Follow directions with if, unless, and either-or
When to use this goal
For students who follow plain directions but act on every part of a conditional direction ("If you finished, put your paper in the bin") or ignore the condition. Conditional language appears in class routines, games, tests, and forms. Base the choice on the SLP's assessment and teacher reports.
- Baseline
- Give 10 conditional directions, half where the condition is met and half where it is not, and score each. Students who always act will score about 50% with a clear pattern; record which items they miss.
- Tips
- Balance items where the condition is met and not met. Score correct when the action matches the condition. "Unless" and "either-or" are harder than "if"; add them after if-then is steady.
- Limits
- Working memory affects long conditional directions; keep length similar across probes. The goal does not measure following directions in a busy class (see sl-rec-024 and executive function).
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID sl-rec-026.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 spoken conditional directions with materials (such as "If the square is blue, color the circle red"), the student will carry out the direction only when the condition is met and do the stated alternative when it is not independently with at least 85% accuracy on conditional directions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Baseline: 40% accuracy.
- 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. Percent accuracy 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 percent accuracy 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 Receptive Language.
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
- Speech & Language - Receptive Language
- Baseline
- 40% accuracy.
- Annual goal451 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, given 10 spoken conditional directions with materials (such as "If the square is blue, color the circle red"), the student will carry out the direction only when the condition is met and do the stated alternative when it is not independently with at least 85% accuracy on conditional directions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- Given 10 spoken conditional directions with materials (such as "If the square is blue, color the circle red")
- Behavior
- The student will carry out the direction only when the condition is met and do the stated alternative when it is not independently
- Criteria
- With at least 85% accuracy on conditional directions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- During each therapy session
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Accuracy tracker. Records number correct and number attempted.
Accuracy tracker
Percent accuracy- Student label:
- Target:
- with at least 85% accuracy on conditional directions
- Mastery rule:
- across 3 consecutive therapy sessions
- Collection schedule:
- during each therapy session
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, given 10 spoken conditional directions with materials (such as "If the square is blue, color the circle red"), the student will carry out the direction only when the condition is met and do the stated alternative when it is not independently with at least 85% accuracy on conditional directions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
| Date | Task / materials | # correct | # attempted | % accuracycorrect ÷ attempted × 100 | Support levele.g., independent, 1 verbal prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Score only items the student attempted unless the goal defines a fixed set of items. Use the same denominator every session.
- Percent = numerator ÷ denominator × 100. Round to one decimal place.
- Record the support actually provided, even if the goal is independent performance.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.