Special Education

Teaching Students with Learning and Behavioural Differences
A Resource Guide for Teachers

Appendix 12: Self-Monitoring

Self-monitoring is a strategy to help a student take a significant role in changing his/her behaviour. It usually requires the student to record or otherwise attend to the frequency of a target behaviour or behaviours. Many studies have indicated that during the process of a student collecting his self-monitoring data the desired behaviours increases. Generally, the student is instructed on how to record his frequency of behaviours. It may be as simple as recording tally marks for the individual behaviour occurring over a specific period of time. The accuracy of self-monitoring is not as important as the process and awareness it builds in the student.

Steps to follow

  • Select a target behaviour.
  • Define that behaviour.
  • Monitor the frequency of only that behaviour.

Using these guidelines, self-monitoring can be coupled with a contingency contract. This contract can have built-in reinforcers and act as part of an incentive program that would help reward the desired behaviours. The use of a contract also helps to clarify the goals and expectations of the self-monitoring. (See Appendix 15: Contracts)

Noticing Cues For Encouraging Appropriate Behaviour

  • Tape a small square of paper next to the child.
  • Tape a similar piece next to the Learning Assistance teacher
  • Neutrally describe the behaviour which you want the child to stop e.g. When you speak out while someone else is talking no one can really listen to you. I would like you to wait for your turns.
  • Ask the child to put a mark on the paper whenever he has used that behaviour.
  • Inform the child you will also make a mark when you notice the behaviour.
  • At the end of the lesson you will compare notes to see if you agree on the number of times the behaviour had occurred.

This is a non-judgmental, no consequence exercise intended to make the child aware of the behaviour. The awareness often results in lessening or extinguishing of the behaviour.