PACING CALENDARS AND STUDENT CONTRACTS

Teresa PinkstonTulsa Technology Center

STUDENT CONTRACTS

Student Contracts are agreements between a teacher (or teaching team) and a student (or occasionally a group of students). These agreements allow students to make choices about completing tasks and to meet certain specifications.

WHAT ARE THEY?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?Enrich or extend the essential curriculumChallenge the abilities of all studentsProvide alternative activities that address the differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of students

Help students learn to make decisions about their learning

Help students learn to manage their timeMay involve the student in curriculum planningCan be used to support all learners

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? Can be written for any curriculum area Provide rigorous and challenging learning activities Can be used to target specific learning activities for individuals or groups Promote flexible grouping in the classroom Accommodate students' needs by blending skill-based and content-based learning

Promote creative and critical thinking for students Develop students' time-management, planning, and decision-making skills Allow students to work at an appropriate pace Recognize students' prior knowledge Eliminate boredom by minimizing repetition for students Increase students' independence, motivation and class participation

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS?

1. Outcome(s) -specify what is to be accomplished, the conditions under which learning will be demonstrated, and the level of proficiency required to meet the outcome.

2. Resources- including print, media, and human3. Learning Alternatives- include reading, writing, viewing, creating,

interviewing, and other activities the student experiences to accomplish the outcome.

4. Reporting Alternatives and Assessment- should provide evidence as to whether the outcomes have been met

Accomplished and include a self-assessment. Conferences, tests, projects, presentations, real world products, portfolios of work are examples of reporting alternatives.

OPTIONS FOR ASSESSING AND EVALUATING STUDENT WORK ON CONTRACTSSelect specific tasks to be evaluated it is not necessary to evaluate every task.

Provide a combination of teacher-selected tasks and student-selected tasks;

Use rubrics created by the teacher or the student that incorporate neatness, thoughtfulness, accuracy of information, originality (if appropriate)

“THINK ABOUTS” FOR CREATING CONTRACTS Essential curriculum objectives upon which the learning contract will be based

Ways to incorporate student choice in the portions of the contract related to process or product

Clear and challenging criteria for success (time lines, quality of work, etc.)

Skills and content based on student readiness as well as interest and/or learning profile

Criteria to be used in assessing and evaluating student work Expectations of positive work behaviors Clear directions and expectations

MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR CONTRACTS

Notify parents (if applicable) of learning contract implementation and expectations

Require parent, student, and teacher signature on contract (if applicable)

Set dates to meet with individual(s) or group(s) of students to monitor and discuss progress

Allow time to accommodate student questions and/or concerns 

DO’S AND DON’TS

Explain the role & function of contracts

start small (1or 2 day) contracts negotiate contracts with students whenever possible

help set realistic deadlines renegotiate the contract if it isn't working

solicit student feedback on process

Gradually involve students in contract development

expect all students to use contracts effectively at the beginning

expect all students to like contracts.

assume contracts can take the place of regular instruction

use contracts without a good management system

DO’s DON’TS

PACING CALENDARS

WHAT IS IT?

a planning tool that helps teachers plan the pacing of their instruction

A pacing guide is sometimes referred to as a curriculum map, scope and sequence, standards schedule, instructional calendar, or road map.

WHY HAVE IT? (REASONS) Improve student performance and reduce gaps in student

achievement Avoid gaps and unintended repetition in learning when students

transfer from other schools Render results that inform decisions made concerning (e.g,

changes needed in) instructional strategies, programs, curriculum etc.

Information collaboration between educators

“THINK ABOUTS” FOR PACING CALENDARS The effects depend on the design and how they are used. The best pacing calendars emphasize curriculum guidance instead of

prescriptive pacing; these calendars focus on central ideas and provide links to exemplary curriculum materials, lessons, and instructional strategies.

Calendars like these embody what many experienced teachers do when they plan their curriculum for the year: They chunk it, put topics in a sensible order, determine what resources to draw on, and develop a good sense of how long different elements will take.

They also allow for some unpredictability depending on their particular mix of students.

Constructive pacing Calendars assume differences in teachers, students, and school contexts.

They adjust expectations through frequent revisions based on input from teachers. Most important, they encourage instruction that challenges students.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO DEVELOP A PACING CALENDAR? School Calendar Curriculum CTSO Calendar Guest speaker list (utilize your advisory committee) Community Calendar 1st week of school checklist (verify all forms necessary ) Course syllabi Plan of study/grade sheet/list of courses (course hours should be identified)

Field trips

These are suggestions and is not a complete list.

GAME TIME

RED AND GREENTrue and FalseAgree and Disagree Red and Green cards

Each student displays his/her selected side over his/her heart or chin, wherever it is most visible to the teacher.

Instruct students to hold it close to their body so it is difficult for others to view their choice.

AGREE OR DISAGREE!

Hold your card up close to your chin as soon as you decide if you Agree or Disagree!

Topic: Student Contracts and Pacing

CalendarsAgreeDisagree

TRUE OR FALSE?One advantage of student contracts

is it can be used to target specific learning activities for individuals or

groups

TRUE!

Way to go!!!!!

AGREE OR DISAGREE?Student Contracts

are developed by the teacher and the student has no input

DISAGREE!Student Contracts are agreements between a teacher (or teaching team) and a student (or occasionally a group of students). These

agreements allow students to make choices about completing tasks and to meet certain specifications.

TRUE OR FALSE?DO expect all students

to use contracts effectively at the

beginning

FALSE!This is a Don’t

Don’t expect all students to use contracts effectively at

the beginning

AGREE OR DISAGREE?

A pacing calendar is a planning tool that helps teachers plan the pacing of their instruction?

AGREE!

You are Awesome!!!!!

TRUE OR FALSE?Calendars like these embody what many

experienced teachers do when they plan their curriculum for the year: They chunk it, put topics in a sensible order, determine what resources to draw on, and develop a good sense of how long

different elements will take.

TRUE!!!

GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!

You have just been assessed

LET’S GET STARTED

INTERESTING WEBSITES

Instructional Pacing: How Do Your Lessons Flow?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/instructional-pacing-tips-rebecca-alber

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Best Projectshttp://www.edutopia.org/stw-project-based-learning-best-practices-guide