There are endless number of life skills IEP goals out there, it’s just a matter of finding what your student and their family want to focus on. It’s all about getting to know your student, their future goals, and collaborating with parents/caregivers on what areas they find important. Some families have an idea of the types of goals they want to work on, where as others might really depend on the teacher for suggestions (after all, you are the expert!) It’s easy to draw a blank sometimes though, so I’m here to help you visualize some ideas to start at. If you see a goal you kinda like, just know that there are so many different ways to write one goal to fit the needs of every student, depending on what you want to work on specifically.
IEP Goal Basics
- In order to make a great and appropriate goal, make sure to get a measurable baseline first.
- From there you will be able to plug in the number of prompts
- Type of prompts (verbal, gestural…etc. and remember the prompting hierarchy)
- % of accuracy
- Number of trials/opportunities
- Time frame (e.g. over 2 consecutive weeks) to measure consistency
- and how it will be measured (data collection, observation, work samples…etc).
Keep In Mind
- Each school district (or even parents), like IEP goals written a certain way or with specific terminology. Always make sure to communicate with your administration and parents on what their preferences are before heading into an IEP meeting. The goal ideas provided below are simply ideas and should always be reviewed with the IEP team.
- The goal framework provided below is a generic template. It’s up to you to customize the goal to fit the student (according to their baseline).
- Like I mentioned earlier – Each of these ideas can be written differently to cater to many different levels (not just by the number of prompts, % accuracy, or trials given. With that being said, they can easily be simplified or complicated by adding task analysis components, the setting in which they are performed…etc. Here’s an example of the different levels if you want your student working on the dollar up method. Also, I know this is redundant to mention, but sometimes it happens, make sure your student is able to complete the basics (such as counting, identifying money values, addition…etc) before moving on to a more complicated goal like this.
- LEVEL 1 – By {date}, given {#} {type} prompts, {student name} will {USE THE DOLLAR UP METHOD UP TO $5 DURING A STRUCTURED LESSON}, in {#/#} trials over {#} consecutive weeks, as measured by {how}.
- LEVEL 2 – By {date}, given {#} {type} prompts, {student name} will {USE THE DOLLAR UP METHOD UP TO $5 WHILE MAKING A TRANSACTION IN THE COMMUNITY}, in {#/#} trials over {#} consecutive weeks, as measured by {how}.
- LEVEL 3 – By {date}, given {#} {type} prompts, {student name} will {WAIT IN LINE, USE THE DOLLAR UP METHOD UP TO $5 WHILE MAKING A TRANSACTION IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WAIT FOR CHANGE}, in {#/#} trials over {#} consecutive weeks, as measured by {how}.
Goal Template
By {date}, given {#} {type} prompts, {student name} will {GOAL}, in {#/#} trials over {#} consecutive weeks, as measured by {how}.
**Not all goals have to have each of these components, it just depends on the goal, what you are measuring, and where the student’s baseline is at!**
General Community Goal Ideas
- Participate in CBIs at {#} different locations.
- Participate in a CBI for a minimum of {#} minutes.
- Participate in a specific CBI outing (e.g. restaurant).
- Refrain from touching others during a trip in the community.
- Name/Identify the CBI setting (e.g. restaurant, grocery store, movie theater…etc.)
- Recognize/Identify familiar logos of local restaurants/stores/products,
- Appropriate social interactions while in the community (please, thank you, excuse me).
- Appropriately introduce themselves (state their name) when asked.
- Identify correct restroom to use while in the community.
- Check Out: Restroom Signs Visual Flashcards FREEBIE
- Personal space when interacting with people.
- Hold a wallet or purse with money during a CBI.
- Modify behavior according to social situation/event.
- Appropriately asking a stranger help for directions to a specific place.
- Appropriately use a vending machine to make a purchase (task analysis).
- Select the appropriate type/amount of money to use at a vending machine (e.g. coin operated machines)
- Approach/touch others appropriately to get their attention.
- Appropriately terminating/ending a conversation.
- Ride an escalator appropriately.
- Hold the door for others when passing through at the same time.
- Use an ID appropriately.
- Check in with the front desk person for appointments or directions.
- Ride an elevator appropriately and using buttons to get to a designated floor.
