
RULE #1 – Listen when your teacher is talking.
ACTION: Point to your ears. Point to the teacher. Make talking motion with your hands.
RULE #2 – Follow directions quickly.
ACTION: Snap fingers side to side. Move arms back and forth quickly on the word “quickly”
RULE #3 – Respect others, respect yourself, respect your school.
ACTION: Point to the class. Point to yourself. Point to the floor.
RULE #4 – Raise your hand to speak or stand.
ACTION: Raise your hand. Make a talking motion with your hand, then make two fingers into point down like 2 legs.
RULE #5 – Be safe, be kind, be honest.
ACTION: Cross arms across chest. Put hands on heart. Put one hand up and one hand on chest, like you are making a promise.
Note: There are variations on the rules out there. These are the rules that I prefer to use in my classroom.
Tip: I write the actions down on a little cheat sheet for me to remember until the class is fluent with these.
Video Example of Whole Brain Teaching Rules
Check out this amazing video of a veteran teacher and her Kindergarten class using Whole Brain strategies and her students saying the classroom rules with actions. It is amazing how quickly students learn these rules and are able to perform the actions.
Do you know how sometimes it is hard to get everyone to participate in certain activities? Not this! Everyone loves these Whole Brain classroom rules in picture frames.
Students make deeper connections between the meaning of the rules when they are using their brains to perform the actions. You can also easily incorporate reviewing rules into your day at various times. For example, when your class is waiting in line or whenever you need to get your students’ attention.
Whole Brain Teaching Rules Posters
Grab your FREE Whole Brain Classroom Rules posters (my own adapted version) by clicking the image below. I have recently updated these to include a set with a white background (to save some ink). Hope you like them!
I’d love to know…Â Do you use Whole Brain teaching rules in your classroom? What is your favorite?
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