Learning Contracts

** This post is part of a larger post: Developing a Gifted and Talented Program. **

A learning contract lays out an independent study unit for individual students. It is used when a student has pretested out of a unit so they do not have to complete lessons of concepts they already have mastered. Through the learning contract, the student chooses what they want to learn, how they will learn the information, and how they will present what they have learned.

Benefits

• Students are able to work on more challenging concepts.
• It allows students to discover their personal learning strategies.
• Learning contracts can enrich the grade level curriculum and be used for any subject area.
• Students can develop time management, goal setting, and decision making skills.
• Students have an increase in motivation and become more engaged in their learning.
• Students are involved in the process of developing the plan, which allows them to take more ownership in not only the plan, but also their learning.

Suggestions

• Put agreed upon rules to follow when working right onto the contract. Some possible rules may include:
  • working quietly as not to disturb the rest of the class,
  • when it is okay to work with a partner, and
  • what to do if they need help and the teacher is busy.
• Meet with the students regularly to check on how they are doing, any feedback they have, what problems have arisen, etc.
• Have students keep track of the time they work on their learning contract and what they accomplish each day.
• The students’ grades will be based on the work they completed with the learning contract, as well as the post test/post assessment activity.
• Have students rejoin the whole class for special projects/experiences that all students should be a part of.
• If a student does not complete the work on their contract or follow the agreed upon rules, they should rejoin the whole class for the rest of the unit.
• When students finish their project, have them present it to the rest of the class.
• Let the students create their own contract with the teacher providing guidance, feedback, and suggestions before they begin to work on it. This can help them take more ownership of their learning.
• Encourage students to use a variety of resources (i.e., other people, library, internet, books, etc.).
• Encourage students to let you know when they are having trouble with something on their learning contract.
• Make sure the skills/activities match the readiness of the student.
• Allow students to decide which materials they will use, as well as what their final product will be.
• Throughout the student’s work, select specific tasks that will be evaluated. You do not need to grade every task of the project.

Parts of the Contract

• Outcomes/Objectives – what the student should learn during the project and what they hope to get out of the project (i.e., what they want want to learn)
• Guidelines – terms/rules that have been agreed upon by the student and teacher
• Description of the Project
• Student’s and Teacher’s Responsibilities
• Resources
• Timeline/Due Dates – can include how often the student and and teacher will meet to track the student’s progress
• Student, Parent/Guardian, and Teacher Signatures

Read Ahead Contracts – https://www.giftedguru.com/read-ahead-contracts/