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Motor Speech (Apraxia & Dysarthria) IEP goals

Motor speech goals are often written for students with childhood apraxia of speech or dysarthria, where the challenge is planning or carrying out the movements for speech. Good goals name the syllable shape or word level, the cue level, and the listener, and they include a way to repair when the student is not understood, such as AAC or gesture. Measure productions with accuracy across repeated trials, real repairs with opportunities, and intelligibility or prosody with a rubric.

30 templates · How we write and review goals

Sample motor speech (apraxia & dysarthria) goals

Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline (how templates are made).

  • PK, K-2Percent accuracy

    Say CV words such as me and go

    CV syllable shapes

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 functional consonant-vowel words from the student's practice set, presented in random order with a picture or object for each, the student will say each consonant-vowel word with the correct consonant and vowel in the correct order independently with at least 70% accuracy on consonant-vowel word productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected each therapy session.

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  • PK, K-2Percent accuracy

    Keep vowels clear in simple words

    Vowel accuracy

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 one-syllable practice words that contrast 3 target vowels (such as "bee", "ba", "boo"), in random order with pictures, the student will say each word with the target vowel clear enough that the listener can tell which word was said independently with at least 75% accuracy on target vowels in practice words, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected each therapy session.

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  • PK, K-2Percent accuracy

    Say two-syllable words like mama and bye-bye

    CVCV reduplicated words

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 reduplicated two-syllable words (such as "mama", "booboo", "bye-bye") presented with pictures in random order, the student will say both syllables of each word with the same consonant and vowel and an even rhythm independently with at least 80% accuracy on reduplicated two-syllable word productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected each therapy session.

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  • PK, K-2, 3-5Percent accuracy

    Say core words the same way each time

    Consistency across repeated productions

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 high-use core words, each named 3 times in a row from a picture, in a session with no model, the student will say each core word the same way on all 3 tries, with the same sounds and syllables each time independently with at least 70% accuracy on core words said the same way on all 3 tries, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.

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  • PK, K-2Opportunities

    Pair a sign with a spoken word

    Multimodal supports: sign with speech

    By the annual IEP review date, during snack and play routines with 8 to 10 target words that have a taught sign (such as more, eat, help, all done, play), the student will use the taught sign together with a spoken attempt at the word to request or comment independently in at least 7 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected 3 times per week.

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  • PK, K-2Opportunities

    Use practiced words during snack and play

    Carryover of practiced words

    By the annual IEP review date, during preschool snack, centers, or play, when an opportunity for one of 6 to 8 practiced words comes up naturally, the student will say the practiced word with its practiced syllable shape to request, name, or comment independently in at least 6 of 10 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected 3 times per week.

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  • PK, K-2Opportunities

    Show or sign a word when not understood

    Repair with gesture or sign

    By the annual IEP review date, during play, snack, or centers, when an adult or peer does not understand the student's word and says "Show me" or "I didn't get that", the student will repair the message by pointing to or showing the item, using a sign or gesture, or touching a picture independently in at least 6 of 8 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected 3 times per week.

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  • PK, K-2Percent accuracy

    Produce vowel-consonant words like up and eat

    VC syllable shapes

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 functional vowel-consonant words (such as "up", "eat", "in", "off"), presented in random order with pictures or actions, the student will say each vowel-consonant word with the vowel and the final consonant both present independently with at least 70% accuracy on vowel-consonant word productions, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected each therapy session.

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  • K-2, PK, 3-5Percent accuracy

    Close CVC words with the final sound

    CVC syllable shapes

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 untrained consonant-vowel-consonant words with sounds from the student's inventory, presented in random order with pictures, the student will say each word with the first consonant, vowel, and final consonant all correct and in order independently with at least 70% accuracy on consonant-vowel-consonant word productions, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly, with practice data each session.

