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Reading Fluency IEP goals

Reading fluency goals measure how accurately, quickly and expressively a student reads connected text. Words correct per minute on standardized passages gives a stable, graphable data stream, and pairing rate with an accuracy floor keeps the goal from rewarding fast guessing.

Common measurability defects

  • Stating a WCPM target without naming the passage level or probe source, so the reader cannot tell whether 90 WCPM is a gain or a drop.
  • Leaving out an accuracy criterion, which lets a student hit the rate target while misreading one word in ten.
  • Using a single cold read as the evidence of mastery instead of the median of 3 passages or a set of consecutive probes.
  1. 01Grades K-2SLDCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.4.B

    Baseline

    In 1st grade, reads 18 words correct per minute (WCPM) with 82% accuracy on 1st-grade DIBELS 8 Oral Reading Fluency passages (median of 3). Sounds out most words letter by letter.

    Annual goal

    By [annual review date], when given an unpracticed 1st-grade DIBELS 8 ORF passage, the student will read aloud at least 52 words correct per minute with 95% accuracy or better on 3 consecutive biweekly probes.

    Measured by: Biweekly DIBELS 8 ORF progress-monitoring passages at 1st-grade level, median of 3 passages per session, administered by the special education teacher. WCPM and accuracy graphed and reported each grading period.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will read 28 WCPM with 88% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will read 38 WCPM with 91% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will read 46 WCPM with 93% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
  2. 02Grades K-2OHICCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4.B

    Baseline

    In 2nd grade, reads 42 WCPM with 88% accuracy on 2nd-grade DIBELS 8 ORF passages (median of 3). Skips lines and loses place after about 30 seconds of reading.

    Annual goal

    By [annual review date], when given an unpracticed 2nd-grade DIBELS 8 ORF passage and a reading guide strip, the student will read aloud at least 85 words correct per minute with 96% accuracy or better on 3 consecutive biweekly probes.

    Measured by: Biweekly DIBELS 8 ORF passages at 2nd-grade level, median of 3, administered by the special education teacher. Line skips are tallied on each probe. Data graphed and reported to parents each grading period.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will read 55 WCPM with 91% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will read 67 WCPM with 93% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will read 77 WCPM with 95% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
  3. 03Grades 3-5SLDCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4.B

    Baseline

    In 3rd grade, reads 54 WCPM with 91% accuracy on 3rd-grade Acadience Reading ORF passages (median of 3). Self-corrects 1 of every 6 errors.

    Annual goal

    By [annual review date], when given an unpracticed 3rd-grade Acadience Reading ORF passage, the student will read aloud at least 95 words correct per minute with 97% accuracy or better on 3 consecutive biweekly probes.

    Measured by: Biweekly Acadience Reading ORF progress-monitoring passages at 3rd-grade level, median of 3, administered by the special education teacher. WCPM and accuracy graphed against the aimline. Four consecutive points below the aimline trigger an instructional change.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will read 66 WCPM with 93% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will read 78 WCPM with 95% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will read 88 WCPM with 96% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
  4. 04Grades 3-5AutismCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.B

    Baseline

    In 5th grade, reads 112 WCPM with 97% accuracy on 5th-grade DIBELS 8 ORF passages, but reads in a flat, word-by-word style that ignores punctuation. Scores Level 1 of 4 on the NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale on 4 of 4 rated readings.

    Annual goal

    By [annual review date], after one practice read of an unfamiliar 5th-grade passage, the student will read the passage aloud with phrasing and expression that pauses at punctuation and changes tone for dialogue, scoring Level 3 or higher on the NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale on 4 of 5 consecutive weekly ratings, while maintaining at least 110 WCPM.

    Measured by: Weekly audio-recorded passage reading rated on the 4-level NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale by the special education teacher, with a second rater scoring 1 in 4 recordings for agreement. Monthly DIBELS 8 ORF to confirm rate is maintained.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will pause at end punctuation in 8 of 10 sentences and score Level 2 on 3 of 5 weekly ratings.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will score Level 2 or higher on 5 of 5 consecutive weekly ratings.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will score Level 3 on 3 of 5 consecutive weekly ratings.
  5. 05Grades 6-8SLDCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.B

    Baseline

    In 7th grade, reads 84 WCPM with 93% accuracy on 5th-grade aimswebPlus Oral Reading Fluency passages (median of 3). Reads 61 WCPM on 7th-grade passages.

    Annual goal

    Within 36 instructional weeks, when given an unpracticed 5th-grade aimswebPlus ORF passage, the student will read aloud at least 120 words correct per minute with 97% accuracy or better on 3 consecutive biweekly probes.

    Measured by: Biweekly aimswebPlus ORF progress-monitoring passages at 5th-grade level, median of 3, administered by the special education teacher. A 7th-grade passage is read once each grading period to track transfer. All data graphed and reported to parents.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will read 94 WCPM with 94% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will read 104 WCPM with 95% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will read 113 WCPM with 96% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive biweekly probes.
  6. 06Grades 9-12ID

    Baseline

    In 10th grade, reads 48 WCPM with 90% accuracy on 2nd-grade-level passages and 31 WCPM with 84% accuracy on functional texts (bus schedules, job task cards, recipes) written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade level.

    Annual goal

    By [annual review date], when given an unpracticed 150-word functional text (task card, recipe, notice or schedule) written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade readability level, the student will read it aloud at 60 words correct per minute with 95% accuracy or better on 3 consecutive biweekly probes.

    Measured by: Biweekly functional-text fluency probes from a bank of 40 leveled community and workplace texts, administered by the special education teacher or job coach. WCPM and accuracy graphed and reported each grading period.

    Short-term objectives

    1. By the end of the first grading period, the student will read functional texts at 40 WCPM with 88% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive probes.
    2. By the end of the second grading period, the student will read functional texts at 48 WCPM with 91% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive probes.
    3. By the end of the third grading period, the student will read functional texts at 54 WCPM with 93% accuracy on 2 of 3 consecutive probes.
Phonics & DecodingReading ComprehensionVocabularyWritten ExpressionSpellingMath CalculationMath Problem SolvingNumber Sense

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