Goals & Objectives
Hi there! How are you? It’s so nice to see you here!
There are so many ingredients in our Alphabet Soup, but there is one ingredient that if left out, the recipe just wouldn’t be the recipe.
Can you guess what that might be? You got it, goals & objectives.
**Disclaimer: Before we dive in, it is important to know that every state and municipality follows a different format of an IEP, thus I will not be speaking specifically to any one state’s version of an IEP. However, the overarching information discussed here are the building blocks to what goes into the IEP.
Goals and objectives look at the tasks and skills that are a part of the present levels of performance that are in need of additional instruction and programming. The skills outlined within the concerns/needs/weakness section are the ones your school team will develop a plan for helping your learner gain a better understanding in that area.
Goals are different from objectives though.
Goals are the larger overarching skill; think of it as the umbrella. Goals describe, in general terms, what type of instruction will be delivered to learn the targeted skill.
The objectives take the terms described in the goal and break it down into smaller, discrete skills that, when put together, help the learner be able to learn and demonstrate that larger “goal” skill.
Objectives typically scaffold or task analyze the learning process, focusing on one, singular skill. This usually generates a greater learning outcome for the learner and helps to create an understanding of the skill for further generalization (e.g. zipping a zipper on a zipper board or sweatshirt laid flat on a desk or hanging up in a cubby area, to later zipping a coat on their body, etc.)
Both goals and objectives are written using the SMART formula, meaning goals and objectives are:
S: Short
M: Measurable
A: Achievable
R: Relevant
T: Time bound
Here’s how:
“Given (specific & measurable action) (student’s name) will/can (desired and relevant skill or behavior) (achievable criteria for success) (time bound/time frame.)
**Disclaimer: Your specific state/district may have a different way to write the objective, however, the SMART formula will still be used to develop the goals and objectives.
Next ingredient in our alphabet soup? Accommodations vs. Modifications
I’m so glad you’re here!
