ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy Explained: Learning Contracts

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Contracts are negotiated agreements between the teacher and student. Contracts provide the student with some freedom in acquiring skills and understandings that the teacher deems important based on Content Standards. Student choices can include: - what is to be learned (content) - working conditions (process) - how information will be applied or expressed (assessment or product)

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts A CONTRACT: assumes that the teacher identifies specific important skills and understandings and assures students acquire them, allows students to take some responsibility for their own learning and delineates skills needed to be practiced and mastered, ensures students apply those skills, specifies work conditions such as time constraints, behavior, homework, and class work involvement.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts A CONTRACT: sets positive consequences (allowable freedom of choice, grades) for students adhering to the contract, establishes criteria for students completing contract with high quality work, includes signatures of both teacher and student, includes periodic checkpoints (more for dependent students, less for independent ones) for review of progress.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Designing a Differentiated Learning Contract Four Contract Elements 1.Skills/Content Pre-Assessment Focus is on skills-based tasks and can be taken from Academic Content Standards. Assignments are based on pre-assessment of students’ readiness levels or Grade-Level indicators. Teachers can create their own pre-assessments or use existing ones from texts or other resources.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Designing a Differentiated Learning Contract Four Contract Elements 2. Skills/Content Activities Focus is on applying, extending, or enriching key content (ideas, understandings) or skills. Requires sense making and production. Assignment based on readiness or interest.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Designing a Differentiated Learning Contract Four Contract Elements 3. Time Teacher sets completion date and check-in requirements. Students select the order of work (except for required meetings and homework versus class work).

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Designing a Differentiated Learning Contract Four Contract Elements 4. Agreement The teacher agrees to let students have freedom to plan their time Students agree to use the time responsibly Guidelines for working are spelled out Consequences for ineffective use of time are delineated Signatures of the teacher and student are placed on the agreement

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Differentiation Strategy: Learning Contracts Student contracts at differentiated levels should have similar qualities, and should look a great deal alike. The work noted in a given section of the contract parallels other contract versions. The work in some contracts is more complex than other contracts. The Pre-Assessment and Activities components of the contract can be on separate pages so that Pre- Assessments might be the same for all contracted students but the tasks might be individually determined.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! 1. Skills/Content Pre-Assessment: Use the Academic Content Standards, teacher’s manual and other resources to create assessments for unit Pre-tests should be available at the beginning of each chapter/unit Contracts should be made available to students who demonstrate 80 – 85% mastery

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! Use the Sample Contracts provided to begin planning: Sample Contract 1 is a structured format that allows the teacher to use the Academic Content Standards Sample Contract 2 is a less structured format that gives teachers the option of using textbook based pre-assessment

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! 2. Skill/Content Activities: Collect enrichment activities from teacher manuals, the Ohio IMS website of Content Standards and other sources Materials should be self checking as much as possible Enlist student ideas for Free Choice Options

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! Time Determine time constraints for the contract Plan check-in with students at least twice weekly Work with students to develop the independence they need to complete the learning contract activities

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! Agreements Explain the Rules for Working Explain consequences for breaking the rules Both the student and the teacher should agree on all aspects of the Learning Contract

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Activity: Try it! Reflect on how your contracts worked during the trial period. What could be improved for the future? How can you help students gain independence and self-regulation in these activities?

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Discussion What areas in your teaching can benefit from the use of Learning Contracts? How can using Learning Contracts assist you in reaching the needs of all learners in your classroom? Discuss how you might use information about student readiness, interests and learning preferences to create Learning Contracts. Discuss specific ways you might use Contracts in your classroom.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Consider inviting your coordinator of gifted services, principal, curriculum coordinator or other administrator to observe your students using Learning Contracts. Your observer can use the observation form found under Module Specific Planning Documents in the Facilitator Module.

ODE Javits Project: I-GET-GTEd Learning Contracts Resources ASCD video. (2002). Instructional Strategies for the Differentiated Classroom, Tape 1: Learning Contracts. Available from Winebrenner, S. (1992). Teaching gifted kids in the regular classroom. Free Spirit Publishing: Minneapolism, MN for an online contract generator.