The Importance of Setting Classroom Expectations Early

With so much to cover during the first few weeks of school, it can be tempting to wait a little bit before setting classroom expectations. The students might even be in a bit of a “honeymoon period” so it can be tempting to take advantage of that momentum and discuss rules and procedures as they come up naturally. However, it’s vital to take time during the first few weeks of school to set clear student expectations.

5 Benefits of Setting Classroom Expectations Early

1. Build a Strong Foundation for Classroom Management

One of the most important parts of a classroom management system is that the expected behavior is clear. We can't expect students to hit a target that they don’t even know exists! When you take the time to set classroom expectations as early as possible, you’re building a strong foundation for your classroom management system.

Once your students understand the expectations, it’s much easier to target specific areas of improvement with a whole-group reward system. Students will have a better idea of how that target behavior supports the overall goals of the classroom. 

When it’s clear that students are expected to use appropriate voice levels throughout the school day (and why), a goal for the class to walk quietly in the hallway will make sense to them. That goal matches your expectation that students use appropriate voice levels during the school day.

2. Set the Tone for Your Classroom Community

From the very first time you meet your new class, you are giving them clues about how your classroom functions and how you expect them to behave. When you take the time to establish clear procedures and expectations at the beginning of the year, you’re setting the overall tone for your classroom. 

In a classroom with clear boundaries and expectations for behavior, students will feel safe and welcome in that environment. In classrooms without clear expectations, rules, and procedures, it can feel more like a free-for-all. This is not a great way to create a feeling of community among your students! By setting clear expectations right off the bat, your students will be ready for a year of learning in a supportive classroom community.

3. Create a Level Playing Field

In your new class, there will be students who have had all sorts of preschool experiences. Some have been in structured preschool settings while other students have never set foot in a classroom before. 

If you don’t take the time to set the classroom expectations as soon as possible, it will become an uneven playing field for your students. The children who have been in classrooms before will likely fall right in line with the daily activities; they have a general idea of what is expected of them in a classroom setting.

Students who are new to the school setting might have a more difficult time. They might talk out of turn or have difficulty sitting appropriately at carpet time if these expectations aren’t explicitly taught. Even after a short time, these behaviors can impact students socially and academically. This is why it’s so important to establish clear expectations and procedures as early as possible.

4. Support Learning

Clear classroom expectations can allow you to better support the learning of your students. Your whole group instruction will be more effective when you don’t have to pause the lesson to deal with negative or disruptive behavior. 

For example, when students have a clear understanding of what they should be doing during centers time, it supports learning for everyone in the classroom. You are less likely to pause your small group lesson in order to ask students to stay on task. Plus, the students who are working independently won’t be distracted by noisy classmates.

5. Save Time All Year

Spending the first few weeks of kindergarten setting clear expectations for rules and procedures will save you so much time and headache throughout the school year. When students aren’t held to a consistent standard for classroom procedures, even simple tasks can take a lot longer than necessary. Lining up to go anywhere can be like herding cats if students aren’t clear on the expectations for this part of the daily routine.  

The more tasks that students can complete independently, the more time you will ultimately save. However, the key to independence is that they have a clear understanding of the expectations for the different daily procedures. 

As an example, a strong morning routine with clear procedures in place will help students know exactly what’s expected of them when they walk in the door. Due to this, they will be more likely to navigate the morning routine independently. This will save so much time in the long run! You’ll be able to dive right into your day instead of dealing with backpacks abandoned in the middle of the floor.

Printable Visual Supports for the Classroom

An easy way to maximize the benefits of setting classroom expectations is to use visuals in your classroom. These simple tools can be a very effective way to remind students of the rules and procedures. 

Students are able to look at the visuals throughout the day, but you can also quickly point to certain visuals to remind them of expectations as needed. This can significantly cut down on interruptions to instruction!

If you would like to use these supports to help you set classroom expectations, be sure to check out my bundle of printable classroom visuals. This bundle includes a wide variety of visuals that will support student independence and limit classroom interruptions! Just head over to the Teaching Exceptional Kinders shop or to my TPT store and take a closer look at everything included in this bundle.

Save These Tips for Setting Classroom Expectations

Be sure to save this post if you’d like to come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite classroom management board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these tips and resources when you’re putting together your lesson plans for beginning of the year.