Say thank you when helped or given something
When to use this goal
For early communicators who take items or accept help without any acknowledgment, which makes peers less likely to offer again. Base the choice on communication mode. A sign, a device message, or a word all count.
- Baseline
- Record 5 giving or helping events per day for 3 days and note whether any acknowledgment occurred, in what mode, and whether it followed a prompt. Note the sign or word the family uses at home.
- Tips
- An opportunity is any item, help, or turn given directly to the student. Score correct when an acknowledgment form occurs within 5 seconds in any mode, before a prompt. Peers and adults should respond warmly ("You're welcome"). Avoid withholding items to force a thank you; the expectant pause is brief and the item is given regardless.
- Limits
- Many brief opportunities make counting easy but also easy to over-drill; spread them across the day. A thank you is a social convention, not a measure of appreciation; keep progress reports about the communicative act. Cultural norms for thanking vary; align with the family.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID se-com-017.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, when an adult or peer hands them an item, helps them, or gives them a turn, the student will say, sign, or select "thank you" directed to the person within 5 seconds independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during snack and group activities.
Baseline: 1 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. Opportunity (trial) recording 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 Functional Communication.
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 - Functional Communication
- Baseline
- 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal385 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, when an adult or peer hands them an item, helps them, or gives them a turn, the student will say, sign, or select "thank you" directed to the person within 5 seconds independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during snack and group activities.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- When an adult or peer hands them an item, helps them, or gives them a turn
- Behavior
- The student will say, sign, or select "thank you" directed to the person within 5 seconds independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Daily during snack and group activities
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 data collection days
- Collection schedule:
- daily during snack and group activities
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, when an adult or peer hands them an item, helps them, or gives them a turn, the student will say, sign, or select "thank you" directed to the person within 5 seconds independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during snack and group activities.
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.