FREE Behavior Think Sheet for Secondary Classroom Management

Behavior think sheets, or behavior reflection forms, are essential tools for classroom management. When students fail to meet teachers’ expectations, reflection activities give students a chance to consider the implications of their actions and take ownership of their behavior. In this article, we’ve provided a FREE behavior think sheet along with useful tips and suggestions for making the most of it.

For more free resources, consider following the Classroom Camp store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Watch our think sheet video review

Best tools for managing classroom behavior

What is a behavior think sheet?

As the name implies, behavior think sheets are handouts which ask students to reflect on their behavior. Reflection itself is a crucial component of the learning process and applied to misbehavior, it can promote growth and change.

Think sheets tell students exactly whey they receive consequences. They also ask important questions to help students recognize the reasons for and effects of their actions. After a student completes a reflection activity, they discuss the misbehavior with their teacher and find solutions for avoiding it in the future.

We use this tool to facilitate Consequence 2 in our classroom behavior management plan.

What are the benefits of behavior reflection?

1. Behavior reflection forms are excellent documentation tools for teachers’ classroom behavior management plans. You can use them as standalone activities or in conjunction with other steps you have in place, and they help you keep records of student misbehavior.

2. They’re easy to implement and keep difficult students occupied while you spend time assisting students or continuing with instruction.

3. They help students take ownership of their actions. Reflection puts the ball in their court and asks them to either improve or face additional consequences.

What is a classroom behavior management plan?

A classroom behavior management plan is a process teachers follow when handling student misbehavior. Here is our plan:

Consequence 1: Verbal warning

When students fail to meet expectations, we give them a verbal warning with specific details of their behavior and how it fails to meet classroom expectations.

For example, we might say, “John, this is a warning. My directions were to work on the bellringer, and instead, you are socializing and distracting other students. [Pointing to the classroom expectation poster] I expect you to listen and follow directions when they are given.”

Consequence 2: Time-out and Behavior Think Sheet

If a student continues to misbehave after the first consequence, we ask them to move to our reflection desk and complete a behavior think sheet.

We explain to them, “John, I moved you back here, because you continued to socialize and distract other students after I warned you to stay on task and complete your bellringer. Once again, my expectations are to listen and follow directions, and I would like you to reflect on your behavior for a few minutes. Please respond to these writing prompts in complete sentences, and I will be back to check on you shortly.”

Consequence 3: Parent Call and Referral

If misbehavior continues after the first two consequences, we move to the final consequence, which is a parent call and referral (minor or major). When a parent is called, we discuss the nature of the behavior and ask for suggestions and/or assistance handling it.

There are two types of referrals we issue, minor and major.

Minor

A minor referral, or Refusal to Comply (RTC), is a form we ask students to take home and have signed by a parent or guardian. This form explains that students may lose recess and/or classroom technology privileges if the RTC is not returned signed. It also states that parents may be summoned for a conference and students may receive a major referral if the form is not brought back. This type of referral is handled at the classroom level and does not count as an official referral within the campuswide network.

Major

A major referral is an official school referral that is documented in the school system, and these are issued based on the severity of a behavior. For example, students always receive a major referral for fighting. However, excessive talking, disrespect, etc. are usually handled with a minor referral, but three minor referrals will lead to a major referral.

What’s included on the behavior think sheet?

Our behavior think sheet is made up of the following sections:

1. Student information – students provide the date along with their name and class period.

2. Behavior description – the teacher quickly checks the behaviors which led to the student receiving the reflection form.

3. Behavior reflection – students respond to short answer questions about their behavior and how it can be avoided in the future.

4. Teacher observation – the teacher indicates that students’ behavior either improved, stayed the same, or got worse after the reflection activity.

5. Family signature – a family member signs that they have reviewed the behavior think sheet with their child.

Do I need a classroom behavior management plan?

Absolutely! A classroom behavior management plan helps teachers stay consistent when addressing student misbehavior. With a plan in place, you don’t have to think twice about how to handle students if they become unruly.

Do I need a behavior think sheet?

Yes! Reflection is an evidence-based instructional practice which should be included in every lesson, and sometimes the lesson is regarding behavior. Students’ reflections which help them take ownership of their actions and consider how they can adjust moving forward.

Final words

Have you tried our behavior think sheet? What strategies do you recommend for classroom management? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Also, visit and follow the Classroom Camp store on Teachers Pay Teachers for more free and premium resources you don’t want to miss out on!