Tell when a speaker is being sarcastic
When to use this goal
For older students who take sarcastic comments literally and report confusion or conflict because of it. Base the choice on the student's own examples and a probe of video or audio clips. The goal adds a tool for interpreting others; the student is never expected to use sarcasm themselves.
- Baseline
- Use a balanced set of sarcastic and sincere clips so guessing "sarcastic" every time does not score well. Record which clue the student uses. Ask the student which settings bring the most confusing comments.
- Tips
- Score correct when the judgment matches the intended meaning and the student gives any reasonable clue. Pair with sl-prag-032, which teaches asking when unsure; asking is always an acceptable strategy. Use clips with diverse speakers and accents.
- Limits
- Sarcasm depends heavily on relationship and culture, and clips lack the history a real conversation has. Accuracy on clips may not carry over to fast real-time talk. Does not measure how the student responds.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID sl-prag-029.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 short video or audio clips of everyday conversations, some with sarcastic comments and some sincere, the student will say whether the comment was sarcastic or sincere and name the clue they used (the situation, the words, or the tone) independently with at least 80% accuracy on sarcastic and sincere comments judged, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data 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. Opportunity (trial) recording 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 Pragmatic Language.
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 - Pragmatic Language
- Baseline
- 40% accuracy.
- Annual goal470 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, given 10 short video or audio clips of everyday conversations, some with sarcastic comments and some sincere, the student will say whether the comment was sarcastic or sincere and name the clue they used (the situation, the words, or the tone) independently with at least 80% accuracy on sarcastic and sincere comments judged, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected every two weeks.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- Given 10 short video or audio clips of everyday conversations, some with sarcastic comments and some sincere
- Behavior
- The student will say whether the comment was sarcastic or sincere and name the clue they used (the situation, the words, or the tone) independently
- Criteria
- With at least 80% accuracy on sarcastic and sincere comments judged, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- 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 sarcastic and sincere comments judged
- Mastery rule:
- on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes
- Collection schedule:
- every two weeks
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, given 10 short video or audio clips of everyday conversations, some with sarcastic comments and some sincere, the student will say whether the comment was sarcastic or sincere and name the clue they used (the situation, the words, or the tone) independently with at least 80% accuracy on sarcastic and sincere comments judged, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data 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.