Writing Short Term Objectives

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Short term objectives need to answer the following questions:

1. What are the specific conditions under which the student will perform the skill? How will the student know to perform the skill? When or what will prompt the student in naturally occurring situations to perform the skill?
    

2. What are the specific behaviors the student will perform?
    

3. How will you measure the student's performance in order to know that she has learned the skill?

Short term objectives should satisfy these critical features:

1. The objectives are driven by the IEP goal.
    

2. The objectives are observable and measurable and easily understood by everyone.
    

3. The objectives result in ordinary and individually meaningful outcomes.

Double check objectives by asking:

1. Is the objective related to the IEP goal?
    

2. Is the objective clear, concise, easily understood, and written in everyday language?
    

3. the objectives represent a broad range of skills that can be taught within the context of the activity, rather than simply being a task analysis of the activity goal?
    

4. Do all of the objectives say clearly what the student, not the teacher, will do?
    

5. the objectives support the student's positive image and involvement with peers who do not have disabilities?

Prepared by Kathy Snow (with lots of help from others)
250 Sunnywood Lane, Woodland Park, CO 80863-9434
719-687-8194, Fax 719-687-8114, e-mail: KSSnow@aol.com
You may copy and distribute this report in its entirety Revised 8/97