9+ Student Learning Contract Templates – PDF, Word, Google Docs
We often know what we want but rarely do we know how to get it. We also know what’s required of us, but when most things that are enforced tend to be passive and monotonous we sometimes not only respond with apathy but also point blank refuse to do better. This is never truer in a classroom setting where order and management is part of a teacher’s daily workload. You may also see student templates.
- 246+ Contract Templates in Word
- Contract Templates in Apple Pages
Contract Template Bundle
Simple Student Learning Contract Template
Writing Learning Goals Template
University Learning Contract Example
Student Learning Contract Sample
Most times, it’s the priority of the teacher to manage the whole class. Other times, your focus is only on one student and as a teacher, you need to be wary of setting focus on only one of them since it could have a big impact on the student’s self-esteem or stunt their opportunities for growth and learning, especially if the individual has to be removed from class just to get his or her attention. You can also read free contract templates.
Pep talks are okay but a more effective technique in increasing the chances of getting a positive result from a student as well as from the class in general and the teacher, is by negotiating a learning contract with the student or students in question.
What is a learning contract?
A learning contract, sometimes also called a behavior contract, is a document outlining an agreement between student and teacher with the end goal of changing the student’s behavior to favor opportunities to learn. In short, it’s a document the student signs as a promise and a commitment to do better in class.
It is a written agreement made between a student and the teacher with the student’s parents involved in serious cases of behavior problems in class. The contract has to specify concrete learning or behavior goals for the student that all parties involved agree on. The contract also details the following:
- The objectives of the contract
- The responsibilities of each party to the contract
- The time frame for which the terms of the contract needs to be satisfied and completed
- The factors and grounds on which it will be decided whether or not the conditions of the contract were met
Simple Learning Contract Tips
Learning Contract Template
Purpose of a Learning Contract
1. Performance Improvement
One of the best advantages of a learning contract is perhaps the positive impact it has on a student’s behavior toward academic performance, while he or she is still part of the class, encouraging an inclusive environment by not isolating the student. There may be various reasons that teachers have for setting up learning contracts with their students but they generally have one end goal which involves an improvement of a student’s class performance. You can also read photography contract templates.
2. Resolving Class Behavior
In other cases though, you may negotiate a learning contract to resolve a student’s behavior in class regardless of whether he is doing it on purpose or if he simply has a very short attention span and is easily distracted by other students, although in most cases, these contracts are written when the teacher recognizes an alarming decline in a student’s performance or when he or she isn’t able to meet academic potential. You can also see sample contract templates.
Regardless of the reason, one thing should remain common: the student should always be included in the negotiating and writing process of the contract to ensure that he commits to it because it is important to make him feel that he is also interested in doing his part of the deal. The best way through this would be by showing the students that you’re ready to listen to their concerns and that you are willing to consider them and that you can negotiate the terms of the learning contract before finalizing it. You may also like freelance contract templates.
Sample Learning Contract Template
Internship Learning Contract Sample
Benefits of A Learning Contract
1. Contracts promote self-direction
A written contract directs a plan of action for both student and teacher. Moreover, they encourage students with choice and a sense of responsibility in setting the course for their learning process. A lot of students see school as one enforced act, relentless and passing. Having a learning contract gives them an organized self-direction and involvement as a replacement for an otherwise dull experience. You can also like consultant contract templates.
It also boosts motivation and is a powerful tool for building an effective learning environment. When students are encouraged to see themselves as independent, responsible and capable people, it can create a strong impact personally and academically, helping them to further learn the skill of studying and learning. You may also see artist contract templates.
2. Provides students with other goals
The contract makes the student work for more than just achieving good grades. It allows the student to gain personal fulfillment from meeting other goals they have set for themselves and many students are very responsive to this strategy because they appreciate the teacher’s efforts in acknowledging and helping them fill their individual needs. You may also see HR contract templates.
Its benefits on the other hand, may apply to everyone involved, and may even be extended to the rest of the class in the whole process in the sense that the student benefits from working at his academic standing at the expected level and the teacher gains fulfillment from seeing her student’s effort for growth and improvement. You can also read interior designer contract templates.
Additionally, time that should be spent in class, isn’t interrupted and taken up by the usual distractions. What the student learns from the process can also be applied personally, especially in the aspect of setting goals and doing your best to achieve them. You may also check out free contract samples.
3. Contracts encourage greater creativity in teachers
Students basically do the same things at the same time almost every day, like clockwork, in your traditional classroom setting which makes it hard for teachers to think of ways where they can answer to a student’s specific or individual needs and improvise or create new materials. You also have very limited opportunities to create the kind of task which would develop the brightest minds in class or be able to give remedial tasks for those who are struggling to keep up, in order to support them. You can also read event contract templates.
The contract offers a difference in encouraging teacher to be more responsive to their student’s needs-all of them. Through a contract, teachers are allowed more freedom to develop homework, research projects, and curriculum as well as the kind of tasks independent to specific students so that they can provide the students who may be bored or struggling with a positive learning experience. You may also check out booking agent contracts.
4. Contracts reinforce a mindset for growth and improvement
There’s a criticism going around these days about our global education system that students are being taught what to think and not how to think. True enough, most students are trapped in a fixed mindset thinking that if they don’t do what’s expected, if they don’t have passing marks for an exam, for instance, they failed because they are no good and that there’s no way to get this fixed whatsoever. You can also read project contract templates.
Contracts are further designed to make students learn from their mistakes with the knowledge that they can and will do better because they are allowed to choose their own way to the mastery and fulfillment of their skills and potential. This is what reinforces the concept that learning comes from effort, which means contracts are a good way of training students to have a growth mindset, to be more careful and to welcome the idea that learning is a process involving mistakes, and that it’s okay to make mistakes which you could learn from. You can also read employee contract templates.
Writing the Learning Contract
There are times when it’s better for teachers to allow students to come up with their own terms and the teacher will try to negotiate this depending on what he or she thinks will be best for the student or students “in question.” The teacher may encourage the student to be creative in demonstrating the kind of earning they think they need, in order to do better. You may choose to provide a checklist of pre-approved options where the students can choose which ones they can work with best. You can also check out teacher contract templates.
The contract will include the following at best:
- Student Actions. List of any actions that the student commits to, or promises to complete in an agreed time-frame to ensure the success or passing of the course. Appropriate and realistic targets for learning contracts could include class participation, submission of homework and other paperwork assigned by the teacher on the deadline set, attendance, and punctuality, etc. You can also see freelance video contracts.
- Teacher Actions. The learning contract would be okay without this but it’s better strengthened by adding a section for actions detailing where the teacher agree to support the student and the ways in which he or she plans to do it. You may also see mortgage contract templates.
- Sign Off. This is obviously the final part, where both student and teacher have reviewed the terms and conditions and should now be signing the contract. You may also check out SEO contract templates.
Learning Contract Sample
Learning Contract Example
Even if you’re not a student anymore, writing a learning contract for yourself can help you create a personal road map comparing your current performance or achievements with the kind of goals you still want to achieve and find the best possible strategy for bridging the gap between. Through this document, you’re able to identify better objectives for learning, available resources, deadlines, challenges and how you can address them, as well as measurements. You can also read interior designer contract templates.