KelLy hudSon CarRolLton City

tHE SOCIaL CONtRACt

and paying attention, Hudson said, and the contract is constantly referenced throughout the day.

Kelly Hudson, a first grade teacher at Carrollton Elementary School, has been teaching for 20 years. In her two decades of experience, she has learned that building relationships and student engagement are keys to academic success.

To help build that trust and connection, she works with students to create a Social Contract at the beginning of each school year that outlines the rules and expectations in her classroom.

“They come up with what they feel is important so that they can learn in our classroom. I want them to feel like they are a part of it,” said Hudson.

First, Hudson has students create a list of what they feel is important to having a successful classroom and learning environment. Then she works with them to refine the list and create a final draft of a Social Contract that they all sign.

Examples of contract items could include listening to others, keeping hands and feet to yourself

“When I catch them doing those things, I will tell them how much I love that they are following the Social Contract,” Hudson said. “We also talk about it when they break the contract. I will remind them that they signed it and ask them to explain what they were doing, what they were supposed to be doing, and then we talk about how they will fix it.”

The contract, which is printed and posted on the classroom wall, is talked about and referenced throughout the year and students read it aloud every day at the beginning of the school year until they have learned it. At Hudson’s school, positive behavior is also rewarded with points that can be redeemed in a classroom and school stores. Her students work hard to follow the Social Contract so that they can earn additional points, Hudson said.

“When you allow them to come up with the rules and expectations, they are more bought-in,” said Hudson. “They want to follow it because they created it.”