Activity 3: Contracting
Step 1:
A contract is a set of rules and behaviours that learners and teachers agree to observe. Contracting is a process whereby teachers openly discuss with learners how they want everyone in the class to treat one another. It is an agreement on how everyone will treat one another.
Step 2: Learners reflect
Prepare learners to develop a class contract. Ask them to reflect on their experiences of being in a class with others. Write down their responses on the chalkboard. Alternatively, learners can write their ideas in their journals. You might
use prompts like these below to structure their reflections:
Step 3: Discuss in small groups
Ask students to discuss, in small groups, the values and behaviours they would like to have in the classroom.
What would create a safe, respectful, productive learning environment?
Step 4:
Invite students to create their own contract of five values or behaviours.
Step 5:
After learners have discussed in their groups, allow one person from each group to present to the class. Then write all the rules on one piece of paper. If there is repetition, you will only write that point once.
Break – 30 min