Start the school year on the right foot by making sure your students understand classroom community rules. Design a formal behavior contract that lays out each rule, the reasons for it, and what the student needs to do to comply. The contract should also lay out the penalties for breaking a rule. Present these contracts to the students as documents you've drawn up because you believe the students to be mature enough to enter into an agreement with you. Have them read the document and sign it.
George Washington is said to have written all the 110 Rules of Civility that were commonly read and passed around during his adolescence. These rules are, of course, written in old-fashioned language and were meant for people living during a different time. One activity that highlights the need for rules in your classroom community is to provide your students with a copy of some of these rules, perhaps some that work with rules you want to establish, and have students read and discuss them. Ask the students to modernize a rule and talk about whether it still stands as a good rule today.
Students are more likely to adhere to rules that they fully understand and that they had a hand in designing. At the start of the school year, have students discuss what rules they think are required to maintain an orderly, effective classroom. Discuss consequences with them as well. This exercise allows you to gently guide them toward rules by asking questions, and puts the actual development of them into the students' hands.
Here's an idea for a rule-related writing assignment. Ask each student to write a creative essay about one perfect rule. They should think about what one rule they believe best helps maintain order in their classroom or helps them to function their best as part of the community. The rule may be one already established, or one they wish would come into being. Once the essays are written, have each student write the rule and the consequences for following and not following it at the bottom of the page. Have students read their one rule and the consequences out loud and encourage discussion.