Answer and return a how-are-you question
When to use this goal
For students who answer "How are you?" or "How was your weekend?" with silence or one word and then move on, when they would like more easy exchanges with staff, coaches, or coworkers. Base the choice on what the student wants from these exchanges. Any honest answer counts, including "tired" or "not great."
- Baseline
- Ask 2 or 3 staff to record the student's answers to small-talk questions for a week: answered and asked back, answered only, or no answer. Ask the student which adults they would like to talk with more and which replies they want to use.
- Tips
- Each small-talk question from an adult is an opportunity. Score correct when the student answers and returns the question in any mode. Honest answers are always correct; never teach "good" as the only reply. For transition-age students, practice with coworkers and supervisors at job sites.
- Limits
- Small talk norms differ by culture and setting; agree on them with the family. Data depend on adults asking; planned adults keep it steady. The goal does not measure longer conversations.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID se-com-045.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, when a familiar adult such as a teacher, coach, bus driver, or job site supervisor asks a small-talk question, the student will answer the small-talk question and ask it back (such as "Good, how are you?" or "Fine, how was yours?") independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected 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 goal403 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, when a familiar adult such as a teacher, coach, bus driver, or job site supervisor asks a small-talk question, the student will answer the small-talk question and ask it back (such as "Good, how are you?" or "Fine, how was yours?") independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- When a familiar adult such as a teacher, coach, bus driver, or job site supervisor asks a small-talk question
- Behavior
- The student will answer the small-talk question and ask it back (such as "Good, how are you?" or "Fine, how was yours?") independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- 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 weeks
- Collection schedule:
- weekly
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, when a familiar adult such as a teacher, coach, bus driver, or job site supervisor asks a small-talk question, the student will answer the small-talk question and ask it back (such as "Good, how are you?" or "Fine, how was yours?") independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data 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.