Pick the utensil that fits each food
When to use this goal
For students who can use a spoon and fork but use one for everything, chasing soup with a fork or scooping solid pieces with fingers. Observed meals with mixed foods decide fit.
- Baseline
- Pick six foods across three meals and record which utensil the student used and whether it worked. Fingers are fine for finger foods; leave those out of the count.
- Tips
- Choosing the right tool makes eating faster and less messy, and supports eating with peers in the community. Keep both utensils on the tray every day.
- 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. Cultural and family eating practices vary (hands, chopsticks and other utensils are all valid); match the goal to the family's practices.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID mt-fd-029.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, given a meal with foods that need different utensils (such as soup, cut fruit and rice), the student will choose the spoon for runny or loose foods and the fork for pieces, and eat each food with the chosen utensil with no adult cues in at least 5 of 6 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by direct observation collected twice weekly at lunch.
Baseline: 2 of 6 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
- 2 of 6 opportunities.
- Annual goal405 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, given a meal with foods that need different utensils (such as soup, cut fruit and rice), the student will choose the spoon for runny or loose foods and the fork for pieces, and eat each food with the chosen utensil with no adult cues in at least 5 of 6 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by direct observation collected twice weekly at lunch.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During lunch, given a meal with foods that need different utensils (such as soup, cut fruit and rice)
- Behavior
- The student will choose the spoon for runny or loose foods and the fork for pieces, and eat each food with the chosen utensil with no adult cues
- Criteria
- In at least 5 of 6 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals
- Evaluation method
- Direct observation
- Schedule
- Twice weekly at 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 5 of 6 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- on 3 of 4 observed meals
- Collection schedule:
- twice weekly at lunch
- Method:
- Direct observation
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, given a meal with foods that need different utensils (such as soup, cut fruit and rice), the student will choose the spoon for runny or loose foods and the fork for pieces, and eat each food with the chosen utensil with no adult cues in at least 5 of 6 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by direct observation collected twice weekly at 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 | 6 | # + (of 6) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 6 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.