That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me Book SEL Character Education Read Aloud Activities is a structured read-aloud companion for That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me! by Julia Cook. Designed for students in 2nd–5th grade, it helps students understand why rules exist, consider how their actions affect others, and make more responsible choices in everyday situations.

The resource includes following school rules activities, following school rules worksheets, and choices and consequences activities for students who ignore expectations, test boundaries, or believe certain rules should not apply to them. Through discussion, reflection, and practical application, students learn that following school rules is not simply about adult control or compliance. Rules help protect safety, learning, fairness, and the rights of everyone sharing a classroom or school.

Part of a Collection of SEL Read Alouds

This resource is part of a growing collection of SEL read alouds that combine meaningful picture books with explicit social-emotional and literacy instruction. Each SEL social emotional read aloud helps students connect a character’s experience to situations they may encounter at school, at home, or in the community.

These character education read aloud activities give teachers a structured way to discuss behavior without singling out an individual student. The accompanying character education book activities then help students apply the lesson through writing, discussion, problem-solving, and personal reflection.

Why Students May Struggle with Following Rules

Some students break rules impulsively without considering the outcome. Others test boundaries, focus primarily on what they want in the moment, or decide that an expectation is unfair because it interferes with their plans.

Simply repeating the rule may stop the behavior temporarily, but it does not necessarily teach the thinking students need for future situations. Students benefit from following rules worksheets and guided conversations that help them examine the purpose of an expectation, predict possible outcomes, and consider how their behavior affects the larger group.

This resource was created to support that instruction.

Through the story and follow-up activities, students explore the difference between knowing a rule and taking responsibility for following it. They practice making decisions based on safety, fairness, and respect rather than only on personal preference.

Why Teachers Use This Resource

This companion helps teachers:

• Explain the purpose behind classroom and school expectations
• Provide direct practice through following school rules activities
• Reinforce concepts with following school rules worksheets
• Help students connect choices with natural and logical outcomes
• Reduce repeated boundary testing by addressing the thinking beneath it
• Teach responsibility without relying on shame or punishment
• Develop accountability while preserving student dignity
• Encourage positive behavior choices across different settings
• Reinforce ELA skills while targeting behavior and SEL goals
• Differentiate instruction using varied activity types and levels

What’s Included

This 100-page resource contains more than 40 differentiated activities designed for flexible use. Teachers can select the pages that match their students’ needs without having to complete the entire resource.

The variety allows you to:

• Differentiate for student readiness and ability levels
• Use the resource across several days or weeks
• Assign activities during whole-group, small-group, center, or independent instruction
• Revisit the same skill without asking students to repeat the same task
• Select targeted pages for individual behavior support or counseling groups

Interactive Read-Aloud Lesson Plan

The included lesson plan provides:

• Before-, during-, and after-reading questions
• Structured discussion prompts
• Opportunities to predict, explain, and reflect
• Connections between the story and real school situations
• Guidance for discussing rules, responsibility, fairness, and consequences

Following School Rules Activities and Worksheets

The following school rules activities help students examine what a rule protects and what may happen when people choose not to follow it. Students consider expectations in different settings, distinguish safe and responsible choices from less effective ones, and practice explaining the reasoning behind a rule.

The following school rules worksheets provide opportunities for written reflection, scenario analysis, and personal application. These pages are especially useful for students who can recite expectations but need more support applying them when frustrated, excited, or focused on a preferred outcome.

Choices, Consequences, and Positive Behavior

The included choices and consequences activities help students slow down and examine the connection between an action and its likely outcome. Rather than presenting consequences only as something adults impose, the activities help students recognize that choices naturally affect learning, safety, trust, and relationships.

Positive behavior choices activities give students structured practice identifying alternative responses. Students learn that they can disagree, feel disappointed, or ask respectful questions while still choosing behavior that supports the classroom community.

Emotional Regulation and Flexible Thinking

Difficulty following an expectation is sometimes connected to frustration, disappointment, impulsivity, or inflexible thinking. The emotional regulation activities worksheets in this resource help students recognize those responses and practice pausing before acting.

The emotional regulation learning worksheets connect feelings with thoughts, choices, and outcomes. Social emotional regulation learning worksheets also help students consider how their emotional response affects other people and the shared environment. These activities do not remove accountability; they teach the regulation skills students need to meet expectations more consistently.

Social Emotional Learning Skills

Students practice:

• Understanding why rules and expectations exist
• Following rules across different school settings
• Considering how individual behavior affects a group
• Connecting choices with consequences
• Making positive behavior choices
• Developing responsibility and accountability
• Practicing self-control and flexible thinking
• Respecting other people and shared spaces
• Responding appropriately when they disagree with a rule
• Repairing problems caused by an irresponsible choice

ELA Skills

Students also practice:

• Making predictions
• Summarizing
• Making text-to-self connections
• Analyzing characters and their choices
• Comparing and contrasting
• Explaining cause and effect
• Responding to writing prompts

Additional Supports

The resource includes:

• Notes to families for continuing conversations about expectations and responsibility at home
• Real photographs to strengthen student understanding and connection
• Differentiated reflection and application activities
• Materials that can be revisited without repeating the same assignment

How Teachers Use This Resource

Teachers can use these character education book activities during:

• Whole-group interactive read-aloud lessons
• Small-group SEL or behavior instruction
• School counseling groups
• Behavior intervention and reflection sessions
• Centers or independent work
• Self-contained classroom instruction
• Individual support for students who repeatedly test boundaries

About the Book

In That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me! by Julia Cook, Noodle believes that rules interfere with his fun and should not always apply to him. With support from his teacher and mother, he begins to understand that rules are not arbitrary restrictions. They help keep people safe, protect learning, and ensure that others are treated fairly.

The story provides a relatable starting point for conversations about responsibility, fairness, and the effect one person’s choices can have on an entire group.

Bottom Line

If your students know the rules but continue to ignore them, argue that expectations are unfair, or act as though the rules apply only to other people, this resource provides a structured way to teach the missing skills. Through SEL read alouds, following school rules activities, emotional regulation practice, and choices and consequences activities, students learn how to make responsible decisions while continuing to develop essential literacy skills.

Curious for More?

Discover your next impactful and engaging interactive read aloud & book companion available here, each carefully crafted to ignite student growth on multiple fronts.

Learn More: Interactive Readalouds for SEL and Literacy Skills

Discover the power of an interactive read aloud in promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) and literacy skills in children.

Whether you’re a teacher or a caregiver, learn how an interactive read aloud can positively transform young lives with this blog post: Interactive Read Alouds: How to Use Them to Promote SEL and Literacy Skills.

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