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Behavior Boost

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Lesson Plan

Setting Behavior Goals

Students will learn to identify and set a specific, measurable behavior goal and reflect on its importance, creating a personalized goal tracker for ongoing use.

Establishing clear behavior goals builds self-awareness and accountability, laying the foundation for improved self-regulation and positive classroom habits.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, modeling, and individual reflection.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Goals

10 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and ask: “What is a goal?”
  • Define behavior goals and share examples (e.g., raising hand before speaking)
  • Explain why behavior goals help everyone learn and work together

Step 2

Modeling Goal Creation

10 minutes

  • Display the large Behavior Goal Tracker
  • Think aloud to draft a sample goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable)
  • Invite students to ask questions about the sample goal

Step 3

Student Goal Setting

10 minutes

  • Distribute individual Behavior Goal Tracker
  • Prompt students to reflect silently on one behavior they want to improve
  • Guide them to write a clear, measurable goal on their tracker

Step 4

Self-Reflection

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Self-Reflection Worksheet
  • Students answer prompts: Why this goal matters? How will I know I’m improving?
  • Collect worksheets for review or have students keep them in their folders

Step 5

Share & Display Goals

10 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share their behavior goals aloud
  • Write shared goals on the Behavior Goal Chart
  • Encourage students to place a sticky note next to their name as a commitment signal
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Discussion

Behavior Goal Chat

Discussion Guidelines

  • Raise your hand to share ideas.
  • Listen respectfully when others speak.
  • Speak kindly and stay on topic.
  • Be honest in your reflections.

1. Defining Behavior Goals

What is a behavior goal? Can you give an example of one?




Follow-up: How is a behavior goal different from other kinds of goals?

2. Purpose of Behavior Goals

Why do we set behavior goals? How can they help our classroom and our learning?







Follow-up: Think of a time you set a goal (in school or at home). How did having that goal help you?

3. Selecting Your Goal

Look at your Behavior Goal Tracker. What behavior did you choose to improve, and why?












Follow-up: Is your goal specific, measurable, and achievable? How could you make it clearer?

4. Tracking Progress

How will you know you're making progress on your goal? What will you record on your tracker?







Follow-up: Who or what could remind you each day to work toward your goal?

5. Overcoming Challenges

What obstacles might come up when working on your behavior goal? What strategies could you use to overcome them?







Follow-up: How can our classmates support each other when challenges arise?

6. Reflection and Success

What will success look like at the end of the first week? How will you use the Self-Reflection Worksheet to reflect on your progress?













Follow-up: How will you celebrate or acknowledge reaching your goal?

7. Class Commitments

How can we remind each other to keep working on our behavior goals? What commitment can we add to our Behavior Goal Chart?







Follow-up: Let’s choose one class-wide reminder or signal we can use daily.

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Lesson Plan

Tracking and Reflecting

Students will record daily progress toward their behavior goal, reflect on their successes and challenges, and make data‐driven adjustments to stay on track.

Regular tracking and reflection promote self‐monitoring, help students recognize patterns, and empower them to adapt strategies for sustained behavior improvement.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Self‐monitoring, peer reflection, and goal adjustment.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Print one copy of Daily Behavior Log per student and a large class version.
  • Prepare blank Reflection Journal pages or inserts for each student.
  • Set up chart paper and markers to visualize class progress.
  • Review each student’s Behavior Goal Tracker to note their individual targets.

Step 1

Check-In Entry

5 minutes

  • Distribute the class Daily Behavior Log.
  • Ask students to record how many times they met their behavior goal since the last session.
  • Remind them to be honest and use a sticker or mark for each successful instance.

Step 2

Data Tracking & Visualization

10 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share their counts and place a sticker or write a number on the class chart paper.
  • As a class, look for trends: Who improved? Who needs extra support?
  • Highlight any notable increases or consistent successes.

Step 3

Pair Reflection

10 minutes

  • Have students pair up and exchange their Daily Behavior Logs.
  • Instruct them to use the Reflection Journal to answer prompts:
    • What helped me succeed?
    • What challenges did I face?
    • One strategy I’ll try next time.

