Classroom rules with pictures: free printable visuals

Who it’s for

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and special education teachers, and the aides and therapists who work in their rooms. Picture rules help students who don’t read yet, students learning English, autistic students, and students who don’t speak or don’t speak much, who also need a way to ask for what the rules don’t cover: help, a break, the bathroom.

How to use it

1. Choose the rules with the class. Start with three to five. The cards on page 2 let you build your own set; the blanks are for rules of your own.
2. Teach each rule on its own, by showing it: walk to the door, use a quiet voice, practice raising a hand. Point to the picture as you do.
3. Hang the poster where everyone can see it, and put a strip of rule cards on the desks of students who need it close by.
4. Point to the rule, not the student. A quiet point to walking feet is a reminder without a scolding in front of the class.
5. Notice the rules being kept, and point to the picture then too: “You cleaned up. Thank you!”

Every way of talking counts

Rules about voices and hands can be hard on students who talk with a device, signs or a board, or who move their hands to stay calm. Make it clear that a student’s talker, board or signs are always allowed, at any volume the device needs, and that it’s their voice, not a toy. The card every voice counts on page 2 is there for that. Allow a raised hand to be any clear signal the student can make, and keep rules about safety, not about sitting still. Supports, not rules has more on using pictures kindly.

Asking and telling in class

Rules say what to do; page 3 gives the words for what a student needs. Keep it on the desk next to the class schedule. Model on it while you teach: point to what’s next? before a change, or I’m finished when you see a student stop. A student who can point to I don’t understand or a break has a better choice than shutting down or walking out.

What’s on the PDF

Class rules

• Listen
• Raise my hand
• Quiet voice
• Walking feet
• Gentle hands
• Be kind
• Try my best
• Clean up

More rule cards

• take turns
• share
• ask for help
• every voice counts

I need

• help
• a break
• bathroom
• a drink
• quiet
• the nurse
• a pencil
• paper
• scissors
• glue
• more time
• my talker

Tell the teacher

• I don’t understand
• I have a question
• I’m finished
• I’m ready
• what’s next?
• where do I go?
• too loud
• I feel sick
• yes
• no
• I don’t know
• look

With my classmates

• hi
• can I play?
• my turn
• your turn
• stop
• thank you

Printing tips

• Print the poster on card stock, or print it on A3 or tabloid paper at 141% for the classroom wall.
• For desk strips, cut out three to five rule cards and tape them in a row, or laminate them and add a hook-and-loop dot to each.
• For the school day, use the classroom visual schedule; for breaks and waiting, the break card and the wait card.
• Teachers: helping classmates talk with an AAC user, and keeping AAC with the student all day.