Self-Monitoring

Jordan Evans #10

What is SelfMonitoring?
Self-Monitoring is a strategy
involving a student observing
and recording his/her own
target behavior. This strategy
involves the use of cueing to
self-record the presence or
absence of on-task behavior.

Students Targeted:

Although this strategy could

be helpful to all students, the
students this strategy is
targeted to are students with
ADHD, Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD), students
with Learning Disabilities,
students with ED & BD, and
at-risk youth.

Strategy Purpose:

Self-Monitoring is used to
increase on-task behaviors of
students by encouraging
them to monitor their own
behavior.

10 Steps in Implementing the

Self-Monitoring Plan:
1.

Identifying the Behavior: If a student has several areas of

concern, select the one causing the greatest number of problems.
It is important to address only one problem at a time.

2.

Define the Target & Develop a Replacement Behavior: Write a

specific and clear description of the target behavior that the
student will be able to understand. The student must understand
what he/she should do in place of the problem behavior.

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Dolor Sit Amet

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3.

Collect Baseline Data: Determine the extent of

the behavior interfering with classroom learning.
If the behavior is frequent, use frequent recording
(ex: put a tally every time the student exhibits the
problem behavior). The recording time/period
can vary depending on the number of times a
student exhibits behavior problems. Studies
suggest recording data five separate times over
five school days.

4.

Schedule a Conference with Student: Convince

the student that he/she would benefit from
adhering to a self-monitoring program. Begin by
emphasizing the students strengths & times when
the student carried out appropriate behavior.
Then, define incorrect behavior so the student
knows what behavior not to engage in during
class.

5.

o An effective tool for changing

behavior.

Select Self-Monitoring Procedures: How

frequently the student will record his/her
behavior. Decide on a prompt to signal (visual,
audio, physical, or verbal) to the student to record
behavior.

6.

o Promotes generalization of the

appropriate behavior to other
environments.

Teach Student to Use Self-Monitoring

Procedures: Practice. The teacher needs to lead
the student step by step discussing any questions
& confusion.

7.

Have Student Implement Self-Monitoring:

Provide frequent positive reinforcement,
feedback, and assistance to encourage the student
to continue using the self-monitoring plan. Overtime the teacher can decrease the level of support,
but initially the student needs support while
adjusting to the plan.

8.

Use Specific Verbal Praise: Addressing them by

name, stating the correct behavior being
preformed, and providing positive feedback.

References:
Boswell, M. A., Knight, V., & Spriggs, A. D. (2013).
Self-monitoring of On*task Behaviors Using the
MotivAider by a Middle School Student with a
Moderate Intellectual Disability. Rural Special
Education Quarterly, 32(2), 23-30.
Hager, K. D. (2012). Self-Monitoring as a Strategy to
Increase Student Teachers' Use of Effective Teaching
Practices. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 31(4), 9-17.
Vanderbilt, Allison A. (2005). Designed for Teachers:
How to Implement Self-Monitoring in the Classroom.
Beyond Behavior, 21-24.

Benefits of Self-Monitoring:

o It frees the teacher to attend to

other students & focus on content.
o It increases student independence
by making students responsible for
their own behavior.
o Inexpensive.
o It is relatively easy to teach and
implement.
o It can be used on a variety of
behaviors.
o It can be used successfully by
students with different ability
levels.

9. Monitor Progress: Determine the effectiveness of

the self-monitoring plan by continuing to collect
data & observe the frequency of the students
inappropriate behavior to ensure improvement.
10. Maintenance & Follow Up: Gradually phasing
out of the plan until the student is maintaining
his/her own behavior independently. Following
up by recording behavior to ensure behavior
changed is maintained.

Dolor Sit Amet