Differentiation Through Learning Contracts

1. Differentiation Through Learning Contracts By Sherry Lanham

3. What are learning contracts? A learning contract is a working agreement between student and teacher concerning how that student will meet specific learning objectives. They can include such things as: • What the student will learn. • Time period for completion. • What he/she will do to meet these objectives. • How he/she will assess their own learning. • How the teacher will assess their learning

4. What types of learning contracts are there? There are many ways to do contracts; just as long as you have a goal and objective for the students to accomplish. • Using Bloom’s Taxonomy levels to create activities. • Using Learning Styles to create activities. • Coming up with basic activities for students to complete that relates to a theme or area of study.

5. With any learning contract, you want students to feel they have a choice in their learning. You can set the theme and objectives to be learned; but give students the opportunity to choose the activities in which they want to complete.

6. How do I grade a learning contract? Most learning contracts can be graded with a rubric. If you give the students a rubric, they will be able to see exactly how you will be grading the products they will be turning in to you.

7. Steps for Creating a Bloom’s Taxonomy Learning Contract • Focus on a theme or an area of study. • Choose three verbs per Taxonomy level with three products. • List the three activities per level (best if you do different learning styles.) • Explain to students they may choose one activity per level. • Explain your rubric for grading the contracts. • Give students an appropriate amount of time to complete contracts. • When contracts are turned in, they must be signed by student and parents. • Allow students to present part of their contracts to the class. They are proud of what they have produced.

8. Extras • Attached you will find a list of the Bloom’s Taxonomy verb list. • Attached you will find a product list.

9. Hamburger Contract Directions: Students are to choose FOUR items to complete. Please make your items creative, neat, and unique. Watch out for spelling and grammar errors. ____ Create a jingle for your own gourmet burger. ____Plan a “Hamburger Party”. Please create a menu, decorations, location, games, costumes, special guests, invitations, party favors, and any other details you wish to include. ____Create a poster advertising a gourmet hamburger. ____Create a cartoon or comic strip in which the main character is a hamburger. ____Create a Pop – Up book about hamburgers. ____Design a blue print of your own hamburger restaurant. ____Sketch or model a machine that makes hamburgers. How does it work? What is its name? ____Investigate and present the positive and negative health aspects of beef. Create a chart of the food components in a hamburger and show what percentage of protein, fat, carbs, and so on is in a hamburger. ____Many vegetarians argue that it is inhumane to kill animals for food. Others argue that it is a business like any other and depriving people of an income and of foods which are enjoyable and good for them is not right either. Prepare your view in an essay. Make sure you site specific reasons. Due on __________________________________________________________ Parent Signature:____________________________________________________

10. Dog Challenge The last week of September is Dog Week. This contract is to be completed by the last day of September. Pick on item from each level to complete. The items must be neat, creative, have correct spelling and grammar, and be your best effort. Knowledge ____ Name ten varieties of dogs and their physical characteristics. ____Select a breed of dog and list the breed’s specific physical standards. ____List the items a new puppy will need. Comprehension ____Research and then retell the story of a heroic canine rescuer. ____List items and procedures for basic first aid for a dog. ____List the members of the canine family – domestic and wild Application ____If you own a dog, prepare a display, with pictures, of your dog. Include a written narrative about your experiences with your pet. ____Write and illustrate a short introductory dog care manual. ____Research and then report on the Iditarod dogsled race. Draw a map showing the route for this year. Explain the procedures that are used to insure healthy sled dogs. Analysis ____Dogs get lost or are stolen, leaving their owners devastated. New microchips imprinted with the owner’s name, address, and other information can be implanted in a dog. Learn more about this high-tech way to identify a dog. Share your findings.

11. ____Some people prefer only purebred dogs. Others swear by mixed breeds. Give several pros and cons for each type. ____Select any tow breeds you would consider owning. Make a chart comparing and contrasting the two breeds. Synthesis ____Create a picture book about dogs for a younger class at your school. ____Prepare a fictional account of the adventures you have with your dog. ____Use your imagination and invent a new pet product. Evaluation ____Dogs are used in scientific experiments. Research and then report on your opinion about this topic. ____Over many generations, dogs have been bred to bring out specific characteristics. A result of these generations of breeding is that certain inherited tendencies or problems become more common in certain breeds. Research and then write an opinion paragraph about the possibility of over breeding and its results. Give specific examples where breeds have benefited from managed breeding and cases where it has hurt the dog. ____Americans spend millions of dollars a year on dogs and dog-care products. Explain in an opinion paper whether you believe spending this much is reasonable or if the money should be spent on other things.

12. Websites for Help • http://teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics This website will help you make rubrics. • http://www.centralischool.ca/~bestpractice/contract/index.html This website explains contracts and gives examples. • http://www.gigglepotz.com/contracts.htm This website has samples of simple contracts.

13. Let’s Try It! • Think of an area of study or goal you would like your children to have extended activities . • Use your verbs and product list to come up with three activities per level of Bloom’s. • Create a rubric for how you will grade the products.