Are you tired of talking in circles about student behavior in your classroom? I bet you feel like nothing you say to your students really makes a difference in the choices they make. I’ve been in your shoes, and you know what finally changed the game? The simple, yet impactful, behavior reflection.
As an inclusive educator, I know just how stressful challenging student behavior can be.
Helping a student deescalate is important work, but it does take away from valuable teaching time.
Not to mention that if the behavior happens every day (and it usually does), it can threaten to impact the thriving classroom culture you’ve worked so hard to create.
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. And I’m here to help, by spilling the beans on my favorite social emotional tool to improve student behavior.
If you don’t want to waste any time, click here to check out the Fix it Ticket, the perfect behavior reflection worksheet designed to meet the needs of your pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade students.
What is a Behavior Reflection?
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the perfect self-monitoring tool for your classroom!
A behavior reflection is a simple way that students can reflect on their own feelings and choices.
Students reflect on their behavior by writing down, drawing, or talking about what happened after experiencing a challenging moment in the classroom.
Behavior reflections include three questions:
- How did I feel?
- What happened?
- How can I fix it?
By consistently asking these three simple questions, this kind of reflection helps students focus on making better choices to get their needs met.
So now that you know what a behavior refection is, let’s jump into how it can help you reduce challenging behavior and improve your classroom culture.
Number 1: Increased self-awareness
First things first: students will answer the question, How did I feel?
When they reflect on their feelings, they will start to understand how the way they feel in their body impacts their actions in the classroom.
Next, they will think about what happened after they had that feeling. Reflecting on their actions helps them understand their own patterns and triggers.
Finally, students will make a plan for fixing their mistake and making a better choice.
As students engage in behavior reflections, they become more self-aware. The simple act of being self-aware will help students stop and think before they act.
Ultimately, we know that behavior is communication. When a student’s behavior is out of control, it’s a sign that they have needs that are not being met. They just don’t know how to ask for what they need in a safe and appropriate way.
As students become more aware of their own needs, they can start to make better choices for getting them met in the classroom.
Number 2: Increased self-control
Self-control is a tricky one.
Even as adults, we can struggle with self-control (midnight ice cream binge anyone??)
But self-control can be taught and practiced, even in young children! All we have to do is provide a simple structure for it to bloom.
Enter the behavior reflection.
As students learn to monitor their own behavior, they also learn to control it.
When behavior reflections are used consistently, we start to see students stop and think before making choices in the classroom.
If we teach students quicker and easier ways to get their needs met (like asking for help instead of ripping up their paper) they will choose the path of least resistance.
Which is one of the the reasons that behavior reflections are so effective: they teach students that making better choices leads to better outcomes.
Number 3: Improved relationships
With practice, behavior reflections will become second nature to your students. When they have a problem in the classroom, they will know that they have a tool to help them feel in control and make good choices.
When students feel in control of their behavior, they are more likely to have positive relationships with their teachers and peers.
This can create a more positive and productive learning environment for everyone.
Say hello to a calm and cool classroom climate!
When you prioritize teaching social emotional skills, like self-reflection, EVERYONE in your classroom will benefit. Including you!
Number 4: Reduced stress
When you use behavior reflections with their students, you can reduce your own stress levels.
You heard that right!
Behavior reflections are also a tool to help YOU feel in control. By guiding students through behavior reflections, you are taking control of the situation and teaching your students impactful strategies that will benefit everyone in the classroom.
What’s more, behavior reflections can help to identify and reduce challenging behavior before it becomes a major problem.
Number 5: Better family communication
You might be wondering if the behavior reflection truly has a long lasting impact. That’s a great question.
Part of what makes behavior reflection so impactful is the way you use it to support your student across all settings. In the classroom, at recess, between friends, and at home.
Behavior change is vastly improved when the student’s family is on board and able to support their child at home.
The best way to get the family involved is to communicate with them often. That’s why your should send home a copy of the behavior refection (or a parent communication note) to let the student’s family know what happened and how you supported their child through it.
Better communication between school and home means more support for the child.
Tips for Success
- Start with a clear goal: When you first introduce behavior reflections to your students, be sure to explain what the point is. Let them know that you want them to use behavior reflections to help them feel happy and comfortable at school, and that behavior reflections can teach them how to get what they need in a safe way.
- Make it easy: Make it easy for students to use behavior reflections. Give them a simple and approachable worksheet, like the Fix it Ticket. Keep the behavior reflection in an easy-to-reach spot, like on a clipboard in your classroom break area, so students can use it on their own.
- Be consistent: It is important to be consistent with the use of behavior reflections. This means using them every day and meeting with students regularly to give them feedback and encouragement.
- Provide feedback: When students reflect on their behavior, be sure to reinforce them with praise, a reward, or a simple thumbs up. When students get positive feedback for using behavior reflections, they are more likely to use them in the future.
- Celebrate successes: When students make progress with their behavior, be sure to celebrate their successes! This will help them stay motivated and continue to make progress.
Get Started Today!
Behavior reflections are valuable tools for teachers who want to reduce challenging behavior and create a calm and comfortable classroom culture for their students. By following the tips above, teachers can make behavior reflections a positive and effective experience for their students.
The Fix it Ticket is the perfect behavior reflection for your pre-k, kindergarten, or first grade classroom! In addition to two behavior reflection worksheets for both readers and non-readers, the Fix it Ticket includes an apology letter, I-message script, parent communication note, and behavior data tracking sheets. These bonus tools offer a holistic approach to behavior change in the classroom. You’ll also find a mini lesson included that will take the mystery out of introducing this life-changing tool to your students.
Click here to get started today!
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