Choose a free-time activity from a choice board
When to use this goal
For young students who wander, wait for an adult to hand them something, or take whatever is nearest during free time. Present levels and communication mode, not grade, decide fit. Choosing comes before playing longer.
- Baseline
- Record 5 or more free-choice times: whether the student chose, how (point, word, device), and what happened if no choice was made. A preference check (offering pairs of items) shows which pictures to put on the board. Start from an interest inventory with the student and family, and offer age-matched choices; a preferred repetitive activity is a valid way to relax, not a problem to fix.
- Tips
- Score each free-choice time as one opportunity, met when the student chose and went to the activity within about a minute. Honor every choice; a choice that is overruled teaches the student not to choose. Change the board as interests change.
- Limits
- Choosing does not show how long the student keeps playing; see fn-lei-002. A student who always picks the same activity is still choosing; widen options slowly rather than removing the favorite.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID fn-lei-001.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, at the start of free choice time, with a choice board of three to four activities the student likes, the student will choose an activity by pointing to, touching, or naming a picture on the choice board and go to it independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily at free choice time.
Baseline: 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Opportunities fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Opportunity (trial) recording gives opportunities data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Leisure & Recreation.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Functional & Independence Skills - Leisure & Recreation
- Baseline
- 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal403 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, at the start of free choice time, with a choice board of three to four activities the student likes, the student will choose an activity by pointing to, touching, or naming a picture on the choice board and go to it independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily at free choice time.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- At the start of free choice time, with a choice board of three to four activities the student likes
- Behavior
- The student will choose an activity by pointing, touching, or naming a picture on the choice board and go to it independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Daily at free choice time
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Opportunity tracker. One box per opportunity in each session.
Opportunity tracker
Opportunities- Student label:
- Target:
- in at least 4 of 5 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- on 4 of 5 observed days
- Collection schedule:
- daily at free choice time
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, at the start of free choice time, with a choice board of three to four activities the student likes, the student will choose an activity by pointing to, touching, or naming a picture on the choice board and go to it independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily at free choice time.
Key: + demonstrated independently · P demonstrated with a prompt (note type) · − not demonstrated · NA no opportunity occurred
| Date | Activity / context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | # + (of 5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 5 opportunities per session, matching the goal's denominator.
- Define in advance what counts as an opportunity so every data collector records the same thing.
- Count only + marks toward the criterion unless the goal specifies prompted responses.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.