Write an article based on this "Start by making a list of unacceptable behaviors. Focus on goals. Keep it positive. Make the expectations simple. Ask other teachers if you can look over their classroom contracts."
If you're not sure where to start with your classroom rules, you can begin by simply writing down all of the specific behaviors that you want to discourage your students from engaging in. Then use this list to craft your rules. Use the specific actions you came up with to develop more general rules. For example, if you don't want your students to talk out of turn or use cellphones during class, your rule could be "be respectful of the teacher." Instead of centering your classroom contract around rules, which typically state actions that are prohibited, give your students something to work towards by establishing goals. The goals can be broad statements such as "treat everyone with respect." This goal inherently prohibits behavior like hitting and name calling without having to spell out each undesired behavior. If you do need to establish specific rules beyond your broader goals, try to use positive language. This will help motivate students to meet the expectations, rather than bombarding them with prohibited activities. For example, "Keep your work stations neat" is a better rule than "Don't make a mess." It's extremely important that your students understand what is expected of them, or else they will never be able to follow the rules. When crafting your rules, do your best to make them clear and concise, while leaving no room for misinterpretation. Avoid using confusing words that your students may not know. If your rule seems vague, be sure to give examples so your students understand what it means. Talk to them about what works best in their classroom, as well as what hasn't worked. Not only will this give you ideas about what to include in your classroom contract, it can also prevent discrepancies between classrooms that could create conflict, as students will favor a more permissive teacher. It's better for both students and teachers if there are uniform expectations across classrooms. This will provide the students with a stable, clearly structured learning environment.