
This post originally appeared on the blog The Autism Vault.
I have one student who uses a self-monitoring check-off system. He is responsible for setting the timer for six minutes (although this will eventually increase). He has two rules that he needs to follow. If he is able to follow these rules, he gives himself a check when the timer goes off.
- As with any behavior intervention, you want to think about what you want the student to do as opposed to what you what them to not do. Limit it to 2-3 things at a time, give or take depending on what is best for your student.
- Take baseline data. It’s tough to really know if an intervention is useful if you don’t have data. Take baseline data and make sure you’re taking data after the intervention has been put in place.
- Make sure your student is in the loop as to what behaviors they are working on. It should be very explicit as to what they are working on.
- Don’t forget to teach the student how to use their self-monitoring system, just like you would any other skill.
If you have students who are currently using individual token economies in your class, you may want to try moving them on to self-monitoring. You can get your own copy of these self-monitoring tools for free from my Teachers Pay Teacher store.
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Liz Manolis has been teaching middle school students with autism for the past 8 years. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has a passion for using the science of behavior to teach communication and life skills, as well as foster independence in her students. Liz brings her ideas and knowledge to others through her blog, theautismvault.com, and through her resources in her Teachers Pay Teachers store. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.