Tell family about the school day using a communication log
When to use this goal
For students who cannot yet answer "What did you do at school today?" so families get no news from their child. Base the choice on communication mode and family priorities. The log can be a page of photos, symbols on a device, a short written note the student helps fill in, or a voice message recorded at school.
- Baseline
- Ask the family to note for one week whether the student told them anything about school, and how. At school, record the end-of-day practice for the same week. Agree with the family on a simple way to report (a checkbox on the log, a text, a form) in the language they prefer.
- Tips
- Each school day is an opportunity, scored from the family's report. Keep the reporting easy for the family; a yes or no is enough. The student chooses what goes in the log, which makes them more likely to want to share it. Accept answers in the home language.
- Limits
- Data depend on family reports, which can be missed on busy days; never treat a missing report as a failure. Families have different evening routines; agree on a time that fits. The goal does not measure narrative length or grammar.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID se-com-040.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, at home after school when a family member asks about the day, using the communication log or device page filled in at school, the student will tell a family member about one thing they did at school by saying, signing, pointing to the log, or selecting it on their device independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily from family reports, summarized weekly.
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 goal481 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, at home after school when a family member asks about the day, using the communication log or device page filled in at school, the student will tell a family member about one thing they did at school by saying, signing, pointing to the log, or selecting it on their device independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily from family reports, summarized weekly.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- At home after school when a family member asks about the day, using the communication log or device page filled in at school
- Behavior
- The student will tell a family member about one thing they did at school by saying, signing, pointing to the log, or selecting it on their device independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Daily from family reports, summarized 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 weeks
- Collection schedule:
- daily from family reports, summarized weekly
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, at home after school when a family member asks about the day, using the communication log or device page filled in at school, the student will tell a family member about one thing they did at school by saying, signing, pointing to the log, or selecting it on their device independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily from family reports, summarized 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.