Ask whether someone is joking or serious
When to use this goal
For students who are unsure whether a comment is serious, sarcastic, or a joke, and either guess wrong or go quiet. Present levels decide fit. Asking is a strong, honest strategy that does not depend on reading faces or tone.
- Baseline
- Record 5 unclear moments and what the student did: asked, guessed, went quiet, or reacted. The student can help identify moments afterward.
- Tips
- Asking privately later counts too. Teach classmates that this is a normal question.
- Limits
- Unclear moments are hard to spot from outside; rely partly on student report. The goal does not measure interpreting meaning on the student's own.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID se-aw-033.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during class, lunch, or group work, when a peer or adult says something the student is unsure how to take, the student will ask a clarifying question (such as "Are you joking?" or "Do you mean that?") and respond to the answer independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by direct observation collected weekly.
Baseline: 0 of 5 opportunities.
- 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. Opportunities fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Direct observation gives opportunities 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 Social Awareness & Perspective Taking.
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
- Social-Emotional & Communication - Social Awareness & Perspective Taking
- Baseline
- 0 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal388 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during class, lunch, or group work, when a peer or adult says something the student is unsure how to take, the student will ask a clarifying question (such as "Are you joking?" or "Do you mean that?") and respond to the answer independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by direct observation collected weekly.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During class, lunch, or group work, when a peer or adult says something the student is unsure how to take
- Behavior
- The student will ask a clarifying question (such as "Are you joking?" or "Do you mean that?") and respond to the answer independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions
- Evaluation method
- Direct observation
- Schedule
- Weekly
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Opportunity tracker. One box per opportunity in each session.
Opportunity tracker
Opportunities- Student label:
- Target:
- in at least 4 of 5 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- across 3 consecutive sessions
- Collection schedule:
- weekly
- Method:
- Direct observation
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during class, lunch, or group work, when a peer or adult says something the student is unsure how to take, the student will ask a clarifying question (such as "Are you joking?" or "Do you mean that?") and respond to the answer independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by direct observation collected weekly.
Key: + demonstrated independently · P demonstrated with a prompt (note type) · − not demonstrated · NA no opportunity occurred
| Date | Activity / context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | # + (of 5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 5 opportunities per session, matching the goal's denominator.
- Define in advance what counts as an opportunity so every data collector records the same thing.
- Count only + marks toward the criterion unless the goal specifies prompted responses.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.