I have a confession to make: I’m not the best at setting clear and consistent behavior expectations.

Everything else is picture perfect, I swear! I plan engaging lessons, I care about my students and their interests, and I make time to work with small groups every day.

But something is still missing.

There have been times when I’ve been so focused on getting through the lesson that I’ve completely forgotten to tell my students what I expect from them.

And then, of course, things fall apart.

Students start talking out of turn. They are out of their seats. An argument has started across the classroom. And I’m left wondering what happened.

Pssst. I have a secret to share. It doesn’t have to be this way. Like, at all.

With a little planning and effort, you can set clear and consistent behavior expectations that will help you to manage your classroom and set your students up for success.

So, what are you waiting for? Read on and learn about 3 common mistakes that are sabotaging your classroom management.

P.S. If you’re looking for a quick fix, check out my Classroom Rules Posters: 10 editable posters for setting clear and consistent behavior expectations. I’ve included a print-and-go mini lesson to make teaching behavior expectations even easier for you!

Mistake #1: Your Behavior Expectations are not Specific

Let me set the scene: it’s the beginning of the year in my inclusive kindergarten classroom. I am teaching my very first literacy lesson and introducing the letter A. I ask my students to go and color a letter A worksheet. Basic stuff, right?

Wrong. So wrong.

Before I have time to take a breath, three students are up and running to their tables. One is grabbing papers off my desk. Another student is pulling markers out of their cubby when I already had crayons set out for this activity.

So, is this what kindergarten is like? Am I bound to lose my mind all year long as I wrangle 5-year-olds who have taken off in fifteen different directions?

It doesn’t have to be. I realized pretty quickly that I was the one sabotaging my students by not making my expectations clear enough.

When setting behavior expectations, be as specific and clear as possible.

For example, instead of saying “Be respectful”, say “Raise your hand when you want to speak”. Instead of saying “Don’t be mean”, you could say “Keep your hands to yourself when you line up”.

The more specific and clear your expectations are, the easier it will be for students to understand them and to follow them.

And the easier it is for students to understand your expectations, the less likely they are to do things that will make you want to pull your hair out.

So, take some time to think about what you expect from your students. And then, make sure to communicate those expectations to them in a clear and concise way. Your students will thrive because of it, and you’ll spend less time lecturing Billy about what it means to be respectful.

Mistake #2: You Tend to Set it and Forget it…and so do Your Students

Okay, so you set your classroom behavior expectations at the beginning of the year. It’s spring. Everything is going well and you can see the end in sight. Ahhhh, summer.

Then disaster hits.

Some time after spring break, your students start to lose it. They act like they’ve never stepped foot in your classroom before. They’re bickering like siblings. Their desks are a mess. They are shoving in line and running down the halls.

It’s okay, no need to do anything. Just push through until the end of the year. WAIT, WHAT? HECK NO.

This kind of behavior may be common, but it doesn’t have to be. When was the last time you told your students your expectations?

If you want your students to stick to the rules (even when spring fever sets in) you need to say the rules. Out loud. All day long. I’m serious.

Make sure your students are aware of your expectations by verbally repeating them throughout the day, and especially before every transition. It sounds something like this, “In one minute it will be recess, and I will ask you to line up with walking feet”.

Or this: “When I say go, please get your folder from your desk and quietly pull out your worksheet”.

I’m not kidding that when you give your students instructions, every direction needs to include a clear behavior expectation. It may seem like a lot, but soon it will become second nature. And what’s more, classroom management will begin to feel more like a fresh spring breeze and less like a desperate spring fever.

Mistake #3: Your Negativity is Showing

I remember when I was in school, my teachers would always tell us what not to do.

“Don’t talk out of turn”

“Don’t be rude”

“No running in the halls”

But they never told us what we were supposed to do instead.

The thing about kids is that they want to do well. Truly.

That’s why it’s important to set behavior expectations in a positive way, by telling students what you want them to do instead of what you want them to avoid.

Stating behavior expectations positively helps students understand what is expected of them and sets them up to meet those expectations.

Instead of focusing on the negative, try saying “I see you working hard to raise you hand when you want to speak, please put your hand up high with a quiet mouth“.

Or “Keep your hands in your pockets”, instead of “Don’t push your friend in line”.

So the next time you feel like shouting out “STOP….” (and there will be a next time), try stating your expectation in a positive way. Tell your students what they need to do, instead of what you want them to stop doing.

It isn’t a hard concept to grasp, but it will take practice to reframe the way you speak to your students.

Practical Tips to Start Today

There’s no time to lose! The sooner you make your expectations known, the sooner your students will rise to meet them. So how do you do that?

1. Decide on 3-5 core classroom expectations and make a poster for each one to display in your classroom. You can increase student buy-in by inviting your students to help decorate and hang the posters! (Don’t have time to make your own? Check out my Classroom Rules Posters)
2. Make your expectations short and specific! You’ll lose your students if you ramble on too much, so keep it simple, like “Raise your hand to speak”.
3. State your expectations often. Once isn’t enough. Once every time you give a direction? Much better. You can work in more practice by having your students sort expected and unexpected behaviors (You can also find a behavior sort in my Classroom Rules Posters)
4. Keep it positive! Don’t say Don’t. Stating your expectations by telling your students what they should be doing makes it way easier for students to follow through.

Set Your Behavior Expectations High

I know you’re feeling tired and fed up. Maybe even a little lost when it comes to getting your students to really listen to you. But it doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to settle for just making it through the rest of the school year.

End on a high note by setting your expectations higher 🚀

Your students can handle it, I promise. When you set clear and consistent behavior expectations, your students will perk up. They will tune in. It’s not magic, but it may be just the thing that will make the difference between a chaotic rush to the end line and a peaceful stroll towards summer.

If you feel confident in with your behavior expectations, but your students are struggling with respectfully expressing themselves and solving their own problems, grab the FREE I-Message below.