Sample IFSP outcome: answering wh- questions
What it targets: understanding and responding to who, what, and where questions.
Example goal: Given a familiar activity and adult support as needed, the student will answer 'what' and 'where' questions about a familiar picture or routine in 4 out of 5 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, as measured by clinician data, by the next annual review.
How it is measured: clinician or teacher data across sessions, comparing performance to the baseline.
Use early-intervention language for this age
For 12 month old, parents are usually talking about early intervention or an IFSP, not a school IEP. The same functional idea still matters: a goal for answering wh questions should describe what communication looks like, what support is allowed, and where it happens.
Sample goal shape
Given natural routines and appropriate supports, the child will practice answering wh questions for a useful purpose such as requesting, protesting, choosing, commenting, or asking for help across repeated opportunities.
Make the support level explicit
A useful goal states whether the child uses speech, AAC, gestures, visual supports, modeling, choices, wait time, or adult prompts. Without the support level, progress is hard to interpret.
Questions for the team
Ask who will coach the parent, which routines to practice in, how AAC or visual supports will be modeled, and how progress will be measured without pressuring the child.
Related Little Words guides
- IEP SupportTopic hub
- Speech Help for 12-Month-OldsBrowse all 69 articles
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