Say a three- to four-word sentence about a picture
When to use this goal
For students who combine two words but do not yet produce short sentences with a subject, verb, and object ("The girl eats apple"). Base the choice on a language sample. For counting longer utterances in a sample, see sl-exp-002.
- Baseline
- Present 10 to 20 action pictures and record each response word for word. Note which element is missing most often (the subject is often dropped). Check that the student has the nouns and verbs for the pictures (sl-sem-001, sl-sem-003) so the goal is about combining, not vocabulary.
- Tips
- Score correct when the response contains a subject, a verb, and an object in that order; grammatical endings and articles are not required at this level ("Boy kick ball" is correct). Record the full utterance so later goals on morphemes can use the data. Accept speech, sign, or AAC. Use pictures with clear agents and objects.
- Limits
- Picture description is a structured task; spontaneous sentences in play may lag behind. This goal does not score grammatical accuracy, which comes next (sl-syn-003 and later). Intelligibility can make scoring hard; gloss what the student clearly intended.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID sl-syn-002.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 action pictures showing a person or animal doing something to an object and asked "What's happening?", the student will say a sentence with a subject, a verb, and an object (such as "Boy kicks ball") independently with at least 80% accuracy on action pictures, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Baseline: 20% 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 Grammar, Syntax & Morphology.
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 - Grammar, Syntax & Morphology
- Baseline
- 20% accuracy.
- Annual goal425 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, given 10 action pictures showing a person or animal doing something to an object and asked "What's happening?", the student will say a sentence with a subject, a verb, and an object (such as "Boy kicks ball") independently with at least 80% accuracy on action pictures, 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 action pictures showing a person or animal doing something to an object and asked "What's happening?"
- Behavior
- The student will say a sentence with a subject, a verb, and an object (such as "Boy kicks ball") independently
- Criteria
- With at least 80% accuracy on action pictures, 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 80% accuracy on action pictures
- 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 action pictures showing a person or animal doing something to an object and asked "What's happening?", the student will say a sentence with a subject, a verb, and an object (such as "Boy kicks ball") independently with at least 80% accuracy on action pictures, 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.