Quick Tips for Writing Speech and Language IEP Goals

assessment session tips

Writing Preschool IEP Goals Doesn’t Have to Feel Miserable

If you’ve ever sat down to write IEP goals and thought:

“Writing goals is fun!”
“This is my favorite part of the job!”

…you’re definitely not the typical SLP. For most of us, writing preschool speech therapy IEP goals can feel overwhelming, time-consuming, and frustrating.

But here’s the truth: with the right systems and strategies, you can write clear, measurable, and functional IEP goalsfaster and with more confidence. After 12+ years as a preschool speech-language pathologist, I’ve picked up tricks that have made goal writing not only easier but actually impactful for my students.

In this post, you’ll learn five time-saving tips for writing preschool IEP goals—plus, I’ll show you a resource that’s been a total game-changer for me and thousands of other SLPs.

1. Write One Target per Goal

One of the most common mistakes in speech therapy goal writing is cramming multiple targets into one goal.

👉 Example of a messy goal: “The student will produce /s/ and /z/ with 80% accuracy in phrases.”

👉 Cleaner version: “The student will produce /s/ in initial position of words with 80% accuracy.”

Why this matters:

Easier for you to measure (you don’t have to track two sounds at once).
Easier for parents and teachers to understand.
Easier to summarize progress at IEP meetings.

This principle applies to language goals too:

Instead of: “The student will answer who, what, and where questions.”
Try: “The student will answer ‘who’ questions during shared book reading with 80% accuracy.”

2. Use an IEP Goal Template

Having a formula or goal-writing template is one of the fastest ways to save time. Here’s the simple one I recommend:

By [DATE], [STUDENT NAME] will [SKILL] with [PERCENTAGE]% accuracy given [LEVEL OF SUPPORT].

Examples:

By May, Liam will label 15 common classroom objects with 80% accuracy given minimal verbal cues.
By June, Ava will use plural –s in structured activities with 75% accuracy given visual supports.

This format keeps your goals measurable, consistent, and parent-friendly.

3. Focus on Functional Goals, Not Test Scores

It’s tempting to grab goals straight from standardized assessments, but those rarely reflect real-life needs. Instead, think functionally:

What skills will help this child communicate at home?
What language will help in the classroom?
What social skills will help with friendships?

Examples of functional preschool speech therapy IEP goals:

Requesting preferred toys using 2–3 word phrases.
Answering simple WH-questions during storytime.
Taking turns with peers during play for 3–5 exchanges.

ASHA emphasizes that functional goals support participation in daily routines—and that’s what makes the biggest difference.

4. Pair Long-Term and Short-Term Goals

Long-term goals provide the big picture; short-term goals break the skill down into steps. Using both makes your writing clearer for families and teachers.

Examples:

Long-term goal: The student will use age-appropriate grammar in conversation.
Short-term goal: The student will use third-person singular verbs in structured tasks with 80% accuracy.

This way, parents see progress along the way, not just at the annual review.

5. Create and Use an Editable Goal Bank

This is my biggest time-saver: keeping an editable goal bank. Think of it as your library of IEP goals.

Categories to include:

Speech sounds: e.g., “Produce /k/ in initial position of words.”
Receptive language: e.g., “Identify 10 basic concepts (big/little, on/under).”
Expressive language: e.g., “Use present progressive verbs (-ing) in phrases.”
Social communication: e.g., “Maintain a topic for 2 turns during play.”
Play skills: e.g., “Engage in pretend play with peers for 5 minutes.”
WH-questions: e.g., “Answer ‘where’ questions during book reading.”
Early literacy: e.g., “Identify rhyming pairs with 80% accuracy.”

When you have editable goals ready, you’re not reinventing the wheel—you’re customizing, not starting from scratch.

My Favorite Tool for Preschool IEP Goal Writing

After years of tweaking my own system, I created a resource that puts all these strategies into action: my Preschool Goal Bank with 340 Editable Goals.

It includes ready-to-use goals for:

Receptive language
Expressive language
Social communication
Early language skills
Play skills
Classroom participation
Speech sounds
WH-questions
Language processing
Rhyming and literacy
Behaviour

It’s editable, customizable, and reusable across your whole caseload. Thousands of SLPs use it, and the feedback has been incredible.

What SLPs are saying:

“Writing quality goals takes me so much time and energy, but this resource has been a lifesaver. I feel so much better knowing I have this goal bank to rely on.” — Olivia C.

“Even after years of being an SLP, I can still get stuck when it comes to writing goals. This resource saves me precious time and keeps wording consistent.” — Katherine C.

FAQs About Preschool Speech Therapy IEP Goals

How do I write measurable preschool speech therapy goals?
Use clear action verbs (label, request, answer), define accuracy levels, and include conditions (e.g., “with minimal verbal cues”).

Can I use the same goal template for articulation and language?
Yes! A consistent template keeps your writing efficient and easy to understand.

What are functional IEP goals examples?
Requesting items during play, answering WH-questions in the classroom, or producing target sounds in connected speech.

How many IEP goals should a preschooler have?
This depends on the child’s needs and team decision, but 2–5 carefully chosen goals per area is typical.

What’s the difference between benchmarks and short-term objectives?
Short-term objectives are smaller, measurable steps toward the long-term goal. Benchmarks are progress checkpoints that guide instruction.

How often should I update IEP goals?
Progress should be monitored regularly (often quarterly), but goals are typically rewritten at the annual IEP meeting—or sooner if a child masters them quickly.

Final Thoughts

IEP goal writing doesn’t have to feel like the hardest part of your job. With strategies like one target per goal, functional focus, pairing long-term and short-term goals, and using an editable goal bank, you can make preschool IEP goals clear, measurable, and meaningful.

Do you need this IEP goal bank in your life? Head to my store and grab it HERE.

Want to learn more about assessment process? Check out these blog posts!

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