Examples of ground rules

Your ground rules should provide students with the following kinds of information without being heavy-handed.

• State a reason for the conversation.

  Examples:
  "All of us teachers are interested in helping you have more fun in math class and do better on tests. We want to know what we can do together to make that happen."

  — or —

  "Our superintendent has asked us to let her know how we can make the school feel more welcoming and more safe. I'm going to pass on your ideas so she can share them with the school board in two weeks."

• Make the time frame clear.

  Examples:
  "We'll be together for 15 minutes, and then you’ll return to your classrooms."

  — or —

  "May I talk with you for five minutes? I need your ideas about something."

• State the purpose clearly.

  Examples:
  "We're just exploring these topics together. We're not here to make decisions. The school board will make a decision by March 1."

  — or —

  "I'll be talking with several groups like this before I decide how we'll promote our new learning motto."

• Explain the boundaries of confidentiality.

  Examples:
  "I want to remind you that this is an open session. I'll keep what you say in confidence, but it might be hard for everyone to do that. So use your judgment in sharing things that you wouldn't want to hear repeated later."

  — or —

  "I'll keep what you say in confidence. I'd like to ask that everyone else do the same. Can you agree to not talk about this conversation with people who are not in the room today?"