Lesson Plan
Contract Creation Framework
Students will co-create a personalized behavior contract with clear expectations, measurable goals, and motivating rewards, then establish a tracking system to monitor progress.
When students have a say in their behavior goals and rewards, they feel ownership and are more likely to make positive choices. This Tier 2 support builds self-regulation and accountability.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Collaborative co-creation of contract with goal-setting and tracking tools
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review Goal-Setting Slides to ensure smooth presentation
- Print enough copies of the Behavior Contract Template for each student
- Familiarize yourself with the What Rewards Motivate Me? Discussion Guide
- Prepare and print the Contract Compliance Tracker for ongoing monitoring
- Reflect on examples of realistic, measurable behavior goals to model as needed
Step 1
Introduction & Purpose
5 minutes
- Greet the student and set a positive tone
- Explain Tier 2 targeted support and benefits of a personalized behavior contract
- Preview the steps ahead using the Contract Creation Framework
- Emphasize collaboration: "This is your contract as much as mine"
Step 2
Define Expectations & Goals
10 minutes
- Display Goal-Setting Slides
- Discuss 2–3 specific behaviors to improve (e.g., arriving on time, completed homework)
- Help the student transform each behavior into a measurable goal (e.g., "Arrive by 8:05 AM, 4 out of 5 days")
- Write goals directly into the Behavior Contract Template
- Differentiate: Provide sentence stems or examples for students who need extra support
- Challenge advanced students to add a self-reflection component
Step 3
Identify Rewards
5 minutes
- Use the What Rewards Motivate Me? Discussion Guide to brainstorm 3–4 meaningful, realistic rewards
- Discuss short-term (daily) and long-term (weekly) motivators
- Assist the student in choosing 2–3 rewards that align with their interests and are achievable
- Record selected rewards in the Behavior Contract Template
Step 4
Co-Create the Contract
5 minutes
- Together, fill in all sections of the Behavior Contract Template: expectations, goals, rewards, and signatures
- Clarify any ambiguous language to ensure mutual understanding
- Encourage the student to paraphrase the contract aloud
Step 5
Establish Tracking & Review
5 minutes
- Introduce the Contract Compliance Tracker as the tool for daily/weekly monitoring
- Demonstrate how to log progress and calculate goal attainment
- Schedule brief check-in times (e.g., every Friday) to review tracker data
- Explain next steps for adjustments or celebrations based on progress
Slide Deck
Goal-Setting with SMART Goals
Welcome! In this activity, we'll learn how to turn behavior improvements into clear, achievable goals.
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of today’s activity. Explain that clear goals help guide behavior change and set a positive tone for collaboration.
Why Set Clear Goals?
• Provides direction and focus
• Helps measure progress
• Increases motivation and accountability
Discuss why goals matter for behavior improvement. Ask students: “Can you think of a time when having a clear goal helped you succeed?”
What Are SMART Goals?
Specific: Define exactly what to do
Measurable: Track progress with data
Achievable: Make it realistic
Relevant: Align with personal aims
Time-bound: Set a deadline
Explain each SMART component. Invite students to give examples or ask clarifying questions as you go.
SMART Goal Example
Behavior: Arrive to class on time
SMART Goal: “I will arrive in my 3rd-period classroom by 10:05 AM at least 4 out of 5 school days each week.”
Walk through this example step by step. Show how each part maps to Specific, Measurable, etc.
Step 1: Identify Your Target Behavior
Think of 1–2 behaviors you want to improve (e.g., homework completion, class participation).
Write them below:
Ask students to think quietly or jot on paper. Provide sentence stems if needed (e.g., “I want to improve…”).
Step 2: Make It SMART
For each behavior, use the SMART checklist:
• Specific: ______________
• Measurable: ______________
• Achievable: ______________
• Relevant: ______________
• Time-bound: ______________
Guide students as they complete each SMART element. Offer feedback and model wording as needed.
Next Steps
Great work! We'll use these SMART goals in your Behavior Contract Template and choose rewards to stay motivated.
