Use a, an, the, this, and that in sentences
When to use this goal
For students who drop articles ("I see dog") or use them without regard to whether the listener knows which item is meant. Base the choice on a language sample. Students learning English whose home language has no articles may show this pattern as a normal stage of learning English; the SLP and EL teacher decide together whether it is a language disorder target.
- Baseline
- Count articles in obligatory contexts across a 10-minute sample and a 20-item picture task. Record omissions separately from wrong choices (a versus the); omission is usually the first target. Note the student's home language and length of exposure to English.
- Tips
- An obligatory context is any singular count noun that requires an article. Score correct when an article is present; if the goal includes choosing a versus the, score the choice against the context (new item versus specific known item). Demonstratives are optional additions for students who also point and say "this" without the noun. Accept any mode.
- Limits
- Article omission is common and expected in early English learners and is not by itself a disorder sign. Articles are unstressed and easy to miss when scoring by ear; audio recording helps. Dialect must be considered.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID sl-syn-009.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 pictures or objects and asked to say a sentence about each, the student will produce an article (a, an, the) before each singular noun that requires one independently with at least 85% accuracy on obligatory contexts for articles, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Baseline: 30% 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
- 30% accuracy.
- Annual goal395 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, given 10 pictures or objects and asked to say a sentence about each, the student will produce an article (a, an, the) before each singular noun that requires one independently with at least 85% accuracy on obligatory contexts for articles, 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 pictures or objects and asked to say a sentence about each
- Behavior
- The student will produce an article (a, an, the) before each singular noun that requires one independently
- Criteria
- With at least 85% accuracy on obligatory contexts for articles, 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 obligatory contexts for articles
- 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 pictures or objects and asked to say a sentence about each, the student will produce an article (a, an, the) before each singular noun that requires one independently with at least 85% accuracy on obligatory contexts for articles, 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.