Classroom Social Contracts: Effective Behavior Management in Elementary School
We all know that classroom management can be one of the toughest parts of teaching, and a classroom social contract is an awesome way to encourage responsibility and community.
It’s frustrating when students don’t follow the rules, and it can really disrupt instruction time. Well, don’t worry – I’ve been there too.
Whether you are prepping for the first week of school, or simply searching for an effective way to manage your students’ behavior, a classroom social contract is perfect for you!
Why Classroom Social Contracts Work
These are agreements that everyone in the class creates together, outlining expectations for how to behave and treat one other. Think of social contracts like a promise that your students make to each other and to you.
When students are involved in deciding the rules, they’re more likely to follow them. Your students will feel more responsible for their behavior.
Having a clear, agreed-upon set of expectations helps create a more enjoyable environment for everyone involved. Plus, it fosters a greater sense of community and respect.
On my TPT store, you can find a Classroom Social Contract Lesson Plan that includes everything you need to create a social contract in elementary school!
With detailed instructions, worksheets, anchor charts, templates, examples, and more, this lesson will guide you seamlessly through each step of the creation process during the first week of school!
Back-to-School Success with Social Contracts during the First Week
Creating a classroom social contract at the start of the school year is ideal. Even if you’re through the school year, it’s not too late! You can start a social contract at any time. Here’s how:
- Brainstorm Ideas – Using the Brainstorming Page from the lesson plan packet, have students discuss and write down their ideas about what a respectful and productive classroom looks like. What rules do they think are important? This step can be done in pairs or groups.
- Create the Contract – As a class, use one of the Social Contract anchor chart templates to create a list of agreed-upon behaviors using the ideas from the brainstorming session. Make sure it is clear and simple.
- Sign the Contract – Have everyone who is part of your classroom sign the contract, including all students, volunteers, and teachers. This makes it official and gives everyone a sense of ownership!
- Display the Contract – Finally, hang the contract in your classroom where everyone can easily see it. This way, it serves as a constant visual reminder of the promises everyone made. Do NOT laminate it so your class can make changes/additions throughout the year.
Classroom Social Contracts: A Year-Round Behavior Solution
The social contract isn’t just for the first week of school. Refer back to it regularly. If issues come up, remind students of the agreement they made.
You can even revise the contract as needed throughout the year. This is one of my favorite features of a social contract!
The Classroom Social Contract Lesson Plan on my TPT store will guide you through all the steps mentioned above with even more detail.
The in-depth Social Contract Guide even has tips and tricks for revisiting and discussing the agreement throughout the school year!
Plus, it includes all the worksheets, activities, Bloom’s Taxonomy questions, templates, and anchor charts you need!
Simplify Classroom Management with a Social Contract
If you’re tired of constantly dealing with behavior problems, try a Classroom Social Contract. It’s a simple yet powerful way to create a positive and respectful classroom environment. Trust me, it’s worth it!
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