Restaurant/Fast Food Goal Ideas
- Check in with the front desk (at restaurants), give number in party, and waiting to be seated.
- Select an appropriate place to sit (open/empty seating, clean table, rather than a table someone is already sitting at…etc)
- Use appropriate table manners while at a restaurant or fast food.
- Select and use appropriate utensils at a fast food restaurant.
- Throw trash away and put tray in designated spot after dining at a fast food restaurant.
- Order and pay for own meal at the cashier at a fast food restaurant.
- Choose an item to eat from a menu.
- Identify if they have enough money to purchase the item they want to order.
- Appropriately tip a waiter/waitress.
- Appropriately responding to a waiter/waitress (when they ask for more refills, what they want to order, if they need a to-go box…etc).
- Stand in line (not cut), while at a buffet.
- Refrain from touching foods with hands while at a buffet.
- Sitting appropriately in a variety of settings (booth, chair, counter…etc.)
- Identify how long the wait it at a restaurant (by asking front desk), and determine if there will be enough time to wait and eat there (given a designated future plan).
- Identify if appropriately dressed for specific restaurants.
- Identify to employee and order a meal to-go.
- Appropriately fill a cup with ice & drink, with lid and straw.
- Grab an appropriate amount of condiments/utensils/napkins.
- Identify if it is age appropriate to order off the kids menu or play in “kids play area”.
- Order one healthy food item along with a preferred item.
- Stay within a calorie limit (if listed on menu) when ordering a meal.
- Recognizing dietary restrictions (foods/meals they cannot order) on the menu before ordering.
- Identify if a restaurant has a drive thru.
- Identify if a restaurant is open/closed/hours of operations.
Shopping & Store Goal Ideas
- Use the dollar up strategy while making a purchase.
- Refrain from opening packages/eating food during a trip to the store.
- Appropriate volume (no screaming) while in a store.
- Stand in line (with appropriate personal space) when waiting to pay.
- Gently put items on the conveyor belt when making a purchase.
- Identify the price of an item.
- Check out: Money Math Find The Price {Cut & Paste}
- Hand the cashier money when making a purchase.
- Wait for change while making a purchase.
- Reading/Identifying appropriate aisle for specific items.
- Ask an employee for directions (to the restroom, to a specific product…etc).
- When shown two objects/products, decide which is cheaper or more expensive. (comparison shop)
- Check out: Store Ads Comparison Shopping {Cut & Paste}
- Pay for an item before taking it out of a store.
- Identify appropriate store(s) for obtaining desired/needed items.
- Find items on a shopping list. (visual, non-visual).
- Know if it is age appropriate to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lotto ticket…etc.
- Find a specific store in the mall looking at the mall diagram/map.
- Identify store hours of operations and restrictions (no pets, no food…etc.)
- Order/develop photos from a kiosk
- Package and send a letter at the post office.
- Rent/return a movie from a kiosk.
- Find and use coupons.
- Check out: Finding Coupons in Store Ads {Cut & Paste}
Safety Goal Ideas
- Follow safety rules during a CBI (name specific targets)
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
- Appropriate/safe responses to give or not give to strangers.
- Identify pedestrian vs. vehicle/traffic signs.
- Make a phone call while in the community.
- Stay within close proximity (specify distance) to the group/aide during a CBI
- Stay on the sidewalk while walking in the community.
- Identify {#} of safety/community signs during a CBI
- Stop upon request (verbal request by teacher, at end of curbs, stop signs…etc).
- Identify strangers vs. familiar adults.
- Locate exits & emergency exits.
- Shout for help, find an adult, or call 911 during an emergency.
- Recognize when and when not to talk across the street.
- Hold a handrail when walking up and down stairs/escalator.
- Identify emergency button on an elevator.
- Appropriately riding an escalator.
Transportation Goal Ideas
- Fasten seat belt.
- Remain in seat with a fastened seat belt for a {#} min ride.
- Sit on a bus/train without touching others.
- Recognize where to access modes of public transportation (city bus, train…etc.)
- Identify location of interest and purchase a ticket to that location.
- Access {#} of locations via public transportation.
- Identifying specific information on a travel map or schedule.
- Obtain a bus pass or state ID.
- Select an appropriate transportation based on budget, route choice, and schedule.
Download all of these ideas for free here.
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