Maximizing Effectiveness Using
Positive Behavior Support Methods in
the Classroom:
Self-Management
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Objectives
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Understand the importance of self
management
Understand ways to help students
manage their own behavior
Understand various tools used for self
management techniques
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What is Self-Management?
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Student awareness of challenging
behavior
Student observes and tracks
performance
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Self-Management:
Description
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Students are given a recording form and
instructed to mark down each time a specific
behavior occurs
Disruptive behaviors generally decrease and
appropriate behaviors increase
Good self-monitoring systems have well
defined behaviors, are easy to use, and
consist of rewards for appropriate behavior
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Self-Management: Purpose
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Increase students’ awareness of
their performance of specific
behavior (positive and/or negative)
Allow students to take responsibility
and control for own behavior and
delivery of reinforcement
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Individual Student Tracking…
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Self-Monitoring Steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Identify Behavior
Self-monitoring Schedule
Self-monitoring Form
Begin to Rate Student
Teach the Student
Begin Intervention
Supply Rewards
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Step 1: Identify Behavior
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Challenging behavior or academic
concern
 Define in observable terms
 Effective system for talk-outs, offtask behavior, classroom rules,
etc…
Identify alternative behavior to teach
 State positive alternative behavior
to increase
 Identify how and when student will
track new alternative behavior
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Step 2: Self-Monitoring Schedule
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Individually determined
Teacher best judge of
probable frequency
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Keep frequency times in
specific times (i.e., math
time)
Short frequency counts are
harder
Suggestion: Subdivide
academic periods into
equal intervals
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Step 3: Self-Monitoring Form
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Select an appropriate
self-monitoring form
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List appropriate goals at
top
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Should be easy to use
Well-defined behaviors
Specific goals
List item ratings below
Consider age of child
10
Step 4: Begin to Rate Student
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Collect baseline data
Use student’s selfmonitoring sheet
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Step 5: Teach the Student
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Review behavior
definition and baseline
data
Describe and teach selfmonitoring procedure
Allow practice
opportunities for
teacher/student rating
agreement
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Trial period
Determine reinforcement
and criteria
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Step 6: Begin Intervention
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Ask student to rate own behavior at end of
each chosen rating interval
Continue to rate student’s behavior
Compare two ratings
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Within 1 point--student earns points
More than 1 point difference--student loses points
Exact agreement--earn point PLUS bonus points
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Step 7: Supply Reward(s)
•Self monitoring only changes
behavior temporarily
•It is important to have a
contingency plan and gradually
withdraw over time
•Goal is to TEACH appropriate skills
in conjunction with self-monitoring
system
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Whole Class Tracking…
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Whole Class Self-Monitoring

Adaptation of individual selfmonitoring techniques developed
to increase self-control in all
students
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Why Whole Class SelfMonitoring
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Helps prevent the problem of targeting
specific students
Model students also benefit from
learning self-control
Classroom structures that develop from
self-monitoring benefit all students
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Suggestions for Whole Class
Self-Monitoring
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Adjust class schedule if necessary
Decide on a cue (i.e., timer)
Design a flexible and simple tracking
sheet
Begin the program
Teach and model appropriate behaviors
Plan for extinction (i.e., graduation)
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Challenges, Solutions, and
Helpful Hints…
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Challenges to Self-Monitoring
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Student may refuse to self-monitor the
behavior
Student keeps missing occurrences of
the behavior to record
Dishonest recording of behavior
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Possible Solutions
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Offer the student an incentive or reward for using
the program appropriately (i.e., classroom
privilege)
If the behavior is missed, point it out to the
student and prompt him/her to record it.
Check the definition of the behavior
Make sure the definition is specific
If necessary, model for the student
If totals do not match closely (determine criteria
ahead of time) then a reward will be missed
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Fading to Self-Monitoring
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Fade frequency of comparison of ratings
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Continue to record ratings at end of each interval
Comparing ratings drops from 100% to 0
Lengthen rating interval
Fade frequency of receiving backup
reinforcement
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Stretch out time period between when points
earned and when exchanged for backup rewards
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Helpful Hints…
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Avoid any other conduct systems at the same time
Rules and consequences should be maintained
Praise honesty in self-reporting
Never change a mark a student has given him/herself
Teach and model appropriate behaviors
Allow students to model appropriate behaviors to
peers
Gradually increase time/frequency
Work towards extinction
Make a big deal about extinction
Let parents know what is going on
Give the system time to work
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Self-Monitoring Tools…..
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Example:
Individual
Student
Recording
Sheet
Example:
Weekly
Summary
Sheet
Example:
Individual
and/or
Whole
Class
Recording
Sheet