Executive functioning
Executive functioning goals often read like wishes: "will be more organized," "will stay focused." A goal you can measure names what the student does, such as starting a task within two minutes of the direction or turning in a checked planner before dismissal.
These guides cover goals and supports for initiation, organization, planning, time management, working memory, attention and self-monitoring. They show how to separate what the student needs to learn from what an accommodation should handle, and how to fade adult prompts so the skill belongs to the student.
Start here
- Executive functioning IEP goals: examples by skill
Measurable executive functioning IEP goals for 12 skills, from task initiation to study skills, each with the data method that fits, plus goals vs supports.
How-to guides
- Learning strategies for students with IEPs: mnemonics, chunking and highlighting
Teach learning strategies to students with disabilities: match mnemonics, chunking or highlighting to the task, teach it explicitly, measure the results.
- Self-monitoring strategies that work in the classroom
Pick and teach a self-monitoring strategy: choose the type, teach it in four short lessons, reinforce accuracy, troubleshoot problems and fade the system.
- Teaching organization skills with a binder system
Teach organization skills with one binder system: set it up with the student, teach filing explicitly, run a short daily check, score it and fade adult support.
- Working memory strategies for students in the classroom
Classroom working memory strategies that work: cut the load, put information on paper, teach a routine for the tool, and check use with a simple weekly count.
Examples
- Attention IEP goals: 16 examples for focus, distraction and listening
16 measurable attention IEP goals for responding to cues, sustained reading and listening, resisting distraction and attending in groups, with data methods.
- Cognitive flexibility IEP goals: 16 examples for changes, strategies and feedback
16 measurable cognitive flexibility IEP goals for schedule changes, switching strategies, accepting feedback and handling no, with latency and opportunity data.
- Following directions IEP goals: 20 sample goals by step count and type
20 sample following directions IEP goals, from 1-step directions to written, conditional and whole-group directions, with how to count steps and score them.
- Homework IEP goals: 20 examples and how to track completion data
Twenty homework IEP goals for recording, bringing work home, starting, finishing and turning it in, with baselines and a filled-in completion data sheet.
- IEP goals for bringing materials to class: 12 examples
Twelve IEP goals for coming to class prepared, from a materials check to packing ahead and handling a missing item, plus a decision table and data sheet.
- IEP goals for checking work: 20 examples with baselines
Twenty IEP goals for checking work in math, writing, assignments and tests, each with a baseline, plus a decision table and a self-correction data sheet.
- Impulse control IEP goals: 24 examples for waiting, blurting and rushing
24 measurable impulse control IEP goals for waiting, blurting, rushing and physical impulses, including goals for ADHD impulsivity, with data methods.
- On-task behavior IEP goals
24 on-task behavior IEP goal examples with baselines, plus how to measure on-task behavior with momentary time sampling and a filled-in interval data sheet.
- Organization IEP goals: 20 examples with the data behind them
20 measurable organization IEP goals for materials, papers, lockers, digital files and job sites, each with a baseline, a criterion and a checklist to score it.
- Planning IEP goals: 20 examples from first steps to long projects
20 measurable planning IEP goals for sequencing tasks, planning writing, long-term projects and real-life plans, with baselines and a way to score each plan.
- Self-monitoring IEP goals: 24 examples and how to collect the data
24 measurable self-monitoring IEP goals for behavior, checking work, tracking progress and understanding, plus how to set up self-monitoring data collection.
- Task initiation IEP goals
24 task initiation IEP goals measured with latency, from starting class work to homework and job tasks, plus a filled-in latency data sheet and probe plan.
- Test-taking IEP goals: 24 examples for strategies before, during and after tests
Twenty-four test-taking IEP goals for studying, starting, multiple choice, written answers, pacing and review, plus a decision table and strategy data sheet.
- Time management IEP goals: 24 examples by sub-skill
24 measurable time management IEP goals for estimating time, pacing work, transitions and deadlines, each with a baseline, a criterion and a way to measure it.
- Waiting IEP goals: 24 examples with wait times and baselines
Twenty-four waiting IEP goals for items, adult attention, turns, talking, lines and community settings, with baselines and a filled-in wait time data sheet.
- Work completion IEP goals: 24 examples and a sample data sheet
24 measurable work completion IEP goals for classwork, homework, long assignments and missing work, plus probe frequency and a filled-in data sheet.
- Working memory IEP goals: 12 examples that measure strategy use
12 measurable working memory IEP goals for directions, keeping your place, notes and mental math, written around strategies a student can use in class.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn your goals into progress reports
Pro tracks every goal on your caseload and drafts the report for you. Free for 14 days.
Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.