Early Childhood Special Education

ExampleofaBehaviorContract4yearold1.docx

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Example of a Frequency Based Behavior Contract #2

This frequency based contract is for a younger child, one who can’t read, count, or write, or one where you want to give an immediate reward without building up to a larger reward.

See how this one differs from the previous example of a frequency based contract.

Name: Sarah

Date begun: Wed, January 6

Targeted Behavior: Sarah will use words to express her feelings, rather than hitting or biting when she is angry, frustrated, or sad.

Goal: Sarah will use her words to tell people when she is angry, frustrated, or sad.

Age of child: 4 year old

Reward: Every time that Sarah uses words to tell people when she is angry or sad, Sarah will receive a sticker of her choice from the sticker bin.

Chart: There is no chart for the child. The teacher will keep track of how often Sarah gets rewarded.

So the teacher chart may look like this:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Free play time
Morning circle time
Group Activity
Snack time
Outdoor play time
Lunch
Nap time
Snack time
Afternoon circle time
Free play time

The teacher would fill the chart in with tally marks for each time the child demonstrated the target behavior. The teacher could also not use a chart at all and just reward the behavior, but with a behavior like this, most likely a teacher would want to be able to look at patterns of the behavior, triggers, etc.

This is another way to use a frequency chart. There are no time frames to fulfill for the child. For example, she doesn’t have to get 3 stickers in a class period. EVERY time she demonstrates the target behavior, she gets the reward. This means it is a frequency based contract. She is only getting stickers here-no tally marks to earn for something else. Of course if she has a great morning or day, the teacher can choose to give an additional reward but it’s not part of the contract.

The child could reach their reward level in a short period of time sometimes (if the opportunity to demonstrate the targeted behavior presents itself often) or over a longer time. This means sometimes the child may earn their reward in one morning one time, but another time it may take 3 days.

Remember, frequency based behavior contracts are used for those behaviors which cannot be predictive (like using words instead of hitting, raising hand for permission to talk, follow directions the first time asked, etc.)