Summarize a news story with the 5 Ws
When to use this goal
For secondary students who follow news or current events but retell them out of order or miss key facts. A news summary answers who, what, when, where, and why in a few sentences. Base the choice on spoken summaries of short news items.
- Baseline
- Record summaries of three news items and score each of the five elements as correct or missing. Note whether "why" is the element most often missed, which is common. Choose items with a clear why.
- Tips
- Score each element as present and correct. Choose news topics with care: avoid graphic or distressing stories, and offer choices that match the student's interests and community. Any language or mode counts.
- Limits
- News items vary in difficulty and vocabulary; preview hard words. The goal does not measure opinions about the news or media literacy (sl-lis-014).
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID sl-nar-035.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, after reading or listening to a short news article (200 to 400 words) on a current event, the student will summarize the news story aloud in two to four sentences that tell who, what, when, where, and why independently with at least 80% accuracy on news summary elements (who, what, when, where, why), in 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 Narrative Language & Retelling.
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
- Speech & Language - Narrative Language & Retelling
- Baseline
- 40% accuracy.
- Annual goal434 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, after reading or listening to a short news article (200 to 400 words) on a current event, the student will summarize the news story aloud in two to four sentences that tell who, what, when, where, and why independently with at least 80% accuracy on news summary elements (who, what, when, where, why), in 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 news article (200 to 400 words) on a current event
- Behavior
- The student will summarize the news story aloud in two to four sentences that tell who, what, when, where, and why independently
- Criteria
- With at least 80% accuracy on news summary elements (who, what, when, where, why), in 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 news summary elements (who, what, when, where, why)
- Mastery rule:
- in 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 news article (200 to 400 words) on a current event, the student will summarize the news story aloud in two to four sentences that tell who, what, when, where, and why independently with at least 80% accuracy on news summary elements (who, what, when, where, why), in 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.