I loved your ideas. My only change, and I used this in 2nd grade, 4th grade, and now middle school, is I let the KIDS come up with the rules. They brainstorm important rules independently, then they meet with small groups to choose the most important, condense the rules, and change negatives to positives. (Don't talk back, Don't push or shove, Don't take someone's pencil--"Treat EVERYONE with respect.") As a whole group, I then take their suggestions and write them at the board, further condensing and making positive, as necessary, and discussing why each should be kept or eliminated. I lead them toward the 5 or so that are the most important (I have a list in mind beforehand.) and that becomes the class rules. In middle school, I tell them I will combine each class's lists to create one great list. This way, the students "own" the rules, and know the reasons for them.
I loved your ideas. My only change, and I used this in 2nd grade, 4th grade, and now middle school, is I let the KIDS come up with the rules. They brainstorm important rules independently, then they meet with small groups to choose the most important, condense the rules, and change negatives to positives. (Don't talk back, Don't push or shove, Don't take someone's pencil--"Treat EVERYONE with respect.") As a whole group, I then take their suggestions and write them at the board, further condensing and making positive, as necessary, and discussing why each should be kept or eliminated. I lead them toward the 5 or so that are the most important (I have a list in mind beforehand.) and that becomes the class rules. In middle school, I tell them I will combine each class's lists to create one great list. This way, the students "own" the rules, and know the reasons for them.