Everyday Teaching Autism Resources

A behavior contract is one of the behavior tools that teachers, parents, and clinicians have utilized with individuals, which can prolong reinforcement that’s delayed. 

It was today a teacher at my site complained about this child who was constantly defiant in the work settings. Although, this child is not on my caseload, I get to brainstorm how to better support her and make some suggestions for the poor teacher. (very nice first year teacher 🌱)

First of all, I had to ask how often this behavior occurs? How much work does she complete throughout the day? If this child has an IEP (individualized education plan) which indicates that he or she needs adequate support and accommodation in order to access school work along with targeted goals, do you provide that support? We sat down and listed out the support already in place. 😀

Next, is it something that this child can do, but won’t do? Since this task refusal behavior occur mainly during the academic work times, we should think about if the child is able to access the grade level contents with the current accommodation given. Does she need a modified works materials based on her IEP? It may be too difficult for this child to handle all of the academic demands.

After all these back and forth questions and answers which is the most important in terms of setting up the right antecedent events for the child’s success in the classroom, one of the behavior strategies that I suggested was to use a behavior contract.

Student motivation is often the main obstacle to improving their behavior, and addressing it can be a simple solution. By providing the appropriate incentive, we can enhance a broad spectrum of behaviors, but only if we utilize the incentive effectively. A behavior contract is one of the behavior tools that teachers, parents, and clinicians have utilized with individuals, which can prolong reinforcement that’s delayed.  A teacher was able to come up with several reinforcement for the student that can be possibly incorporated on a daily basis.

The implementation of behavior contracts can enable us to utilize incentives effectively, thus maximizing student motivation to enhance their behavior. As a busy teacher, using a contract to explicitly outline the desired student behavior and the consequent rewards is a potent and pragmatic intervention. The availability of readily available behavior contract templates further simplifies the process.

A sample behavior contract typically includes the following components:

1. Introduction: This section introduces the purpose and scope of the contract, identifies the parties involved, and outlines the specific behavior or behaviors that the contract addresses.
2. Goals: This section outlines the goals and objectives that the parties hope to achieve through the behavior contract, such as improving academic performance, reducing disruptive behaviors, or promoting positive social skills.
3. Behaviors: This section describes the specific behaviors that the parties agree to work on, including any desired changes in behavior or performance.
4. Consequences: This section outlines the consequences that will occur if the agreed-upon behaviors are not met. Consequences may include loss of privileges, additional work, or other disciplinary measures.
5. Rewards: This section identifies the rewards or incentives that will be provided if the agreed-upon behaviors are met. Rewards may include positive reinforcement, recognition, or other incentives.
6. Signatures: This section includes signatures from all parties involved in the contract, indicating their agreement to the terms and conditions outlined in the document.

Overall, a behavior contract is a useful tool for promoting positive behavior change and accountability. By clearly outlining expectations, consequences, and rewards, it can help individuals achieve their goals and work towards positive outcomes.

Behavior Contract Video Resources