Begin the school year with clear expectations and guidelines. Explain your rules and plan for rewards and consequences. Ask students for input and feedback about your plan. Make amendments based on their suggestions if appropriate. When your students feel like you value what they have to say, you can establish a foundation of respect.
Treat students respectfully. Make eye contact when you speak to them individually. Listen to them and allow them to express their opinions without fear of reprisal if they differ from yours. Students are apt to emulate their teacher's habits so model the behavior you want them to demonstrate.
Discuss what respect and disrespect look like in the classroom. Talk about possible scenarios or dramatize them with some student volunteers. For example, have a student bully another and ask others in the class how they would respond. Follow similar procedures to demonstrate teachers and students showing disrespect to each other.
Remain calm if a student shows disrespect to you or classmates. Remind them of the possible consequences of their behavior. If possible, talk to them after class so they will not be embarrassed in front of peers. Your calm, controlled reaction can help diffuse a potentially volatile situation.