How to Create a Learning Contract

A student works on his assignment.

A learning contract is a plan for action between a student, teacher and parent or guardian. The learning contract is a list of goals a student will try to achieve toward improving his learning within a given time. Read on to understand the process for creating a learning contract. Though focused on the method a teacher can use when working with a struggling student, the steps can easily be modified for a parent or for a teacher with an advanced student looking to accelerate his learning.

Things You'll Need

• Student academic records
• Conference with parent/teacher/student

Instructions

1. 

   Hold a meeting with the student to go over her previous academic records. Since a learning contract is essentially a series of goals for the future, it helps to start by knowing where a child has been. Then you can help her move toward improvement. Go over the student's transcripts with her, and discuss the high and low points. Mention to the student what you think she has done well or poorly in the past, and outline your desire for her to show improvement in the future. If you are including behavioral notes in this plan, you may wish to go over previous behavior infractions at this time as well.

2. Write a draft of the learning contract, based on what you have discussed with the student. Ask the student to read over the contract and see if there is anything else he would like to add to it. Make sure the draft includes specific steps for completion of each learning or behavioral goal--a list of what the child will learn, and how he will learn it.

3. Ask the parent or guardian to come in for a conference, and show him the draft of the contract you have created. A learning contract should be a three-way tool between teacher, student and parent. Explain how you and the student arrived at the creation of the contract, and ask the parent for input. Discuss the parent's involvement in implementing the contract. If the student is in elementary school, the parent will need to be significantly involved in helping the student fulfill the terms of the contract. If the student is in middle school or high school, the parent may choose to step back and allow the child to succeed or fail on his own.

4. Create a final draft of the learning contract based on your meeting with the student and parent or guardian. Depending on the policies at your school, you may want to show this draft to an administrator or guidance counselor for approval. Make sure that the draft includes concise, polished, professional language and clearly outlines the plans for this child. Each learning contract should be individually tailored to the needs of the student, and should be clearly understandable for the student and parent.

5. Sign the contract and ask the parent to return to the school to sign the contract, or send it home with the student for the parent to sign. A signature indicates not only an individual's willingness to work toward the goals outlined in the contract as part of a team, but also indicates an understanding of the terms of the contract. The parent and student particularly need to understand the consequences for failure to fulfill the terms of the contract. These might range from a drop in the student's grade to a referral to the principal, depending on the nature of the contract. Once the contract has been signed by all three parties, give copies to the student and parent and put the contract into action.

Tips & Warnings

• Be specific. Your contract should outline three things: goals for the student's learning, a plan for achieving those goals and consequences if those goals are not met (or rewards if they are met). Be brief. You can always write a second contract later if a student fulfills all of the requirements in the first one.

• Do not overwhelm. Putting too many items in one contract may make it difficult for the student to accomplish all of the goals in one year. It may also discourage him from continuing to pursue those goals. Do not accuse. When you meet with the parent and student, do not assign blame or accuse the student of being lazy, stupid or a behavior problem. Simply state the facts about the student's previous record, and outline your desire to help the student succeed in the future.

References

• What is a Learning Contract?
• Learning Contract Maker

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish