fbpx Top
FREE LIFE SKILLS SCOPE & SEQUENCE
BLOG: Managing different levels of iep goals and data collection on a regular basis. Special Education

Managing Different Levels of IEP Goals & Data Collection

Every SPED classroom is different: whether you have only 1 student with 10 IEP goals or 20 students with 2 IEP goals each.  Then add in the factors of completely different IEP goals, and different levels!  There’s one thing that’s common for all classrooms though – it’s a lot of work to manage working on every goal and collecting data on a regular basis, especially if you do not have enough staff support!

Adult Transition Classroom Tour


 So many different IEP goals…

For classrooms like mine, a life skills – functional academics classroom, the types of goals each student has can be so completely different from one another because they are focusing on personalized behavior and life skills.  It becomes hard to target those types of goals during group lessons, especially depending on how the goal is written.  I’m going to share with you what works in my classroom.  Please consider this may not work for every classroom depending on your variables, but maybe you can modify the idea to fit your needs (we SPED teachers are great at modification)!


IEP bins

IEP Goal bins & Data Collection!  This organization & method has kept me sane with keeping up with all of my students’ varying levels & IEP goals.  I bought the gray baskets from Dollar Tree and the turquoise crates from Walmart, and they are perfect for carrying a good amount of student work back and forth.  I have one for each student  (if you have any students that have the same goals/levels, combine them into the same bin to work in small groups).

These bins have everything related to a student’s IEP goals, along with materials to work on the goals (if applicable), and a binder with details on each goal along with data collection sheets.  For students that have a BIP or use special materials on a daily basis (like a token board), these would also be included in their bins.

Adult Transition Classroom Tour

Everything I need is in one place – their data collection binder, worksheets, task cards, file folders…etc that pertain to their goals, and manipulative needed (eg. Calculator or token board).  This also makes it easier for subs or new staff to work with different students.


Data Collection Binder

Blog: How I Manage to to work on different levels of IEP goals and data collection on a regular basis. IEP Bins.
Blog: How I Manage to to work on different levels of IEP goals and data collection on a regular basis. IEP Bins.

  

Students with behavior goals also mean more data collection, so why not have everything in one place at least at the start of the day?  This makes it easier for different staff to work with different students.  If a staff is subbing and is unfamiliar with a student, having everything in one bin will help.  In turn, you will spend less time gathering materials and explaining what to do with a student.

Adult Transition Classroom Tour

If you want to make your data collection digital, I use QR codes that connect to Microsoft Forms or Google Forms.  Read more about how to do this here:


What’s In the Bins?

Adult Transition Classroom Tour

If you use the large file crates (usually you can get them for about $5 each at Walmart), they are large enough to fit several binders, a task box or two, file folders, task cards…etc.  These crates might also come in handy if your student travels back and forth to a Gen Ed classroom for part of the day.

Blog: How I Manage to to work on different levels of IEP goals and data collection on a regular basis. IEP Bins.

If you have a bunch of worksheets or file folders to put in one crate, here’s a great way to help keep those things organized and easily accessible.  Occasionally if I have students who have similar goals, I might combine them into the same bin that way I can do small groups with those students.

Blog: How I Manage to to work on different levels of IEP goals and data collection on a regular basis. IEP Bins.


Put it on your schedule

Here’s the last component of IEP Bins that has made it successful in working with goals on a daily basis.  I specifically set aside a time each day that is dedicated to doing independent work or “IEP BIN/DATA COLLECTION”.  This may differ from classroom to classroom on how this will work with scheduling.  My students are constantly in and out of my classroom due to many services and off-campus jobs, so I never have all of my students in class for a lesson at any given time.  Because of this, I am able to schedule independent work every day.  Maybe your classroom only needs it once or twice a week.

The other key part to this is making this work is making it known that this is an important part of your schedule.  Of course, you will want to have a discussion with your staff on the importance of working on goals and collecting data, but sometimes that’s not enough.   I have mine color-coded and noticeable from the rest of the schedule.  This lets my staff know that this is an important time to work on goals and collect data. Before I had sectioned off this time, I was having a hard time getting my aides to collect data on goals.  The number one thing I heard from them was that it was hard to find time to sit down and collect data.

Adult Transition Classroom Tour


 

Thanks for reading!

Fiona Signature

You might also enjoy:

Comments

  1. Mimi says

    Lydia,
    I appreciate you sending this. I thought it was very interesting. I really enjoy learning about your profession and how you handle a special ed class.

Product Reviews

from special educators

Theresa S.

This resource has been extremely beneficial. I teach students with moderate to severe disabilities who are on a certificate of completion for high school. This resource was helpful in establishing a routine for my students. Students remained engaged and enjoyed many of the activities. The consistency of the warm-ups allow for me to introduce students to working together appropriately and seeking help and support from peers not just teachers. The differentiated levels help save time and support students varying levels. Students remain engaged and it quickly hits on different life skills reviews.
Life Skills Daily Warm Up Worksheets BUNDLE

Christine S.

I love everything about this resource. There are enough activities to last a year. The lectures and digital activities are my favorite with the real photographs. My students are learning and there seems to be enless materials in this bundle. I also love the creative CBI (community based instruction) ideas that go beyond the typical scavenger hunt.
Vocation Units 1-12 Full Year MEGA Bundle + Supplemental Materials

Kaitlyn Dini (TpT Seller)

Adulting Made Easy makes the absolute perfect resources for my Life Skills students who are about to graduate. Her resources teach practical skills that they will use in their lives and they don't view as being too immature for them (which is common in sped). Thank you so much for creating these resources!

Stacey S.

As a teacher new to the role in vocational education, Adulting Made Easy's vocational products work great! It was an easy way for my students to understand various aspects of job searches and employment.   The vocational units saved me a ton of time by not having to create items on my own.

Erica B.

This was awesome to use with both my at-home learners and my in-person learners. I could use specific ones with our weekly theme during my vocational skills class. It was especially great at keeping my at-home kids engaged when I wasn't there to watch them.
 
Independent Skills - Boom Cards & Interactive PDF BUNDLE

Teaching Tiny Bugs (TpT Seller)

My students love using this resource for their morning work. I have many non writing students, so being able to engage in a lesson with them using drag and drop and visual icons is the reason this have become one of my favorite resources this year.
 
Morning Meeting Interactive Slides, Activities and Worksheets