Alternate bites of food with sips
When to use this goal
For children whose plan suggests a sip between bites to clear the mouth, or who eat a whole meal without drinking and then cannot finish lunch. The SLP's plan and observed meals decide fit.
- Baseline
- Pick eight points in a meal and record whether the student sipped before the next bite. Note whether the drink is within reach and easy to open; a closed bottle often explains no sips.
- Tips
- Follow the plan exactly; for some students sips between bites are not advised. Make the drink easy to reach and open.
- Limits
- Food textures, liquid thickness, positioning for safe swallowing and any swallowing precautions come from the student's feeding or swallowing plan, which this goal never changes. Use only the liquid and cup the plan allows. Counting sips does not show how much the student drinks overall.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID mt-fd-011.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, with a drink placed next to the plate, the student will take a sip of the drink after a bite before taking the next bite with no adult cues in at least 6 of 8 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three lunches a week.
Baseline: 2 of 8 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 Feeding & Mealtime Skills.
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
- Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE) - Feeding & Mealtime Skills
- Baseline
- 2 of 8 opportunities.
- Annual goal323 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, with a drink placed next to the plate, the student will take a sip of the drink after a bite before taking the next bite with no adult cues in at least 6 of 8 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three lunches a week.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During lunch, with a drink placed next to the plate
- Behavior
- The student will take a sip of the drink after a bite before taking the next bite with no adult cues
- Criteria
- In at least 6 of 8 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Three lunches a week
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 6 of 8 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- on 3 of 4 observed meals
- Collection schedule:
- three lunches a week
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, with a drink placed next to the plate, the student will take a sip of the drink after a bite before taking the next bite with no adult cues in at least 6 of 8 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three lunches a week.
Key: + demonstrated independently · P demonstrated with a prompt (note type) · − not demonstrated · NA no opportunity occurred
| Date | Activity / context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | # + (of 8) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 8 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.