Key Takeaways

• Problem-solving is a critical life skill that impacts students’ academic success, social interactions, and overall well-being.
• Evidence-based strategies, including explicit instruction, role-playing, and guided decision-making, can enhance problem-solving skills.
• Example IEP goals provided in this guide can help educators create individualized plans that support student success.

Problem-solving is an essential skill that helps students navigate academic challenges, social interactions, and everyday life situations. For students with disabilities, developing strong problem-solving abilities can support their independence, confidence, and overall success. That’s why setting clear, structured IEP goals focused on problem-solving is critical.

This guide explores how educators can create effective, measurable IEP goals to strengthen students’ problem-solving skills. From identifying challenges to implementing solutions, we’ll cover evidence-based strategies, examples of SMART goals, and practical ways to track progress. Whether you’re a teacher, specialist, or caregiver, this resource will help you support students in developing the skills they need to tackle problems with confidence.

What are Problem-Solving Skills?

Problem-solving is the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve challenges in everyday situations. It requires cognitive flexibility, logical reasoning, and social-emotional regulation. For students, problem-solving impacts:

• Academic success (e.g., applying math concepts, analyzing texts, completing projects)
• Social interactions (e.g., resolving conflicts, making decisions in group settings)
• Emotional well-being (e.g., managing frustration, adapting to challenges)

Students with difficulty in problem-solving may struggle to navigate social conflicts, make independent decisions, or apply learned skills across different settings.

Strategies for Building Problem-Solving Skills

For students with IEPs, targeted strategies can provide the structure and support they need to approach problems thoughtfully and independently. By incorporating explicit instruction, hands-on practice, and real-world application, educators can help students strengthen their ability to analyze situations, make informed decisions, and adapt to new challenges. 

Below are effective strategies for building problem-solving skills in a way that is engaging, accessible, and supportive of diverse learning needs.

1. Teach Explicit Problem-Solving Steps

• Use a structured approach (e.g., Identify, Plan, Solve, Reflect)
• Provide direct instruction with modeling and guided practice

2. Incorporate Role-Playing and Social Scenarios

• Engage students in real-life problem-solving scenarios through role-playing and video modeling
• Practice handling social conflicts, academic challenges, and daily decision-making

Here’s an example video modeling lesson that helps students understand and practice problem-solving steps:

3. Use Visual Supports

• Provide checklists, cue cards, and graphic organizers to reinforce strategies
• Use step-by-step guides to help students break down complex problems

4. Encourage Peer Collaboration and Group Activities

• Implement cooperative learning projects to build teamwork and decision-making skills
• Use structured turn-taking and discussion strategies to foster shared problem-solving

5. Reinforce and Generalize Skills

• Provide real-world practice opportunities in different settings
• Use positive reinforcement and self-reflection exercises

What Are IEP Goals?

Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals are specific, measurable objectives designed to help students with disabilities develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. These goals are outlined in a student’s IEP—a legally binding document that details the specialized instruction, services, and accommodations they will receive.

IEP goals target a range of developmental areas, including academics, communication, social skills, and behavior. When it comes to problem-solving skills, IEP goals focus on helping students identify challenges, evaluate possible solutions, and apply critical thinking strategies in real-life situations. 

These goals might include improving decision-making, developing self-regulation strategies, or learning how to break down complex problems into manageable steps. By tailoring these objectives to a student’s unique needs, educators can provide the right support to build confidence and foster independence.

How to Set IEP Goals for Problem-Solving Skills

Developing and implementing IEP goals for problem-solving requires a structured, collaborative approach to ensure student success.

Step 1: Collaborate with Key Stakeholders

IEP goals should be developed with input from teachers, parents, therapists, and the student (when appropriate). A multidisciplinary approach ensures goals are personalized and address the student’s unique needs.

Step 2: Assess Current Problem-Solving Skills

Before setting goals, assess the student’s:

• Ability to identify and articulate problems
• Strategies used to address conflicts
• Decision-making and reasoning skills
• Ability to apply solutions across different situations

Step 3: Set SMART IEP Goals

IEP goals should follow the SMART framework:

• Specific: Clearly define the skill to be developed.
• Measurable: Set criteria for tracking progress.
• Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic given the student’s abilities.
• Relevant: Align with the student’s social and academic needs.
• Time-Bound: Establish a timeframe for achieving the goal.

Example SMART Goal: “The student will identify a problem, generate at least two possible solutions, and evaluate the best option in 4 out of 5 structured opportunities.”

