How to Use Google Forms and Sheets for Behavior Tracking

Students demonstrating expected and unexpected behavior is not a new concept. Now, however, there is the unique layer of students being more isolated that has led to less social interaction for students since March 2020. As a result, districts, schools, and classrooms are dealing with the constant challenge of behavior tracking and finding a system to meet the unique needs of the 25+ students.

Understanding Behavior Management

The focus on behavior management is a top priority for many educators and administration.

Several factors impact student behavior, including creating a strong behavior management system. A behavior management system includes:

• Teachers and school administrations creating a list of expected and unexpected student and staff behaviors, displaying the list for reference, and reviewing behavior expectations consistently throughout the year
• Teachers consistently praising expected behaviors, which increases the likelihood for the behavior to continue.
• Teachers identifying how to consistently respond to disruptive behavior.
• Administrators and teachers collaborating to establish a school wide behavior management system and  behavior tracking template

Behavior Tracking in Google Forms

One resource to help monitor student behavior is Google Forms. As you’re probably familiar, Google Forms is a free easy-to-use tool that can be shared with the educational team and parents.

Google Forms can be created as Behavior Rubric examples for class-wide behavior tracking or individual student needs. Forms can be used to gather data when a student has a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) and/or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with behavior goals. 

Google forms are customizable with several ways to respond to a question: multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdown, short answer or paragraph response, or linear scale. Questions can be marked as required and the form can be saved to a student’s device to have multiple teachers use the same behavior tracking system (if the student rotates among many teachers during the day).

Google Forms Behavior Tracking Template

Access the behavior tracking form template →

This particular form was used for a student in 7th grade. At the end of class when a behavior incident occurred, teachers would complete the form with the student. The student and teacher would discuss the responses which provided real-time feedback. 

All teachers within the educational team had access to the response page and could see if the student had a challenging class earlier in the day, which might impact their behavior in their current class.

The Google Form organizes the responses in charts/graph format that can be included in weekly updates to the educational team, parents, and students, as well as within goal updates if the student has an IEP.

Here’s an example of a behavior tracking pie chart based on one of the questions in the Google form:

Behavior Tracking in Google Sheets

Educational teams also have the option to view the Google Form responses on a Google Sheet document. The spreadsheet can be shared with the educational team, parents, and students. Notifications can be added to receive real-time or daily reports of the behavior tracking sheet. These updates can be tied to weekly student incentives at both school and home.

To set up notifications:

1. Select “Tools” Tab
2. Select “Notification Rules”
3. Identify your preference: “Notify me when any changes are made or a user submits a form”
4. Identify your preference: “Notify me with email- daily digest or email- right away”

Google Sheets Behavior Tracking Template

google forms behavior template

Access the behavior tracking sheet template →

Successful Behavior Management with Google Tools

There are several factors to increase the likelihood of success with behavior tracking sheets:

1. Include the student(s) in the process by having open discussions. Ask student(s) to reflect on their daily behavior, how often are they displaying expected and unexpected behavior.
2. Create the behavior tracking form with the student, have them choose a motivational image to include on the form, and/or change the color to be one of their favorites.
3. Include a classroom rewards or incentive system for them to work towards, ask student(s) to identify what motivates them or what do they want to work to earn.
4. Set weekly and long-term goals to ensure student(s) have a timeline for what to work towards.
5. Share consistent updates with the educational team to increase completion of the form throughout the school day

Why Focus on Behavior Tracking

Educators and administration have many goals to focus on each year. Reduction in office referrals and correcting misbehavior is possible when administrators collaborate with educators to establish a robust behavior management system that follows PBIS best practices.