# Teaching Expectations and Rules

## Coffee Chat with Brookes

**Denise Perez Binder**  
dbinder@usf.edu

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## Unpacking the Pyramid Model: A Practical Guide for Preschool Teachers
Created by Pyramid Model developers and experts, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive, step‐by‐step overview of the Pyramid Model for children ages 2–5.  
bpub.fyi/Unpacking-PM

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We’re giving away a FREE copy of

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## Certificates
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## Welcome
### Teaching and Acknowledging Expectations and Rules  
*5/25/2021*

## Pyramid Model for Promoting Social and Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children

## Defining Behavior Expectations and Rules

### Expectations
- Expectations = general ways you want people to act. They will apply to all children across all settings.  
  **Example Expectations:**
  - Be Respectful
  - Be Polite
  - Be Safe
  - Be a Team Player
  - Be Responsible
  - Be Honest
  - Be Peaceful
  - Be Friendly

### Program-Wide Expectations
- Creates a shared focus and continuity for program, school, classrooms
- Gives school/program a shared language
- Communicates positively what is desired

### Rules
- Example Rules:
  - Keep hands and feet to yourself
  - Walk with your group
  - Use nice words
  - Listen for teacher directions

### Individualizing Rules to Meet Children’s Needs

## Expectations vs. Rules
- We Are Superfriends
- Walking Fees
- Feet On The Floor
- Safety First
- Show Respect
- Keep Your Eyes on the Teacher

## Developing Expectations and Rules
### General Guidelines about Expectations and Rules
- Get Staff and Families’ input in developing expectations
- Involve the children in developing the rules.
- Post the expectations and rules and include a visual to help children understand.
- Teach the expectations and rules systematically.
- Reinforce the expectations and rules at high rates initially and at lower rates throughout the year.

### Guidelines Should Be:
- Positively stated
- Posted (child level with visual)
- Few in Number (less than 5)
- Reviewed daily as a group
- Discussed throughout the day

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### Expectation/Rules Matrix
| Expectations | Classroom |
| --- | --- |
| Show Respect | Soft Touch  |
| Stay Safe | Walking Fee  |

| | Playground | Hallway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | Take Turns | Inside Voice |
| t | Sit on Bikes, Slide, and Swings | Walking Feet |

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### Reminders
- Keep your list of expectations and rules short so children will be able to learn and memorize them.
- When developing expectations and rules use words that children will understand.
- If your school has school-wide expectations make sure you use those for your classroom but link them to rules your children will understand.
- If you are having difficulty developing expectations and rules think about the skills that are most important for children to master so they can become successful learners.

### Teaching and Acknowledging Expectations and Rules
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### Teaching
- Systematically
- Embedding opportunities for practice
- Examples and Non-examples
- Positive descriptive feedback

### Teaching Strategies
- Adult Modeling
- Modeling with Puppets
- Songs
- Fingerplays
- Flannel Board Activities
- Role Play
- Prompts
- Priming
- Reinforcement
- Incidental Teaching
- Use of Games

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### Acknowledging the Expectations

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### Partnering With Families  
- Encourage families to create household rules.
- Help them make rules that teach their children what TO DO.
- Provide strategies to use for teaching and reinforcing the rules.

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Questions?

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**Thank You**  
The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H326B170003. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project officer, Sunyoung Ahn.