Student contracts provide a practical way to differentiate instruction in the classroom. By giving students the opportunity to develop a contract, they are able to become more responsible for their schoolwork and more enthusiastic about their education.

Student contracts provide a practical way to differentiate instruction in the classroom. By giving students the opportunity to develop a contract, they are able to become more responsible for their schoolwork and more enthusiastic about their education. This lesson provides teachers with a basic contract format, sustained silent reading (SSR) extension activities, and literature response activities. Students develop contracts that focus on language arts activities. Teachers and students negotiate and decide upon appropriate contracts for the classroom. (author/ncl)

Although this resource on student learning contracts is geared toward reading logs and related activities for middle school, it could easily be adapted to virtually any learning situation that requires the need for student contracting. This lesson plan provides teachers with an example of a basic contract format.

Although this resource on student learning contracts is geared toward reading logs and related activities for middle school, it could easily be adapted to virtually any learning situation that requires the need for student contracting. This lesson plan provides teachers with an example of a basic contract format. Student contracts are a tool that can be used to differentiate instruction in the classroom. By giving students the opportunity to develop a contract, they, in turn, have the opportunity to become more responsible for their schoolwork and more enthusiastic about education in general. Students begin to realize that what they want does indeed matter. Instead of teachers deciding how students will learn, students are given some decision making power in how their education will be structured. Student empowerment can be very beneficial to students in both academic and career-technical settings.