Organizing Behavior Data

Do you struggle with organizing and documenting behavior? If you are like me the answer is YES! Behaviors in the classroom can happen so quickly and frequently it can be a struggle to remember to document them right away. I would find myself finding anything to write on to document the behaviors and I was so unorganized. I have found over the years that when a simple system is in place and I stick to it I have all the documentation I need in one place. If there is no behavior documentation or your data is not consistent it’s is close to impossible to change behavior(s).

Tips for creating a simple and effective behavior data system:

1. Make your system accessible: If you have a binder, sheet, journal, clipboard etc… that is a great first step, however it needs to be where you can grab it quick. Do not have it hidden under a pile of papers on your desk. One way I have found it easy and confidential is having my data on a clipboard attached to a push pin on the wall. The data always has a cover sheet for confidentiality.

2. Don’t put off documenting until the end of the day. Yes the day goes by super fast especially if you are dealing with frequent and intense behaviors. However do not get into the habit of waiting until the end of the day to fill in all your documentation, because you will forget what happened and documenting will seem super overwhelming.

3. Have a simple and effective data tracking sheet. No one has time to write paragraphs after every behavior that is being observed, so make sure you are comfortable with your tracking sheet and it’s user friendly. I personally like this ABC tracking sheet.

4. Prefill in as much information as you can before the day starts. Filling in student’s name, date, subject area, schedule etc. will help make documenting faster and more effective. Also if you have multiple students you are documenting behaviors for having separate tabs within your binder for each student is always super helpful.