Setting the Ground Rules

Classroom Rules I ramble off before we do any activity where things could go wrong:
No hitting, kicking, punching, biting, spitting, running, pushing, licking, whining, screaming, or fighting.
And then I hear, "Miss Hughes, you forgot yelling."
My kids are used to these rules because for weeks on end that's all I would say before we did ANYTHING.
 For my other rules, I gave each child a specific rule and they have to enforce it. It forces them to teach each other the rules and follow them. The have to sit criss cross on their square when waiting to choose classroom helpers, and if they're not they tell each other. Occasionally this gets violent, but then I start rambling the long list of rules and they stop. I haven't quite figured out if it's because they're 1) tired of  hearing them, 2) mesmerized by the speed of which I can ramble, or 3) scared of the time out consequences.
As for tattle telling, I support them positively by making them resolve their own conflicts. Some people look at me strange  when I say,"Talk it out yourselves" or "thanks for sharing." Even though they're 3, they have the capabilities to talk to one another and work out their issues.

Tips for Setting Rules

1. Make sure you set age appropriate expectations.
2. Let the children participate in creating the rules.
3. Let the children set the consequences.
4. Explain why the action is undesirable and support it with desired actions.
5. Ignore the why. It's a never ending battle.
6. Bring the hammer down and stick to your guns. Yes, they're cute, but stand your ground and don't cave to the cuteness.
7. Make time for a democracy. I set aside time each week to talk to my kiddos about the rules, consequences, and let them vote on new things for the class.

Happy rule making!