Stay with the group for lunch
When to use this goal
For students who leave the table after a few bites to wander, play or stand by the door, and miss eating and the social time of lunch. Fits once the student's seat and positioning at the table are comfortable; observed lunches, not grade, decide fit. Leaving to use the restroom or for a planned movement break does not count against the student.
- Baseline
- Time how long the student stays at the table on five lunches and note why they leave (finished eating, noise, discomfort, boredom, wanting to play). If noise or sitting comfort is the reason, fix the setting first: a quieter table, a cushion, or feet supported. The target should match the real lunch period, minus the time the group spends lining up.
- Tips
- Lunch is social time; give the student something to do at the table (a conversation card, a peer partner) once they finish eating. Movement at the table is fine. This is a mealtime routine goal, not a seating demand; if the student eats well and leaves at a natural time, the goal may not be needed.
- Limits
- Food textures, liquid thickness, positioning for safe swallowing and any swallowing precautions come from the student's feeding or swallowing plan, which this goal never changes. Measures time at the table, not how much the student eats. Noisy cafeterias are hard for many students; consider the setting before raising the target.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID mt-fd-033.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during the school lunch period, seated at the class table, the student will stay at the table area until the group is dismissed, eating, talking or resting independently for at least 15 minutes, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by duration recording collected daily at lunch.
Baseline: 5 minutes.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Duration fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Duration recording gives duration data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Feeding & Mealtime Skills.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE) - Feeding & Mealtime Skills
- Baseline
- 5 minutes.
- Annual goal310 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during the school lunch period, seated at the class table, the student will stay at the table area until the group is dismissed, eating, talking or resting independently for at least 15 minutes, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by duration recording collected daily at lunch.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During the school lunch period, seated at the class table
- Behavior
- The student will stay at the table area until the group is dismissed, eating, talking or resting independently
- Criteria
- For at least 15 minutes, on 4 of 5 observed days
- Evaluation method
- Duration recording
- Schedule
- Daily at lunch
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Duration tracker. Records start and end times.
Duration tracker
Duration- Student label:
- Target:
- for at least 15 minutes
- Mastery rule:
- on 4 of 5 observed days
- Collection schedule:
- daily at lunch
- Method:
- Duration recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during the school lunch period, seated at the class table, the student will stay at the table area until the group is dismissed, eating, talking or resting independently for at least 15 minutes, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by duration recording collected daily at lunch.
| Date | Activity / context | Start time | End time | Duration (minutes) | Target duration | Support levele.g., independent, 1 verbal prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Start timing when the defined behavior begins and stop when it ends, using the definitions agreed by the team.
- The goal is reached when duration is at least the target (15 minutes).
- Note interruptions that weren't caused by the student.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.