OT IEP goal bank
418 templates across 50 skills in 11 areas, led by motor & sensory skills (OT, PT & adapted PE), functional & independence skills, and vision, hearing & assistive technology. Every goal opens in the builder, where ten checks keep it measurable, and links to the data sheet that matches its measure.
418 templates · 50 skills · Pre-K, K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 · 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.
Fine Motor Skills Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Hold a crayon or pencil with a tripod grasp
Pencil and crayon grasp
By the annual IEP review date, during a coloring, drawing, or writing activity lasting at least 5 minutes, the student will hold the writing tool with a tripod grasp (thumb, index, and middle finger) and an open web space for the whole activity independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly observations, as measured by direct observation collected weekly during a classroom writing or coloring activity.
Move small objects from palm to fingertips
In-hand manipulation
By the annual IEP review date, given five coins or counters placed in the palm of the dominant hand, the student will independently move the objects one at a time from the palm to the fingertips and place each in a container without using the other hand or the table in at least 4 of 5 trials, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly during OT or a math manipulatives activity.
Visual-Motor & Visual-Perceptual Skills Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Copy basic shapes from a printed model
Copying basic shapes
By the annual IEP review date, given a printed model of a circle, square, triangle, and cross and a pencil, the student will independently copy each shape so that it is closed, has the correct number of sides and corners, and is recognizable without the model with at least 85% accuracy on shapes copied correctly, on 3 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly during a writing center or OT session.
Copy overlapping and multi-part designs
Copying complex designs
By the annual IEP review date, given a printed model of six two-part designs (overlapping shapes, shapes with internal lines) and a pencil, the student will copy each design so that each part is present, in the correct position relative to the others, and recognizable independently with at least 80% accuracy on designs copied with all parts correctly placed, on 3 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly during OT or a drawing task.
Handwriting Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Copy pre-writing strokes and shapes
Pre-writing strokes
By the annual IEP review date, given a printed model of a vertical line, horizontal line, circle, cross, and square and a crayon, the student will copy each stroke so that it is recognizable and has the correct orientation independently with at least 80% accuracy on strokes copied recognizably, on 3 consecutive weekly work samples, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly during a writing center or OT session.
Write first name with correctly formed letters
Name writing
By the annual IEP review date, given a blank name line at the top of a worksheet, the student will write the first name with each letter formed correctly, in order, and facing the right direction independently with 100% accuracy on letters in the name formed correctly, on 4 of 5 consecutive daily work samples, as measured by work-sample analysis collected daily from the name line on class work, reviewed weekly.
Sensory Processing & Regulation Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Request a sensory break with a card
Requesting a sensory tool or break
By the annual IEP review date, during whole-group lessons or independent work, when the student shows the early signs listed in their sensory plan (such as covering ears, moving more or going quiet), the student will request a sensory break using words, a break card, a sign or a device, and go to the agreed break spot with no adult prompts in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by frequency recording collected daily.
Signal when a room is too loud
Using noise-reducing headphones in loud places
By the annual IEP review date, during loud classroom times such as music, clean-up or free play, the student will signal too loud using a word, sign, symbol card or the ear-cover gesture taught as their signal, and accept the headphones or quiet spot an adult offers with no adult prompts in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by frequency recording collected daily during loud times.
Feeding & Mealtime Skills Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Scoop soft food with a spoon
Spoon and fork use
By the annual IEP review date, during snack or lunch, given a food that holds on a spoon (such as yogurt, applesauce or mashed food) in a bowl, the student will scoop the food with the spoon and bring it to the mouth, keeping most of the food on the spoon with no adult hands on the spoon in at least 7 of 10 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three meals a week.
Spear bite-size pieces with a fork
Spoon and fork use
By the annual IEP review date, during lunch, given bite-size pieces of a firm food such as fruit, cooked vegetables or pasta, the student will spear a piece of food with the fork and bring it to the mouth without the piece falling off, with no adult help in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, on 3 of 4 observed meals, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three meals a week.
Gross Motor Skills Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Sit upright on the carpet or in a chair for group instruction
Sitting posture and endurance
By the annual IEP review date, during a 15-minute carpet-time lesson, the student will sit upright with the trunk off the floor, legs crossed or to the side, and hands free independently for at least 8 minutes, on 4 of 5 consecutive observed lessons, as measured by duration recording collected twice weekly during carpet time.
Carry a lunch tray or materials while walking
Carrying items while walking
By the annual IEP review date, when carrying a lunch tray with food and a drink from the serving line to the table, the student will independently carry the tray to the table with both hands, without spilling or stopping in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly observations, as measured by direct observation collected weekly at lunch.
Play & Social Participation Social-Emotional & Communication
Play with a toy the way it is designed for several minutes
Functional play with toys
By the annual IEP review date, during free play with a set of 3 familiar toys that have a clear action (such as a car, a shape sorter, a toy phone), the student will play with a toy using its designed action (such as rolling the car, putting shapes in the sorter, holding the phone to an ear) independently for at least 5 minutes, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by duration recording collected three times per week during free play.
Take turns in a simple back-and-forth game
Early turn-taking in play
By the annual IEP review date, during a back-and-forth game with an adult (such as rolling a ball, taking turns on a pop-up toy), the student will take their turn when the ball or toy comes to them and send it back or pass it to the partner independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive game sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three times per week.
School-Related Independence Functional & Independence Skills
Open a combination locker and complete a locker stop
Using a combination locker
By the annual IEP review date, at the assigned hallway locker between classes, the student will open the combination lock and complete a locker stop from memory, performing at least 7 of 8 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive observed school days, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected twice weekly.
Take a scheduled break and return to work
Scheduled breaks
By the annual IEP review date, when the scheduled break time shows on the student's schedule during independent work, the student will complete the break routine and return to the assigned work, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive scheduled breaks, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected daily at one scheduled break.
All 50 skills
Every skill with goals for this group, by area. The number is how many of its goals are tagged here.
Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Functional & Independence Skills
Vision, Hearing & Assistive Technology
Social-Emotional & Communication
Executive Function
Behavior & Classroom Expectations
Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Writing
Speech & Language
This goal bank for school-based occupational therapists covers fine motor, handwriting, visual-motor, self-care, and classroom participation skills. Each goal describes a school task the student will perform, measured with accuracy, task-analysis steps, or rubric scores.
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 106 goals here
- Frequency & rate trackerCounts a defined behavior during a fixed observation period. Calculates rate when time is recorded.Used by 22 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 147 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 97 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 8 goals here
- Duration trackerTimes how long a behavior lasts and compares it with the target duration.Used by 32 goals here
- Latency trackerTimes the gap between a cue and the start of the response.Used by 6 goals here
Frequently asked questions
What makes an OT goal educationally relevant?
It describes a task the student needs for school: writing legibly, managing a lunch tray, using scissors, or opening materials. Clinical exercises are supports, not goals.
How are handwriting goals measured?
By a rubric for legibility (letter formation, size, spacing, line placement), by percent of letters formed correctly on a sample, or by words per minute when speed is the concern.
Should sensory strategies be IEP goals?
Strategies the student uses to stay regulated can be written as a self-monitoring or regulation goal when the behavior is observable, such as requesting a movement break. Sensory supports themselves belong in accommodations.
IEP Atlas Pro
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Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.