Step 4: Implement Evidence-Based Strategies to Support Goals

• Teach explicit problem-solving steps (Identify, Analyze, Brainstorm, Evaluate, Implement, Reflect)
• Use guided practice, such as role-playing scenarios and think-aloud strategies
• Provide visual supports, such as problem-solving checklists and flowcharts
• Encourage peer collaboration through structured group activities

Step 5: Monitor Progress and Adjust Goals

• Collect quantitative and qualitative data through teacher observations, self-assessments, and structured tasks.
• Track success rates across different environments (e.g., classroom, social settings, group work).
• If progress is slow, modify supports (e.g., additional modeling, smaller steps, increased reinforcement).

Step 6: Support Parents and Caregivers

• Provide home practice activities to reinforce problem-solving strategies.
• Share progress updates and recommendations for continued skill development.
• Encourage consistent language and strategies across school and home environments.

Example IEP Goals for Problem-Solving Skills

Setting clear, measurable IEP goals for problem-solving helps students develop the critical thinking and decision-making skills they need for academic, social, and everyday success. Below are example goals with specific objectives to guide skill development and track progress effectively.

Goal 1: Identifying and Classifying Problems

Objective 1: The student will differentiate between small, medium, and big problems and respond appropriately in 80% of observed situations.

Objective 2: The student will identify the appropriate level of urgency for a problem in 4 out of 5 structured activities.

Objective 3: The student will verbalize or use a visual aid to explain why a problem is small, medium, or big in 80% of opportunities.

For an effective and engaging intervention, try the Problem-Solving Quiz Show from Everyday Speech: Play it online with your students here!

Goal 2: Generating Multiple Solutions

Objective 1: The student will generate at least three possible solutions to a given problem in 4 out of 5 structured activities.

Objective 2: The student will describe potential outcomes for each solution in 75% of structured problem-solving tasks.

Objective 3: The student will ask for help or seek resources when struggling to generate possible solutions in 80% of observed situations.

Goal 3: Evaluating Solutions and Making Decisions

Objective 1: The student will analyze the pros and cons of at least two possible solutions before making a decision in 80% of observed situations.

Objective 2: The student will select the best solution based on logical reasoning and expected outcomes in 4 out of 5 structured activities.

Objective 3: The student will reflect on the effectiveness of their chosen solution and make adjustments when needed in 75% of opportunities.

Here’s an example video modeling lesson that helps students understand and practice problem-solving steps:

Goal 4: Applying Problem-Solving Steps Independently

Objective 1: The student will complete all steps of a problem-solving model with minimal prompting in 75% of opportunities.

Objective 2: The student will use a checklist, visual support, or self-monitoring strategy to guide their problem-solving process in 80% of observed situations.

Objective 3: The student will describe the steps they used to solve a problem in 4 out of 5 opportunities.

Goal 5: Using Problem-Solving Strategies in Social Situations

Objective 1: The student will apply problem-solving strategies to resolve peer conflicts appropriately in 4 out of 5 opportunities.

Objective 2: The student will use calming strategies before attempting to solve a social problem in 75% of observed interactions.

Objective 3: The student will engage in role-playing scenarios to practice problem-solving in social settings at least once per week.

Here’s an example video modeling lesson that helps students understand how to solve conflicts with friends:

Goal 6: Demonstrating Self-Reflection in Problem-Solving

Objective 1: The student will reflect on past problem-solving experiences and identify one strength and one area for growth in 80% of observed reflections.

Objective 2: The student will record their problem-solving experiences in a journal or log and review progress biweekly with a teacher or support staff.

Objective 3: The student will articulate how a different strategy could have been used to solve a past problem in 4 out of 5 structured discussions.

Bonus IEP Resource

Everyday Speech is a no-prep social skills curriculum that teaches skills like self-regulation, resilience, and problem-solving through evidence-baed video modeling. Here is an example video modeling lesson from our curriculum: Understanding My IEP.

The video, developed for middle and high school students, guides students through understanding their IEP, highlighting its purpose, components, and the importance of self-advocacy in customizing their educational experience: 

Supporting students in developing problem-solving skills is crucial for their academic, social, and emotional success. By setting targeted, measurable IEP goals and implementing evidence-based strategies, educators can provide structured guidance to help students build confidence in their decision-making abilities.

With the right interventions and consistent support, students can strengthen their problem-solving skills and apply them effectively in real-world situations, fostering greater independence and success.