13 Behavioral Contracts for Student Success
What is a Behavioral Contract?
A behavioral contract is a document put together outlining the specifics of a behavior.
The behavior that is defined most typically needs to change. Within a behavioral contract the goals are set for a student and supports are put into place.
Behavior contracts should define who will be helping and supporting the student with these goals.
Also included in the behavioral contract are rewards and consequences for meeting or for failing to meet the guidelines in the behavior contract.
A behavior contract also should be agreed upon by the student, the teacher, the parent, and the school administrator, if appropriate.
Behavior Contract Template
After creating several behavior contracts, I realized that the way to go is to create a behavior contract template. I recommend a behavior contract template within Word.
Once you establish your basic template, you can adjust it for each situation. I like to do a file save as and then title the behavior contract with a focused behavior and the student’s name.
This way I can find a file quickly and make any necessary changes that come up. Another benefit to the behavior contract is saving it under a behavior category.
I find that certain rewards and consequences naturally go along with certain behaviors.
For example, if a student is struggling with appropriate behavior on a school bus then a common consequence would be to lose bus privileges.
I can create a behavior template for the bus and save that consequence within the noted template.
This keeps me from racking my brain each time. Now, I simply pull up my bus behavior contract template. Then, it’s ready to go and ready for me to edit it.
Now just because a behavior template has ready-to-use rewards and consequences does not mean that I still do not often edit them. That’s the beauty of doing this in Microsoft Word.
Example of a Behavioral Contract
So, let’s take a look at an example of a behavioral contract and the components that go into it.
Within every behavioral contract I am stating the typical expectation. This is best met with a positively stated goal that includes the student’s name.
Next, I add the student expectations. Including the student in this procedure is critical.
I need the student to be able to identify what they will do to be successful.
Afterwards, I add the parents’ expectations and in what manner the parents will be supporting their student.
Last, but not least, the expectations of the teachers are included. This is important to show the student that they are not alone.
Involving supporting adults makes it clear that they are not expected to solve the problem by themselves.
Also important within the behavioral contract is to add a list of possible rewards and possible consequences.
I make this as clear and transparent as possible so that student understands that I want to celebrate their successes but that there are consequences if the contract is not upheld.
Like all good contracts, the behavioral contract does expire. I call this the review date.
I like to give at least two weeks for the student to begin working on the goal at school.
Then the team comes back together, either in person or over the phone, and discusses what’s happening.
At that time the behavior contract can be renewed, amended, or terminated.
Behavior Contract Consequences
In order to have a successful behavioral contract, consequences and rewards must be established.
I like to make sure that the consequence fits the crime. It’s also important to make sure that the reward not only continues to reinforce the positive behavior but that the reward is something they actually want.
If a student is not interested in receiving a positive phone call home then it’s unlikely that they would choose to follow the behavior contract if this is the main reward.
Here’s a list of the 3 most common Rewards that I used for Behavior contracts.
- Free time
- Call home
- Snack
Here’s a list of the 3 most common use consequences in my behavioral contract set.
- Detention
- Loss of phone privileges at lunch
- Loss of extracurricular activities
Please edit these as needed to reflect your school’s rules handbook and best practices.
Behavioral Contract for Students
The list of behavior contracts for students is long. However, I have established a set of behavioral contracts that I have used most frequently.
- Attendance
- Bus
- Citizenship
- Classroom Communications
- Homework
- Honesty
- Physical self control
- Preparedness
- Punctuality respect
- Respect of property
- Truth
- Work completion
It’s important to know that when creating a behavioral contract for students everything should be awarded in a positive manner.
When I create a behavioral contract for a student who has been lying excessively I do not title it, “Lying.”
Instead I title it, “Truth.” If I made a goal for students on lying, I would say most of them would meet that goal successfully and pretty quickly.
However, what I really want is for my students to learn how and when it’s an appropriate time to tell the truth.
Teen Behavior Contracts
Some behavioral contracts might be specific to teen behavior including cell phone use and appropriate social media presence.
Internet usage among devices and social media have created a whole new level of discipline for the public schools.
Many schools are now holding students accountable for bullying other students via technology after school hours.
A student can post something inappropriate about another student or staff member while they’re not on the school campus. This has prompted a new set of behavioral contracts.
Teen behavior contracts focusing on appropriate usage of technology are becoming more and more common.
Using a teen behavior contract for this can be pretty helpful. I often start with one of my pre-made templates such as Citizenship to handle these issues.
Regardless, I find it important to follow the school handbook and create the team that was discussed earlier including the student, the parent, and a teacher. For a more intense situation, I would absolutely include my administrator.
Behavior Contract for Middle School
Middle school begins a new adventure for students. With every new adventure comes new rules.
Behavioral contracts for middle school often focus around punctuality and getting to class on time.
Students in middle school often need behavior contracts for a few other issues as well.
Coming from elementary school, students typically had an exceptional educator who was making sure that their homework was in their backpack.
This helps the student be responsible and prepared for school the next day.
While some students with special needs might have a resource room teacher or an inclusion teacher to help with this, many don’t.
A behavior contract for homework can often help such a student get back on the right path to reinforcing their academic program.
Along the same lines as homework is preparedness.
This is a pretty common behavior contract for middle school as students have to juggle using a locker and changing out supplies between classes.
Often helping students come up with a system within a behavioral contract helps them find success.
Behavioral Contract for Kids
Kids thrive on structure and routine. The right kind of behavioral contract gets them there more easily.
The sooner that I can help a child regulate their behavior, the more likely they can find success in their educational career.
Many of the students that I worked with have experienced out of control behaviors in what most of us would call a tantrum.
A very commonly used behavioral contract for kids is physical self-control.
In order for students to be productive members of society, they have to learn to keep their body to themselves.
I can use a behavior contract for kids to explain that they may have a moment outside of the classroom to express their frustration and have a physical release, hopefully within a sensory room.
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But, I need them to understand that hurting others is not okay. Behavior contracts are excellent to support this.
After defining the goal, I find that the most important piece of the behavioral contract is the reward piece for these students.
Providing students who are physically aggressive with a short amount of time on a device if they’ve met their goal has been life-changing for some of my students.
