Antecedents

Antecedents are events that occur prior to a classroom disruption: the potential triggers to misbehaviors. Have you noticed, for example, that Brantley tends to have a temper tantrum or mood change following lunch or activity period? Does Jenna’s behavior spiral downward when she sits by the window? Looking for patterns and triggers helps teachers understand the function of the behavior and is the first step in managing student behavior. Recording exactly when a student acts out and what occurred immediately prior in a log similar to the one shown here helps determine antecedents. A pattern may not always exist, but looking for antecedents is an excellent beginning behavior analysis (see also Behavior Analysis and Behavior Log). Antecedents https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">

Date

Time

Behavior

Antecedent

Assignment avoidance actions

Sometimes my students look purposeful, but they are really avoiding their assignment. When I see one girl get a tissue, put on hand sanitizer, or retrieve an item from her book box, I know she is trying to escape work. Even after encouragement to return to her seat, she waits until she thinks I am engaged with other students and gets up again. When that happens, I check to see that the student understands the work and has the skills needed, and I offer a chance to earn a reward for successfully finished assignments.

—Nichole Wangsgard, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Southern Utah University, and former Junior High Special Education Teacher