Spelling IEP goals for grades 3 to 5
37 of the spelling templates in the library are written for grades 3 to 5. Each opens in the builder, where the grade band is a starting point and the baseline comes from your own assessment.
37 templates · 1 skill · 3–5 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Spelling Writing
Spell dictated short-vowel words
Short-vowel words with blends and digraphs
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 dictated unpracticed one-syllable short-vowel words with consonant blends and digraphs, the student will spell each dictated word in writing independently with at least 80% accuracy on dictated words, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by curriculum-based measurement probes collected weekly.
Spell words with silent-e, vowel-team, and r-controlled patterns
Long-vowel and r-controlled patterns
By the annual IEP review date, given 15 dictated unpracticed one-syllable words with silent-e, vowel-team, and r-controlled vowel patterns, the student will spell each dictated target word in writing independently with at least 80% accuracy on target words, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by curriculum-based measurement probes collected weekly.
Spell irregular high-frequency words
Irregular high-frequency words
By the annual IEP review date, given 20 irregular high-frequency words from the student's current instructional list, dictated in short sentences, the student will spell each target word in writing independently with at least 90% accuracy on irregular high-frequency words, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Spell words with suffixes and spelling-change rules
Suffixes and spelling-change rules
By the annual IEP review date, given 15 dictated unpracticed words that require adding -ed, -ing, -er, or -est to a base word, the student will spell each word by applying the drop-e, double-the-consonant, and change-y-to-i rules where needed independently with at least 80% accuracy on suffixed words, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by curriculum-based measurement probes collected weekly.
Spell words correctly in self-composed writing
Spelling accuracy in independent writing
By the annual IEP review date, in handwritten independent writing samples of at least 50 words, the student will spell words in self-composed writing independently with at least 85% accuracy on words written, across 3 consecutive biweekly writing samples, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Proofread for spelling with a spell-checker or word list
Spelling self-check with tools
By the annual IEP review date, before turning in a typed writing assignment with spell-check and word prediction available, the student will proofread for spelling by marking uncertain words and correcting them with a spell-checker, word prediction, or a word list independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks of data, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Grades 3 to 5 spelling 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 31 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 3 goals here
- Frequency & rate trackerCounts a defined behavior during a fixed observation period. Calculates rate when time is recorded.Used by 3 goals here
Frequently asked questions
What changes in spelling 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.
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.