Pick the theme statement that fits a story
When to use this goal
For students who answer a theme question with a one-word topic (friendship, honesty) or a plot event instead of a lesson about life. Present levels in reading comprehension and the instructional level of the text, not grade, decide fit. Read the story aloud when decoding would block the thinking being measured.
- Baseline
- Give 5 stories with 4 choices each on two different days and record which distractor the student picks when wrong. Choosing the topic word points to a different teaching need than choosing a plot event. Use stories at the student's instructional level or read them aloud.
- Tips
- Score an item correct only when the student picks the theme statement and, for the annual behavior, points to an event that fits it. Build the distractors with care; a well-written topic-word choice is what makes the item useful. Move to the written theme goals once choosing is reliable.
- Limits
- A choice format allows correct guesses, so use enough items before judging mastery. Choosing a stated theme is easier than producing one, and many stories carry more than one fair theme, so accept any defensible choice the item allows.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID rd-lit-001.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, after reading or listening to a short instructional-level story, given four statements (a theme, a topic word, a plot event and an off-target lesson), the student will choose the statement that gives the story's lesson about life and point to one event that shows it independently with at least 80% accuracy on theme choice items, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Baseline: 40% accuracy.
- 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. Percent accuracy fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Work-sample analysis gives percent accuracy 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 Literary Analysis & Author's Craft.
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
- Reading - Literary Analysis & Author's Craft
- Baseline
- 40% accuracy.
- Annual goal463 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, after reading or listening to a short instructional-level story, given four statements (a theme, a topic word, a plot event and an off-target lesson), the student will choose the statement that gives the story's lesson about life and point to one event that shows it independently with at least 80% accuracy on theme choice items, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- After reading or listening to a short instructional-level story, given four statements (a theme, a topic word, a plot event and an off-target lesson)
- Behavior
- The student will choose the statement that gives the story's lesson about life and point to one event that shows it independently
- Criteria
- With at least 80% accuracy on theme choice items, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes
- Evaluation method
- Work-sample analysis
- Schedule
- Every two weeks
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Accuracy tracker. Records number correct and number attempted.
Accuracy tracker
Percent accuracy- Student label:
- Target:
- with at least 80% accuracy on theme choice items
- Mastery rule:
- on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes
- Collection schedule:
- every two weeks
- Method:
- Work-sample analysis
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, after reading or listening to a short instructional-level story, given four statements (a theme, a topic word, a plot event and an off-target lesson), the student will choose the statement that gives the story's lesson about life and point to one event that shows it independently with at least 80% accuracy on theme choice items, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
| Date | Task / materials | # correct | # attempted | % accuracycorrect ÷ attempted × 100 | Support levele.g., independent, 1 verbal prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Score only items the student attempted unless the goal defines a fixed set of items. Use the same denominator every session.
- Percent = numerator ÷ denominator × 100. Round to one decimal place.
- Record the support actually provided, even if the goal is independent performance.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.