19 Contracts
Definition
Written agreement between a student and teacher (and often parents) describing specific academic or behavioural goals/ expectations as well as expected outcomes. While contracts can be made for an entire class (social contracts), in the case of IEP accommodations they are created for a particular student (individual contracts).
In action
Teachers should involve and coach students in the process of creating contracts so that they can experience control and ownership of their own learning and growth as they work toward a desirable outcome (e.g., extra break time, choice activity).
Support Strategies
- Target behaviours for contracts should be collaboratively selected with the student and often the family as well to ensure relevance and buy-in.
- Students may have trouble selecting goals or understanding contracts. It is helpful to coach the students in this process, by modeling a contract, showing examples, and/or starting with a very simple contract using an easily attainable goal.
- After the contract is set up, help the student track their own progress, adjust supports as needed, and be sure to celebrate successes!
Case Study
Student: Grade 8 student in a science class
Content: Class is completing an end of term activity in which they work in groups to research, prepare for, and give a class presentation on their assigned topic.
Problem: The student has difficulty keeping up with assignments due to organizational issues and will likely have a tough time contributing to the group’s work.
Solution: The teacher works with the student to set an end goal for the students work in their group and uses backward planning from the due date to break the tasks into daily chunks. This daily activity plan is then used to collaboratively create a contract describing the expectations. It is agreed that when the student is able to complete the contract, the teacher will let them select the class intro music for a day.
Additional Resources
- Fulsome description of behavioural contracts with defined terminology, charts, and sample contracts from the National Center on Intensive Intervention
- Parent tips for creating homework contracts from Intervention Central
- Introduction and steps for creating a behavioural contract from Intervention Central
- Steps for creating contracts with examples from the University of Washington
- Explanation and examples of self-directed learning contacts (post-secondary focused) from the University of Waterloo
- Tip sheet on social contracts with cited research from the University of Minnesota
- Video on group social contracts from Edutopia
