Planning IEP goals for middle school (grades 6 to 8)
23 of the planning templates in the library are written for middle school (grades 6 to 8). Each opens in the builder, where the grade band is a starting point and the baseline comes from your own assessment.
23 templates · 1 skill · 6–8 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Planning Executive Function
Break a long-term assignment into dated steps
Breaking down a long-term assignment
By the annual IEP review date, when given a long-term assignment due in 1 to 3 weeks, the student will create a written plan for the assignment using a project planning template, performing at least 6 of 7 steps independently, on 3 consecutive long-term assignments, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected for each long-term assignment.
Write a weekly plan that schedules work sessions
Weekly planning
By the annual IEP review date, during a weekly planning session at the start of each week, the student will write a weekly plan that schedules work sessions for upcoming assignments and tests independently, earning a score of at least 9 out of 12 on a 4-row weekly plan rubric scored 0 to 3 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive weekly plans, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected weekly.
Complete planned subtasks by their interim dates
Following through on interim deadlines
By the annual IEP review date, when working on a long-term assignment with a written plan that lists interim due dates, the student will complete each planned task by its interim date independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 2 consecutive long-term assignments, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected at each checkpoint.
Create a written study plan for an upcoming test
Planning for a test
By the annual IEP review date, when a unit test or quiz is announced at least 3 school days in advance, the student will create a written study plan for the upcoming test using a study-plan template, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, for 3 consecutive announced tests, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected for each announced test.
Write the steps of an assignment before starting it
Listing the steps of an assignment before starting
By the annual IEP review date, given an assignment with three or more parts and written directions, the student will write a numbered list of the steps needed to finish the assignment before starting the first step independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Complete a pre-writing plan before drafting
Planning a short writing piece
By the annual IEP review date, given a writing prompt and a planning organizer before a paragraph or essay, the student will complete a pre-writing plan using a graphic organizer, performing at least 4 of 5 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive writing tasks, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected weekly.
Middle school planning goals account for multiple teachers, changing classes, and more independent work. They often pair the skill with a strategy or tool, and the data can be collected across settings by different staff or by the student.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 7 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 7 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 9 goals here
Frequently asked questions
How are planning goals measured across several middle school classes?
By defining the task and the observation period so any teacher can use the same sheet, or by work samples collected from more than one class. Student self-monitoring with a weekly check is common.
Should middle school goals include study skills?
When assessment shows that organization, planning, or test preparation limits the student's progress, yes. Those goals are measured with task-analysis checklists and percent of assignments completed.
When does transition planning start?
The IEP in effect when the student turns 16 must include postsecondary goals and transition services, and many states start at 14. Middle school goals can build the self-advocacy and independence those plans rely on.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these 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.