When writing speech therapy IEP goals, I don't think any SLP has ever said:
Writing goals is fun!
I love writing goals!
Writing goals is my favourite thing to do!
If you haven’t - you aren’t alone. Writing IEP goals is one of the most daunting tasks of being an SLP. It can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and exhausting.
I want to share five quick tips on how you can make IEP goal writing EASY!
Write one target per goal. Don’t put multiple sounds or concepts into one goal. Write exactly what it is that you want the child to learn. This makes goal writing so much easier because you aren’t cramming way too much information into one little goal. This will also help parents understand what you are targeting and will help you summarize a child’s progress with that particular goal quickly and concisely.
Use a template. Creating a text that you can use as a starting point for different goals. ‘Filling in’ a goal template will help you save time. For example: By DATE, NAME will SKILL with PERCENTAGE accuracy with TYPE/LEVEL of cueing. Simply fill in the missing information.
Don’t choose goals from a standardized test. Think FUNCTION. Choose goals that will be applicable to a student’s everyday life.
Use a long-term goal and a short-term goal. This is very helpful when explaining goals to parents and teachers. Why? Because long term goals are often easier to understand for non-SLPs. For example, a parent might not understand why you are targeting ‘third-person singular verbs’ (short term goal), but will likely understand why you are targeting the long-term goal of using age-appropriate grammar.
Create an IEP goal bank. Write your most commonly used goals in one place for easy reference. Make it easily editable, so you can use it over and over again for years to come.
Want to save time and find a resource that takes all of these tips into consideration?
After 12 years as an SLP, I took all of these tips and created a HUGE TIMESAVING resource for myself: Preschool Goal Bank with 340 Goals.
This MASSIVE Preschool Speech and Language Goal Bank includes IEP goals for speech and language, including: receptive language, expressive language, social language, early language, play skills, classroom participation, speech sounds, wh questions, language processing, rhyming, and behaviour. It is editable, customizable, and can be used over and over with all of my students. It has completely changed my (and other SLPs) goal-writing game!
Here is what other SLPs are saying:
On August 18, 2020, Olivia C said, “Writing quality goals takes me so much time and energy but having this resource has really been a lifesaver! I really trust Anna and her years of experience and I feel so much better knowing I have this goal bank to rely on when I need it, which is all of the time!"
On February 19, 2020, Katherine C said, “Even after several years of being an SLP, I can still get stuck when it comes to writing goals. Hallelujah for this resource! I can find appropriate goals quickly and I don't have to spend precious time trying to generate just the right goal with just the right wording! Thank you for making my life as a therapist just a little easier this year!!!”
Do you need this IEP goal bank in your life?
Head to my store and grab it HERE.
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