Explain that these SMART goals will be transferred into their behavior contract next. Preview the rewards discussion to come.
Discussion
What Rewards Motivate Me? Discussion Guide
Objective: Brainstorm and select meaningful, realistic short- and long-term rewards to include in your behavior contract.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials:
- Sticky notes or index cards (optional)
- Behavior Contract Template
Discussion Guidelines
- Speak one at a time and listen respectfully.
- All ideas are welcome—this is a safe space to share what motivates you.
- Be specific: the clearer the reward, the more motivating it will be.
Discussion Steps
1. Warm-Up (1 minute)
Teacher Prompt: “Think of a time when you earned a reward (a treat, extra game time, praise, etc.). How did that reward make you feel?”
2. Brainstorm Short-Term Rewards (Daily) (2 minutes)
Teacher Prompt: “What small daily rewards would motivate you to meet today’s or tomorrow’s goal?”
- Examples: five extra minutes of phone time, a desk pass for free reading, a quick walk outside.
Your ideas:
3. Brainstorm Long-Term Rewards (Weekly) (1 minute)
Teacher Prompt: “What bigger reward could you earn at the end of a week if you meet your weekly goals?”
- Examples: homework pass, picking the class playlist, extra time on a favorite activity.
Your ideas:
4. Evaluate & Select Rewards (1 minute)
Discuss as a group or with the teacher:
- Are these rewards realistic and within our control?
- Do they feel meaningful and motivating to you?
- Could they be too easy or too hard to earn?
Teacher Note: Help the student narrow down to 2–3 rewards—one or two daily rewards and one weekly reward—and record them in the Behavior Contract Template.
Worksheet
Behavior Contract
Student Name: _________________________ Date: ________________
Teacher: ______________________________
1. Behavior Expectations
List 2–3 specific behaviors you want to improve.
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
2. SMART Goals
Turn each target behavior into a SMART goal.
Goal 1: ____________________________________________
- Specific: ________________________________________
- Measurable: ______________________________________
- Achievable: ______________________________________
- Relevant: ________________________________________
- Time-bound: ______________________________________
Goal 2: ____________________________________________
- Specific: ________________________________________
- Measurable: ______________________________________
- Achievable: ______________________________________
- Relevant: ________________________________________
- Time-bound: ______________________________________
(Optional) Goal 3: ________________________________________
3. Motivating Rewards
Daily Rewards (choose 1–2):
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
Weekly Reward (choose 1):
_______________________________________________
4. Duration & Check-In
Start Date: ________________ End Date: ________________
Check-In Schedule (e.g., Fridays):
__________________________________________
5. Signatures
By signing below, we agree to the expectations, goals, and rewards outlined above.
Student Signature: ____________________________ Date: ____________
Teacher Signature: ____________________________ Date: ____________
Next Steps: Use the Contract Compliance Tracker to log progress daily and review weekly.
Rubric
Contract Compliance Tracker
Use this rubric to evaluate daily and weekly compliance with your behavior contract. After each check-in, score each criterion and add comments to guide next steps.
| Criteria | 4 – Exceeds Expectations | 3 – Meets Expectations | 2 – Progressing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Completion | Met or surpassed all SMART goals consistently every check-in | Met most SMART goals as outlined | Met some goals; partial success (50–75% attainment) | Rarely met goals; minimal progress (<50% attainment) |
| Tracking Accuracy | All entries complete, accurate, and include qualitative details | Entries mostly accurate with minor omissions | Entries occasionally incomplete or vague | Entries missing or often inaccurate |
| Timeliness of Logging | Logged data daily on time without reminders | Logged data most days on time | Logged inconsistently; needed occasional reminders | Frequently forgot to log data |
| Reflection & Adjustment | Provides thoughtful reflections and proactively adjusts strategies | Reflects on progress and makes some adjustments | Limited reflection; adjustments minimal | No reflection or adjustments made |
Scoring Guide: Add up scores for a total out of 16. Use the comment section below each check-in to note strengths and areas for improvement.
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