Grades 3-5 Speech & Language IEP goals
395 speech & language templates list grades 3 to 5 among their grade bands, across 13 skills: articulation, voice, speech fluency (stuttering), pragmatic language, receptive language, expressive language, phonological processes, AAC & augmentative communication, motor speech (apraxia & dysarthria), grammar, syntax & morphology, vocabulary & semantics, listening comprehension & auditory processing, narrative language & retelling. Each opens in the builder with a matching data sheet.
395 templates · 13 skills · 3–5 · How we write and review goals
Top skills
The 8 most relevant skills, with sample goals. Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Articulation Speech & Language
Produce the target sound correctly in single words
Target sound in single words
By the annual IEP review date, given 20 picture or word cards containing To choose for the student: the target sound (such as /r/) in the initial, medial, and final word positions, the student will produce the target sound correctly in single words independently with at least 80% accuracy on target-sound productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Produce the target sound correctly in phrases and sentences
Target sound in phrases and sentences
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 target words containing To choose for the student: the target sound (such as /r/), each used in a phrase or a student-generated sentence, the student will produce the target sound correctly in phrases and sentences independently with at least 80% accuracy on target-sound occurrences, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Voice Speech & Language
Use the target vocal behavior in structured speaking tasks
Target vocal behavior in structured tasks
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 structured phrases or sentences during a therapy session, the student will produce each phrase or sentence using To choose for the student: the target vocal behavior (such as easy onset or a relaxed voice at the agreed loudness) independently with at least 80% accuracy on phrases and sentences produced with the target vocal behavior, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Use the target voice during classroom speaking
Target vocal behavior in class
By the annual IEP review date, during class speaking turns (such as answering a question, reading aloud, or partner talk), the student will use To choose for the student: the target voice (such as easy onset and agreed loudness) during the speaking turn independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive observations, as measured by direct observation collected every two weeks.
Speech Fluency (Stuttering) Speech & Language
Use a chosen fluency-shaping strategy in structured speaking tasks
Fluency-shaping strategies in structured tasks
By the annual IEP review date, during 10 structured speaking turns with the SLP (such as saying sentences, answering questions, or reading aloud), the student will use To choose for the student: their chosen fluency-shaping strategy (such as easy onset or light articulatory contact) at the start of the speaking turn independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Use a stuttering-modification strategy during a moment of stuttering
Stuttering-modification strategies
By the annual IEP review date, when a moment of stuttering occurs during a structured conversation with the SLP, the student will use a pullout (easing out of the stuttered word) or a cancellation (pausing, then saying the word again with an easier form) during the moment of stuttering independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Pragmatic Language Speech & Language
Ask for clarification when a message is unclear
Requesting clarification as a listener
By the annual IEP review date, when a direction or message is unclear, incomplete, or too fast during a structured barrier activity, the student will ask for clarification by naming what was unclear (such as "Which one?", "Can you say that slower?", "What does ___ mean?") independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session and monthly in class.
Build on a peer's comment during group discussion
Contingent contributions in group discussion
By the annual IEP review date, during a 15-minute small-group discussion about a classroom text or topic, the student will make a contribution that builds on a peer's comment (such as agreeing and adding a reason, asking a follow-up question, or offering a different idea about the same point) independently at least 3 times per 15-minute small-group discussion, across 3 consecutive observed discussions, as measured by frequency recording collected weekly.
Receptive Language Speech & Language
Answer wh- questions about a passage read aloud
Answering wh- questions about a heard passage
By the annual IEP review date, after listening to a short passage or story read aloud at their listening comprehension level, the student will answer wh- questions about the passage aloud, in writing, or by pointing to a picture choice independently with at least 80% accuracy on questions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Identify and define taught curriculum vocabulary
Curriculum vocabulary
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 taught vocabulary words from the current science or social studies unit, the student will define each taught vocabulary word by stating its category and at least one defining feature independently with at least 80% accuracy on taught curriculum vocabulary words, on 3 of 4 consecutive unit probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected every two weeks.
Expressive Language Speech & Language
Use a target grammatical morpheme in obligatory contexts
Grammatical morphemes in obligatory contexts
By the annual IEP review date, during a structured picture-description task that creates at least 10 obligatory contexts for the target morpheme, the student will produce To choose for the student: the target grammatical morpheme (such as plural -s, regular past tense -ed, or third-person singular -s) in each obligatory context independently with at least 80% accuracy on obligatory contexts, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Produce longer utterances in a language sample
Utterance length
By the annual IEP review date, during a 10-minute play-based or picture-description language sample with the SLP, the student will produce utterances of four or more words using speech, sign, or their communication device independently at least 15 times per 10-minute language sample, across 3 consecutive weekly language samples, as measured by frequency recording collected weekly.
Phonological Processes Speech & Language
Produce /l/ and /r/ in words without gliding
Gliding of liquids
By the annual IEP review date, given 20 picture cards of words that begin with /l/ or /r/, the student will independently produce /l/ or /r/ in each word instead of substituting /w/ or /j/ with at least 80% accuracy on liquid productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Produce "ch" and "j" in words without simplifying them
Deaffrication and affricates
By the annual IEP review date, given 20 picture cards of words containing "ch" or "j" in the initial or final position, the student will independently produce "ch" or "j" in each word instead of substituting a fricative or a stop with at least 80% accuracy on affricate productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
AAC & Augmentative Communication Speech & Language
Hand a picture to a partner to request a preferred item
Picture exchange to request
By the annual IEP review date, given a preferred item in view and a single picture of it within reach, during snack or play, the student will pick up the picture and release it into the partner's open hand independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during snack or play.
Build a two-symbol request such as "I want" plus an item
Two-symbol requests
By the annual IEP review date, given a sentence strip, an "I want" symbol, and pictures of 5 or more available items during snack or play, the student will combine the request symbol and the item symbol and give or show the message to the partner independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during snack or play.
All 13 skills
Every skill with goals for this group, by area. The number is how many of its goals are tagged here.
Speech & Language
- Articulation60
- Voice22
- Speech Fluency (Stuttering)27
- Pragmatic Language33
- Receptive Language28
- Expressive Language29
- Phonological Processes12
- AAC & Augmentative Communication53
- Motor Speech (Apraxia & Dysarthria)22
- Grammar, Syntax & Morphology34
- Vocabulary & Semantics27
- Listening Comprehension & Auditory Processing24
- Narrative Language & Retelling24
Grades 3 to 5 speech & language goals build on foundational skills and begin to use longer tasks, multi-step work, and independence as the target. Measurement shifts toward curriculum-based probes, work samples, and rubrics the student can see.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 195 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 138 goals here
- Frequency & rate trackerCounts a defined behavior during a fixed observation period. Calculates rate when time is recorded.Used by 27 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 30 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 4 goals here
- Duration trackerTimes how long a behavior lasts and compares it with the target duration.Used by 1 goal here
Frequently asked questions
What changes in speech & language goals between the early and upper elementary grades?
Tasks get longer and more independent, and the support level in the goal moves from prompts toward checklists and self-monitoring. The measure often changes too, from direct observation to work samples and probes.
Can an upper elementary goal include self-monitoring?
Yes. Students at this age can check their own work or rate their own behavior, and the goal can measure both the skill and the accuracy of the self-rating.
How do I set a criterion for a grade 3 to 5 student working below grade level?
Use the student's baseline on the measure and expected growth for that measure, not the grade-level benchmark. The goal should be ambitious for the student, as Endrew F. requires, and reachable within the year.
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