How to Write a Behavior Report for Students

The ABCs of behavior management refer to the antecedent, behavior and consequence. A child engages in an activity that causes a behavior to occur, resulting in a consequence. The behavior could be a positive or negative reaction to the antecedent. Likewise, the positive or negative consequence that results should directly relate to the behavior that occurred. As a teacher, you must compose a behavior report that can accurately explain the ABCs in a situation.

Create a behavior report template that addresses the ABCs of behaviors. Divide the template into three sections that correspond to the ABCs and one section that allows for brief brainstorming of an alternative to the behavior under scrutiny. Use desktop publishing or word processing software to create the template so you can easily edit it during the school year. Make the template student-friendly for the option to give students responsibility for documenting their behaviors.

Label the first section with an appropriate title such as "Observed Behavior" or "What Happened." Document classroom incidents using objective language. Describe a behavior exactly as it occurred without adding opinions or assumptions.

Make a checklist of the acknowledged classroom and school rules and arrange them in the second section. Add a title such as "Rules Violated/Broken." Note the rules broken in the incident. Monitor a student's response to make sure he understands the correlation between his behavior and the broken rule.

Label the third section with a title such as "Consequences." Remind the student of the broken rule and immediately administer the appropriate consequence from the predetermined list.

Provide an alternative to the off-task behavior by brainstorming with the student. Label the fourth section "Brainstorming" or "What Should I Have Done." Keep the section brief and include only two to three lines in which the student can generate at least one alternative the next time she engages in the activity that led to the off-task behavior.

Designate a space at the bottom of the behavior report for the teacher and student to date and sign it.