Lesson Plan
Mapping Your Behavior GPS
Students will craft a personalized Behavior GPS roadmap—defining their current challenges, long-term behavior goal, interim checkpoints, and rewards to guide progress.
This lesson empowers students to self-regulate by creating clear, actionable behavior plans, fostering ownership, motivation, and accountability.
Audience
9th Grade Student
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Hands-on goal-setting and checkpoint planning for personalized behavior success.
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with each resource:
- Route to Success slide deck outlining Behavior GPS steps
- My Behavior Milestone Plan project template for goal and checkpoint mapping
- Progress Check Rubric for ongoing self-assessment
- Reflective Route Review cool-down reflection prompts
Step 1
Introduction & Goal Overview
10 minutes
- Present the concept of a Behavior GPS using the Route to Success slide deck
- Discuss why clear destinations and routes matter for behavior change
- Prompt students to share one current behavior challenge they’d like to address
Step 2
Identify Current Behaviors
8 minutes
- Guide students through slides to list 2–3 specific behaviors or situations they struggle with
- Encourage honest self-reflection and note-taking on their individual thought patterns and triggers
Step 3
Set Destination & Checkpoints
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Behavior Milestone Plan
- Instruct students to write one long-term behavior goal (destination)
- Break that goal into 3–4 interim checkpoints (milestones) with target dates
Step 4
Design Rewards & Accountability
10 minutes
- Ask students to assign a small reward for each checkpoint met
- Discuss how rewards reinforce positive behavior
- Have them record rewards next to each milestone on their plan
Step 5
Self-Assessment with Rubric
5 minutes
- Introduce the Progress Check Rubric
- Model how to rate progress against specific criteria (e.g., consistency, effort)
- Have students complete one sample rating for a past behavior attempt
Step 6
Cool-Down Reflection
7 minutes
- Guide students through the Reflective Route Review
- Prompt them to reflect on what they learned about themselves and their plan
- Encourage them to set a date for their first checkpoint review session
Slide Deck
Route to Success
Behavior GPS: Your Personalized Roadmap to Positive Behavior Change.
Welcome students! Introduce the concept of a Behavior GPS—a tool to guide you from where you are now to where you want to be with clear steps and rewards. Explain that this slide deck will walk them through each part of their personalized roadmap.
Why a Behavior GPS?
• Clarifies behavior goals and steps
• Encourages ownership and accountability
• Helps navigate challenges and celebrate progress
Explain why having a clear destination and route matters. Highlight that vague goals often lead to confusion, while concrete plans foster ownership and motivation.
Current Location: Identify Challenges
List 2–3 specific behaviors or situations that are challenging for you right now. Note any triggers or patterns you’ve noticed.
Guide students to reflect silently or jot down in their notebooks. Encourage honesty and openness about current challenges.
Set Your Destination
Write one clear, long-term behavior goal you want to achieve (your destination). Example: “Participate in class discussions without prompting.”
Prompt students to share examples after writing. Encourage them to make their destination clear and measurable.
Map Your Checkpoints
Break your long-term goal into 3–4 interim milestones with target dates. Example:
• Milestone 1: Ask one question in class by end of week 1
• Milestone 2: Share an idea in small group by end of week 2
Walk through one example milestone to model the process. Emphasize realistic target dates.
Choose Your Rewards
Assign a small reward for each checkpoint met. Example:
• Milestone 1 reward: 10-minute free draw time
• Milestone 2 reward: Music choice during independent work
Discuss why rewards matter and invite students to think of small incentives that motivate them. Remind them to keep rewards reasonable and linked in timing.
Monitor Progress with a Rubric
Use a simple rubric to self-assess:
• Consistency: 1–4 points
• Effort: 1–4 points
• Improvement: 1–4 points
Rate yourself regularly to stay on track.
Introduce the Progress Check Rubric. Show how to rate consistency, effort, and improvement. Complete a quick sample with a volunteer or your own past behavior.
Reflect & Plan Next Steps
Reflect on what you’ve learned about your behavior GPS. Decide:
• Date for your first checkpoint review
• Who will hold you accountable (peer, teacher, or family member)
Lead a brief reflection. Ask students to share one insight or adjustment they plan to make. Remind them to schedule their first checkpoint review and identify an accountability partner.
Project Guide
My Behavior Milestone Plan
Use this template to turn your long-term behavior goal into clear, manageable checkpoints with rewards. Fill in each section thoughtfully.
1. Long-Term Behavior Goal
Write one clear, measurable behavior goal you want to achieve. Be specific and realistic.
2. Checkpoints & Rewards
Break your long-term goal into 3–4 interim milestones. For each checkpoint, set a target date and choose a small reward you’ll earn when you meet it.
| Checkpoint | Target Date | Reward | Progress Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. | |||
| 4. (optional) |
3. Accountability Partner
Name someone (peer, teacher, or family member) who will check in on your progress and support you.
4. First Checkpoint Review Date
Decide when you’ll meet with your accountability partner to discuss your first checkpoint.
When you’ve completed this plan, keep it somewhere visible and refer to it often. Good luck navigating your path to success!
Rubric
Progress Check Rubric
Use this rubric to rate your ongoing progress toward each checkpoint of your Behavior GPS. Circle or highlight the descriptor that best matches your performance at the end of each review period.
| Criterion | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consistency | Always follows my plan without reminders or prompts. | Follows my plan most of the time; needs very few prompts. | Follows my plan sometimes; often needs reminders. | Rarely follows my plan, even with reminders. |
| Effort | Shows strong, steady effort and persistence every time. | Shows good effort and usually sticks with tasks. | Effort is inconsistent; gives up or gets distracted. | Puts in little effort and often stops trying. |
| Improvement | Shows clear, significant improvement in behavior. | Demonstrates noticeable improvement over time. | Shows some improvement but it’s slow or uneven. | Little to no improvement since the last check. |
Scoring Guide:
- 16–12 points: on track for success – keep going!
- 11–8 points: some adjustments needed – revisit your strategies.
- 7–4 points: significant support needed – meet with your accountability partner or teacher.
Next Steps:
• Record your total score and reflect: What’s working? What needs change?
• Set a mini-goal for your next review based on this self-assessment.
• Share your results and plan adjustments with your accountability partner.
Cool Down
Reflective Route Review
Take a moment to reflect on your Behavior GPS journey today. Use the prompts below to capture your insights and plan your next steps.
- What did I learn about my current behaviors and triggers?
- Which part of my Behavior GPS plan am I most proud of, and why?
- What adjustments or additional supports do I want to include moving forward?
- When is my first checkpoint review scheduled, and who will check in with me?
Keep this reflection with your My Behavior Milestone Plan and review it at your first checkpoint meeting.