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  • K-2, PKPercent accuracy

    Change sounds between syllables in CVCV words

    CVCV words with different syllables

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 untrained two-syllable words with a different consonant or vowel in each syllable, presented in random order with pictures, the student will say both syllables with their own consonant and vowel in the correct order independently with at least 65% accuracy on two-syllable word productions, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.

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  • K-2, 3-5Percent accuracy

    Put the stress on the right syllable

    Lexical stress

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 untrained two-syllable words with strong-weak stress, presented in random order with pictures, the student will say each word with the stronger syllable louder, longer, or higher than the weaker one independently with at least 75% accuracy on words with the correct stress pattern, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected each therapy session.

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  • K-2, 3-5Percent accuracy

    Sequence sounds in three-syllable words

    Sequencing three-syllable words

    By the annual IEP review date, given 10 untrained three-syllable words presented in random order with pictures, the student will say all three syllables in the correct order with the correct sounds independently with at least 60% accuracy on three-syllable word productions, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.

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18 more motor speech (apraxia & dysarthria) templates

Each opens in the builder with its sample goal, notes, objectives, and data sheet.

What motor speech (apraxia & dysarthria) involves

  • Producing CV, CVC, and CVCV syllable shapes in real words
  • Saying the same word the same way across repeated trials
  • Sequencing sounds and syllables in multisyllabic words
  • Using lexical stress and natural prosody in words and phrases
  • Being understood in phrases by unfamiliar listeners, with rate control and breath support
  • Switching to AAC, gesture, or spelling when a listener does not understand

Baseline and measurement considerations

  • Build the baseline from a set word list at the target syllable shape, with productions scored as fully correct or not, before any cueing.
  • Score consistency across repeated trials of the same word, since varied errors on the same word are part of the picture.
  • Use random practice word lists for probes, not the last words drilled, so data show motor planning and not short-term imitation.
  • Rate intelligibility with a short rubric scored by a listener who does not know the student, such as a staff member from another room.
  • The SLP takes most data; teachers and families can log repairs, where the student switches mode after not being understood.

Progress-monitoring methods used in these templates

  • Opportunity (trial) recording: Each planned or naturally occurring opportunity is recorded as correct/independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.
  • Direct observation: An adult observes and records the defined behavior during a specified activity.
  • Work-sample analysis: Scoring completed student work (permanent products) against a defined answer key or checklist.
  • Rubric scoring: Work or performance is scored against written criteria with defined score levels.

How each measure works

Matching data sheets

Each template links to a blank sheet built for its measure. You can also download these sheets on their own:

  • Accuracy tracker: Number correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.
  • Opportunity tracker: Records each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.
  • Rubric tracker: Scores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.

Common mistakes when writing motor speech (apraxia & dysarthria) goals

  • Writing the goal as single sounds when the need is moving between sounds; motor speech goals target syllable shapes and words.
  • Probing only with words practiced that session, which overstates progress.
  • Holding back AAC until speech improves; AAC supports communication now and does not block speech growth.
  • Using a percent of sounds correct when the student's family wants to know if strangers understand; add an intelligibility rubric.
  • Naming the diagnosis in the goal; the goal names what the student will say and how it is measured.

Frequently asked questions

How do I write an IEP goal for apraxia of speech?

Choose a syllable shape or word level just above what the student says now, such as CVCV words, and name the cue level. For example: given 10 untrained CVCV words, the student will say each with correct sounds and syllable sequence with at least 70% accuracy after one model. Add a separate goal for repairing with AAC or gesture.

What is a good dysarthria goal for an older student?

Phrase-level intelligibility with an unfamiliar listener, using a strategy such as slowing rate or taking a breath before speaking, fits well. Score it with a rubric and use age-matched phrases from class or work.

How often should I collect data on motor speech goals?

The SLP usually probes every session or every week with an untrained word list. Intelligibility ratings can be done monthly with a new listener each time.

Should a student with motor speech needs also have an AAC goal?

Often yes, when the student is hard to understand in daily life. AAC or gesture gives the student a way to get the message across while speech practice continues, and the two goals support each other.

References

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.