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Ever since I unveiled my kindergarten classroom last fall, I have received weekly questions about so many elements of my classroom decor. As popular questions arise, I have been dedicating several blog posts to answering your most frequently-asked questions. Today I am thrilled to finally answer all of your questions about my classroom rules. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Save yourself some time and purchase your materials online!
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support the blog.
As you can see, my classroom rules can be found in the front of the room, low the ground (at my students eye level when they join me on the carpet) in brightly colored frames.
All of this was intentional and not a single detail was a coincidence. I LOVE that the rules are posted in the front of the room and are visually accessible to the class.
We reference the rules ALL DAY LONG.
If some one interrupts while I am giving directions, I remind them of Rule Number 1: Listen when someone is talking.
If someone is running in the classroom, Rule Number 5: Work and play safely and quietly.
Sometimes I ask a child who is struggling with a particular rule to go look at it and read it to me. The rules keep my classroom running smoothly and it is only fitting that they are so prominently displayed in our learning environment.
I take great pride in my classroom decor and I wanted the rules to be a natural fit in the environment so I designed my classroom rules to look like subway art. You can purchase Classroom Rules Subway Art in my TpT store. This is one of my Black Series products that features bright colors on a black background to make a bold statement.
People are ALWAYS asking about the brightly colored frames that contain my classroom rules. I purchased the frames at Michaels this summer (I’ll fill you in on all the details of the frames in a minute) and spray painted each one in a different bright solid color. In a recent blog post about my spray painted file cabinets, I mentioned the importance of priming a surface before painting. The frames I purchased were raw wood and the needed a coat of primer before beginning. You can purchase spray primer, but I had a few quarts of traditional primer nearby from various classroom improvement projects this summer. I used an inexpensive foam brush to paint a light coat of primer onto each frame picture frame.
To find the best colors for my classroom project, I shopped around at several stores and used a few different brands of spray paint. I wanted my frames to have a glossy finish in a color that really popped. People ask me all the time what colors I used to paint my frames. Ultimately, I decided on these 5 colors:
Krylon ColorMaster in Citrus Green (available at Michaels)
Krylon ColorMaster in Sea Glass (available at Michaels)
Krylon Indoor Outdoor in Bauhaus Gold (available at Michaels)
Rustoleum Painters Touch in Berry Pink (available at Home Depot)
Rustoleum Painters Touch in Sea Side (available at Home Depot)
By now, only one question remains unanswered:
Where did I get those fabulous wood frames for my classroom rules?
The actual frames are from Michaels. They are ArtMinds brand, unfinished wood and instead of glass, they just had a floppy piece of plastic to hold the photo in place. Like most picture frames, they had a back stand and brackets for mounting on the wall.
Cori from Mrs. B’s Beehive is also a teacher in a Catholic school. She let me know about the new frames that are in-stock at Michaels and Cori found a creative way to make the frames work for her. Stop by her post and see what she did!
The black sign that says “Classroom Rules” beside the picture frames is a sheet of black chalkboard vinyl. I purchased a set of 3 scalloped sheets at Target last summer. My friend Meggan has the cutest printing ever and she was sweet enough to write the words “classroom rules” on the vinyl. I sprayed it with hair spray to help keep the chalk in place and it worked! This sign hasn’t smudged at all this year.
Want to know more about my kindergarten classroom?
Read about my spray painted file cabinets with lots of tips and a video on the best way to spray paint.
Take a tour of my room and see views of the entire classroom.
I’m a former kindergarten teacher turned work-from-home mom. I still love sharing ideas and resources to make teaching easier, so you can focus on what really matters in the classroom. When I’m not working on the blog, you’ll find me chasing kids around the house with a cold cup of coffee in my hand (some things never change even once you’re out of the classroom!)
©2021 Kinder Craze. All Rights Reserved.
28 Responses
Thanks Maria! I love every single post about you classroom. I need you to decorate my portable 🙂
Wow! Your classroom is stunning. I never tire of seeing it or hearing about how you achieved it. Thanks for being so open and encouraging by posting. you are indeed amazing!!
have a great weekend.
Julie 🙂
Mrs Stowe’s Kinder Cottage
Thank you for the link to my post Maria, I really appreciate it!
I love your color theme and everything you’ve included in your room!
My building is over 100 years old– very high ceilings, marble, solid wood, and window walls.
My room is a challenge, but I have some plans to work on it over the summer. 🙂
You are killing me with you AWESOME~NESS! I love your classroom!! Adorable!
As a school librarian, I love your ideas! I recently started my own blog and would like your input.
http://www.TheRiehlDeals.blogspot.com
What size frames did you get from
Michaels?
Ok, here is a silly question. On your black series, do you print on black paper?
What size are your frames?? Love, love, love your room!!
Thanks,
Christy
Awesome post Maria! I was able to find the frames at Michaels after all. Only 1 type though. To the posters above the frames are 8×10, and no you don’t have to use black paper it’s just black ink. 🙂
I bought my paint today. Very excited to go look for frames. The rules have been laminated for a couple months now! 🙂 I am also going to use it to paint cans.
I would like to purchase your rules from tpt. However, two of my rules are different. Any chance you would do a special order for me? Love them!!
Kathy
How did you mount these to the wall???
How did you mount these to the wall?
I spent a good amount of time looking for picture frames for these adorable rules!!! After many Goodwill trips I went to Ikea and purchased some 2 dollar photo frames. They come in a few primary colors. I decided on black. I thought I wanted to paint them but I enjoy the black on black. For some reason Ikea frames are 8 1/2 by 11 instead of 8 by 10. This bothered me for about 3 seconds until I spotted my scrape-booking paper. I put a layer on striped paper along the bottom of the rules. It covered up the white and added a cute detail. After this the rules fit perfect! There is no white to be seen. I hung them up today using mini Comand Hooks. It worked great. The frames have a plastic insert instead of glass so I am not worried about them falling and breaking. They have only been up for a few hours and I have received multiple compliments. For 2 bucks I do not think it gets any better. Anyways just wanted to say thanks and offer a suggestion!
What size are the frames that you used for the kindergarten rules?
The frames are 8×10″
what do you use to hang the tree? I haven’t found anything other than hot glue, that will stick all year. Love your ideas-shopping tomorrow!
Hi Darlene! The trees are made from black vinyl. You can find a tutorial here: https://kindercraze.com/video-tutorial-diy-vinyl-tree-decorations/
Your post is awesome thank you so much for sharing can you tell me where you got the hanging balls for the celling please! Thank you so much
Hi Amanda! Those are lanterns from schoolgirlstyle.com
Hi!
I am in love with your classroom and am finally getting my own class next year so am planning like crazy. I LOVE these classroom rule posters…. however, I teach in French and need my rules in French 🙁
Anyway you could share an editable version or let me know how you created them? I could totally purchase it on TPT!