Get seated with feet supported before eating
When to use this goal
For young children whose plan calls for supported seating at meals (feet on a footrest, hips back, table at the right height) and who sit sideways, kneel or dangle their feet. Observed meals and the OT's seating plan decide fit.
- Baseline
- Record the seating position at the start of five meals, and check the seat and footrest against the OT's plan. A chair that is too tall or a missing footrest is the most common cause.
- Tips
- Stable seating frees the hands and mouth for eating and makes mealtimes safer. Get the furniture right first, then teach the routine.
- 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. Positioning for safe swallowing is part of that plan and is set by the OT, SLP or medical team, not by this goal.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID mt-fd-021.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, at the start of snack at the classroom table, the student will sit in the meal seat with hips back, feet on the floor or footrest and the chair pulled in to the table with no adult help in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected daily at snack or lunch.
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. Direct observation 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
- 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal344 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, at the start of snack at the classroom table, the student will sit in the meal seat with hips back, feet on the floor or footrest and the chair pulled in to the table with no adult help in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected daily at snack or lunch.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- At the start of snack at the classroom table
- Behavior
- The student will sit in the meal seat with hips back, feet on the floor or footrest and the chair pulled in to the table with no adult help
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days
- Evaluation method
- Direct observation
- Schedule
- Daily at snack or lunch
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 snack or lunch
- Method:
- Direct observation
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, at the start of snack at the classroom table, the student will sit in the meal seat with hips back, feet on the floor or footrest and the chair pulled in to the table with no adult help in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected daily at snack or lunch.
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.