Posted Classroom Rules: Fine Motor (2024)

FRIDAY! FINE MOTOR FRIDAY! Welcome!!
WELCOME BACK!!!

This week's edition of my continuing series involving fine motor development is going to have a unique theme, a twist of sorts. All week I've been sharing my collection of bulletin boards, decorated classroom doors, showcases and murals -- from my travels as visiting "Author/Illustrator" making school visits.


While on these travels, I've been conscientious to take photos of the 'rules' in the classrooms that I've been visiting. Since they are handwritten and on the bulletin board -- I thought they could have their very own edition this week on my "Fine Motor Friday."


Let's start with this beauty:LUV it! LUV it!! LUV it!!!
[From a first grade 'classroom-crashing' visit in Hilliard.]

What is it that I LUV about seeing children's handwriting?

The simplicity?

The sincerity?

It goes straight to my heart every time!

This set of rules above are from my 'way-back' machine.

I reflected on these half-a-dozen edicts just about a year ago.

It was my favorite article of that era -- back when it was just basically me + my mom as blog readers.

I think it's worth your click back to read my musings.

Not exactly beach reading, but heart felt for sure!

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You know with its black and white polka-dots I'm absolutelywild about this next bulletin board!

I LUV that in addition to the children writing of the class pledge--

there are photos of the 5 character traits these children will focus on during their foundation year.

Visual!!

Specific!!

Handwritten!!!

Individual Sigatures!!!

Paper-plate faces with yarn hair!

and

Polka-dots!!!!!

*AWARD WINNING IN MY BOOK*

That's what happens in Mrs. Sherwood's K room at Darby Creek Elementary. She's such a wonder at incorporating the children's written efforts in their collaborative work and she LUVS polka dots! She's the brilliant wonder that orchestrated my TWO days worth of visits, a week apart -- so their K kiddos could have time to process their time with me.


Across the Hilliard school district this is what's happening in Mrs. Price's K classroom at Scioto Darby Elementary. We, too, are part of the way-back club.

LUV LUV LUV that this 'KLIP Promise' has the signatures of ratification by the k-kiddos. I think that by having the children self-portraits above, there is a certain buy-in implied with their personalized smiles as well.


Here's how first graders think in Worthington.

How do you 'orchestrate' your rule-setting with your class? Is it a discussion? Are there suggestions? How soon do you begin work at articulating your expectations for your students?

The majority of these photos were taken in my whirlwind of end-of-the-year visits. Yet the evidence of this beginning-the-year activity is still hanging proudly in a place of honor in each room.

That's another variation of children 'signing' the rule in question. Mrs. Jones has written out the task at hand and the children have each added their 'John Hanco*ck' to signify that they are on-board with the concept.

BTW: her name really is Mrs. Jones!

Tampa Bay Kindergarten: "We Make Good Choices"

Below is a set of rules created from a preschool setting.

Interesting to see what's been added by the children.

You know that I always think having some visual 'clues' as to what behavior we're hoping for, especially when the children are not yet readers, is essential to the outcome. This example helps the little ones get off on the right foot.

Class Rules with Hand Drawn Visual Reminder Prompts

When you boil it all down to its very core...

how about this list?
From my dear preschool friends in Louisiana!

Here's one on the wall in a Florida VPK Preschool Classroom, captured obviously on sentence strips. Do You LUV the prompt to "have fun" as much as I do? What common denominators do you see emerging in all of these various examples?

Earlier this year the beloved Deanna Jump shared how she starts her day, over at PreK+K Sharing (our collaborative blog where I am editor-in-chief.) I am borrowing her image to show you how she used Mr. Potato Head with her K-kiddos. Click here to see how she incorporates Dr. Becky Bailey's approach to Conscious Discipline into their room.

Mrs. Jump's Visual Chart for Positive Behavior with Mr. Potato Head Prompts

I always remind you to have the children see your writing in the room as well. This piece seems well suited to this round-up of reminders. It was hanging on Mrs. Sherwood's Kindergarten doorway into the hall. I can think of a gazillion piggy-back tunes to use. Which tune would you incorporate to sing this message?

These next rules are from team teachers working with first graders at St. Paul Catholic school in Westerville. Slightly different takes on the same topic. I had the lower picture featured earlier this week. Please notice that it is an acrostic for the word R.E.S.P.E.C.T: brilliant!! The handprints serve as ratification in this example.

Here's a slightly different variation on this theme.

There's a big leap from the lists above to this one. It's tone is certainly for a more mature crowd. What do you think of this set?

Technically, these next reminders aren't hand-written, but I thought they belonged with the rest of this collection. These were on the wall in Florida last winter in the kindergarten room I visited in South Daytona. You guessed it. I LUV acrostic outlines!

I had fun putting this together for you and I'd be delighted with your thoughts and insight. Or better still if you have a blog-post on your 'rules' please leave a link in the comment section below. I know everyone would like to see how you involve your students in the process of developing a positive learning environment.