Choose five or fewer rules for your class. Have a class meeting with students to decide which rules they feel are most important. Students, including preschoolers, will pay more attention to rules they help write.
Once the general rules are decided on, write them down on a sheet of paper. Compose them with positive wording for the best results. For example, write, "Always keep hands and feet to yourself," rather than, "Do not hit or kick."
Decide on and write down rule consequences underneath the rules. For example, write that the first offense results in a warning. Write consequences appropriate for preschoolers, such as time-outs or the loss of activity center play time.
Add a bulletin board border to the poster edges to create a frame. Write a title for the rules at the top of the poster.
Decide on an illustration to go with each rule and consequence to provide clues for non-readers. Draw or print out illustrations. Plan the spacing of the words and pictures.
Write each rule and consequence on the poster, leaving appropriate space for illustrations. Number the rules to assist you when focusing student attention to a particular rule. Add illustrations of the rules and consequences to assist student understanding.
Hang the rules poster in a prominent spot. Decide where students will complete consequences.
Go over the rules and consequences with students. Refer to the poster often so that students begin to remember the rules.