Contract

As we discussed in our blog previously, being a worthy teacher, sometimes is much harder than it looks. As a teacher often with all the effort we put in to control the situation and generate a pleasant learning environment, we still cannot prevent some misbehaver. Sometimes teachers are not able to correct the misbehaviour with positive reinforcement or even discipline, so the last source for teacher would be formal contract. I believe formal contract is decent and is much better than punishment because contracts give the power to students and make them responsible to follow it. However, one important aspect of contract is that it should be about positive reinforcement that students receive. As Bennett and Smilanich discussed on Classroom Management “[a] final paragraph in the contract should emphasize the positive consequences being used, such as phone calls or positive notes, detailing appropriate behaviour, the reward system (if one is being used), and the offer for extra academic assistance”(p.300). As B&S suggest the contract should have a positive reinforcement.

Also, I think that contract should be in favour of the student. I strongly believe we need to design a contract in a way that the student wins. This will give the student the courage to try harder. Also the misbehaviour that we are writing in our contract has to be a direct and specific behaviour so it gives a better vision to the student of what behaviour we want him to change.