Step 4

Whole-Class Debrief

10 minutes

  • Reconvene and facilitate a discussion:
    • What patterns did you notice in our data?
    • Which strategies seemed most effective?
    • How can we support each other this week?
  • Record key ideas on chart paper for future reference.

Step 5

Goal Revision & Action Steps

10 minutes

  • Have students revisit their personal Behavior Goal Tracker.
  • Ask them to adjust their goal if needed (e.g., increase frequency, add a reminder).
  • Guide each student to write one concrete action step they will take to improve (e.g., “I will count silently before speaking”).
  • Collect trackers or display them in the classroom as a reminder.
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Discussion

Progress Reflection Chat

Discussion Guidelines

  • Raise your hand to share your ideas.
  • Listen respectfully and let others finish.
  • Speak kindly and use positive language.
  • Be honest about your progress and challenges.

1. Reviewing Your Data

Look at your Daily Behavior Log. How many days did you meet your goal this week?







Follow-up: Were you surprised by your count? Why or why not?

2. Class Trends

We recorded our successes on the class chart. What patterns do you notice across our class?







Follow-up: What might explain these trends?

3. Strategies That Worked

In your pairs, you wrote in your Reflection Journal about what helped you succeed. Share one strategy that really made a difference.







Follow-up: How can you use this strategy every day?

4. Overcoming Obstacles

What challenges did you face when tracking your behavior goal?







Follow-up: What new strategy could you try to overcome that obstacle?

5. Supporting Each Other

How can classmates help each other stay on track with our goals?







Follow-up: Let’s share one idea we can use as a class reminder.

6. Adjusting Your Goal

Look back at your Behavior Goal Tracker. Do you need to make your goal a bit harder or easier?







Follow-up: What one action step will you add to your tracker for next week?

7. Celebrating Progress

How will we celebrate or recognize our successes next week?












Follow-up: How will you know when it’s time to celebrate?

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Lesson Plan

Strategies and Supports

Students will explore and practice behavior strategies that support goal attainment and establish peer support partnerships to encourage accountability.

Introducing diverse strategies and peer support empowers students to overcome challenges, build social skills, and stay focused on their behavior goals.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Strategy exploration, role-play, and partnership planning.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Strategy Introduction

10 minutes

  • Gather students and explain that there are many strategies to help meet behavior goals
  • Display example strategies on the whiteboard (e.g., deep breathing, self-talk, counting before speaking)
  • Distribute Behavior Strategy Cards
  • Ask each student to read through the cards and choose one strategy they’d like to try

Step 2

Modeling Strategy Use

8 minutes

  • Select one strategy card and think aloud as you model using it in a classroom scenario (e.g., taking three deep breaths when feeling anxious)
  • Invite a volunteer to try the same strategy while you observe and prompt self-reflection
  • Discuss how the strategy can tie back to their individual Behavior Goal Tracker

Step 3

Strategy Practice in Pairs

12 minutes

  • Have students partner up and each draw a new strategy card
  • In pairs, role-play a short scenario where one student uses the chosen strategy to support their goal (e.g., raising hand before speaking)
  • Partner listens and gives feedback on how well the strategy was applied and suggests one improvement
  • Switch roles so both partners practice implementing a strategy

Step 4

Peer Support Partnership

8 minutes

  • Hand out the Peer Support Worksheet
  • In the same pairs, students interview each other to complete the worksheet:
    • Student’s behavior goal
    • Chosen support strategy
    • How and when they’ll remind each other daily
    • A signal or cue to offer encouragement
  • Circulate to ensure worksheets are filled with concrete commitments

Step 5

Share & Plan

7 minutes

  • Invite a few pairs to share their partner’s goal and support plan with the class
  • On the whiteboard, record common reminder cues and support ideas
  • Explain that partners will check in at least once each class to offer encouragement
  • Encourage students to display their completed Peer Support Worksheet next to their Behavior Goal Tracker
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Discussion

Strategy Sharing Chat

Discussion Guidelines

  • Raise your hand before speaking.
  • Listen respectfully and don’t interrupt.
  • Give specific, kind feedback.
  • Be honest about your experience.

