When students are reluctant to create a social contract, teachers often will not get suggestions from students or generic terms that students think teachers want to hear. In order to create an authentic experience where students get to reflect and feel ownership for THEIR social contract in the classroom, teachers need ways to help students analyze baggage behind their reluctance and become comfortable and confident in advocating for what they want and need from each other and their teacher. Activities like creating Wants & Needs lists help front-load students with ideas for what should be on their social contract, by answering the question, "what do you want and need in order to: 1) enjoy being inside this classroom and 2) be successful growing academically?"
