Create Effective IEP Goals Using DIBELS: A Step-by-Step Guide for Special Education Teachers
Create Effective IEP Goals Using DIBELS:
A Step-by-Step Guide
for Special Education Teachers
Step 1: Review DIBELS Data
Administer the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills-8th Edition (DIBELS). DIBELS is a standardized tool for assessing the acquisition of early literacy skills from Kindergarten through 6th Grade.
DIBELS subtests provide benchmarks for various literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, and reading fluency. Begin by reviewing your students' scores to identify areas of need, focusing on subtests where students perform below benchmark levels.
Example: A student struggling with phonemic awareness might have low scores on the Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF) subtest.
Step 2: Define Measurable Goals Aligned with DIBELS Benchmarks
Use the results to identify areas for targeted instruction. If a student is strategic or intensive in one of the DIBELS subtests, focus on corresponding literacy skills and create measurable goals.
Using the DIBELS benchmark goals as a reference, determine a realistic and specific target for the student.
When writing goals, avoid vague language like “improve reading fluency.” Instead, clearly define the skill, expected performance, and timeframe.
Step 3: Ensure Goals Meet Individual Student Needs
Each goal should address the student’s unique area of need as identified by their DIBELS scores. Connect the goal to the specific literacy skill being assessed.
Examples:
Low alphabetic principle scores: Focus on letter-sound correspondence and blending sounds.
Low fluency scores: Target automatic word recognition, reading accuracy, and prosody.
Step 4: Monitor Progress Regularly
DIBELS progress monitoring tools provide frequent snapshots of student performance. Use these tools to evaluate progress and adjust instruction or supports as necessary. Consistent monitoring ensures that goals remain attainable and aligned with student growth.
Step 5: Write Specific and Actionable Goals
IEP SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound trackable, making them effective tools for Special Education Teachers to create targeted learning objectives for their students.
Click HERE to learn more about writing SMART goals for IEPs!
Here are additional examples of SMART goals tailored to DIBELS subtests:
Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF): STUDENT will decode VC, CVC, and CVCC nonsense words with 90% accuracy as measured by the NWF subtest on three consecutive weekly assessments.
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF): STUDENT will read 50 words per minute (wpm) from a grade-level passage with 95% accuracy and appropriate prosody on three consecutive ORF assessments.
Letter Naming Fluency (LNF): STUDENT will name at least 40 upper- and lowercase letters in one minute on the LNF subtest by [date].
Step 6: Support Goals with Evidence-Based Strategies
To effectively support students in achieving their IEP goals, it's essential to incorporate evidence-based instructional strategies tailored to each literacy component:
Phonemic Awareness:
Elkonin Boxes: Utilize these tools to help students segment and blend sounds, enhancing their phonemic awareness.
Sound Manipulation Activities: Engage students in exercises that involve adding, deleting, or substituting sounds within words to strengthen their phonemic skills.
Oral Blending and Segmentation Exercises: Practice these activities to improve students' abilities to blend sounds into words and segment words into individual sounds.
Fluency:
Repeated Reading Strategies: Encourage students to read the same text multiple times to build speed and accuracy.
Fluency Drills: Implement timed reading exercises to help students increase their reading rate.
Paired Reading with Feedback: Pair students with peers or educators to read together, providing immediate feedback to enhance fluency.
Decoding:
Explicit Phonics Instruction: Teach letter-sound relationships systematically to improve decoding skills.
Word-Building Activities: Use activities that allow students to manipulate letters and sounds to form words, reinforcing decoding abilities.
Multisensory Approaches: Incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to strengthen letter-sound associations.
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These resources provide structured frameworks and practical tools to support effective goal writing and progress monitoring, ensuring a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction.
By following this guide, you’ll create targeted, data-driven IEP goals that empower your students to achieve meaningful literacy gains. Download the complete guide for additional templates, examples, and instructional tips!
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