1. Sharing Your Strategy Choice

Which Behavior Strategy Card did you choose to try? Why did you pick that one?




Follow-up: How does this strategy connect to your personal goal on the Behavior Goal Tracker?

2. Reflecting on Practice

When you role-played using your strategy, what went well? What felt challenging?







Follow-up: What could you do differently next time to make it easier?

3. Peer Support Feedback

How did your partner use the signal or reminder from the Peer Support Worksheet?







Follow-up: What feedback did they give you that was most helpful?

4. Real-World Application

When might you use this strategy outside of class (at recess, home, or another class)?







Follow-up: What cue or reminder could help you remember to use it in that context?

5. Combining Strategies

Could you pair this strategy with another one from the deck? How would they work together?







Follow-up: Which two strategies seem most powerful when used as a team?

6. Overcoming Future Obstacles

What might make it hard to use this strategy when you really need it?







Follow-up: What support from your partner or class can help you stick with it?

7. Moving Forward Together

What daily signal or reminder can our class use to check in on strategies?







Follow-up: How will you and your partner hold each other accountable using your Peer Support Worksheet?

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Lesson Plan

Reflect and Celebrate

Students will review and reflect on their four-session behavior goal progress, share successes and challenges, and celebrate achievements with certificates to reinforce positive habits.

Reflecting on progress consolidates self-regulation skills, highlights growth, and motivates continued positive behavior through recognition and celebration.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Personal reflection, peer sharing, group celebration.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Play a short upbeat clip or ring a bell to signal the final session
  • Invite students to take a deep breath and think about how they’ve grown
  • Briefly remind them of our behavior goals journey over the past sessions

Step 2

Individual Reflection

10 minutes

Step 3

Partner Share

8 minutes

  • Pair students and have them exchange their completed surveys
  • Instruct partners to take turns sharing one area of success and one challenge from their survey
  • Encourage partners to offer a positive suggestion or cheer each other on

Step 4

Group Discussion

10 minutes

  • Regroup as a class and facilitate these prompts:
    • Who noticed the biggest improvement? How did it feel?
    • What strategy was the most helpful overall?
    • What will you take away from this experience?
  • Record key ideas on the board as shared reflections

Step 5

Certificate Presentation

7 minutes

  • Hand out Celebration Certificate to each student
  • Call students one by one to the front to receive their certificate and choose a sticker or reward
  • Applaud and invite classmates to cheer for each recipient

Step 6

Closing & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Ask students to place their certificates next to their Behavior Goal Tracker at their desk
  • Invite a volunteer to share one thing they’ll keep doing to maintain their behavior goal
  • Congratulate the class and encourage them to apply their strategies beyond this series
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Discussion

Reflection Celebration Chat

Discussion Guidelines

  • Raise your hand before speaking.
  • Listen respectfully and let others finish.
  • Speak kindly and use positive language.
  • Be honest in your reflections.

1. Reflecting on Your Journey

Look at your Behavior Goal Tracker. How far have you come since our first session?







Follow-up: Which bit of progress means the most to you and why?

2. Sharing Success Stories

Think of one moment when you felt proud of meeting your behavior goal. Describe what happened.




Follow-up: Which strategy or tool (e.g., from your Reflection Journal) helped you the most?

3. Discussing Challenges

What was a challenge you faced while working on your goal?







Follow-up: How did you overcome it or what could you try next time to handle it better?

4. Lessons Learned

Review your Goal Reflection Survey. What is one important lesson you learned about yourself?







Follow-up: How will you apply this lesson in the future, at school or home?

5. Celebrating Achievements

How should we celebrate our achievements as a class? What would make this celebration meaningful?











Follow-up: What small reward or gesture could we share (stickers, applause, shout-out)?

6. Keeping the Momentum

After this series, what behavior goal or strategy will you keep using?




Follow-up: How will you remind yourself to keep it up (a note, a partner check-in, or another cue)?

7. Class Commitment Forward

In one phrase, what is our class commitment to positive behavior moving forward?




Follow-up: Let’s agree on a signal or cheer we can use as a daily reminder to support each other.

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