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Using Task Boxes to Support IEP Goals (Without Worksheets!)

Season #2

Hey friend! In this episode, I’m breaking down one of my favorite ways to support IEP goals — and the best part? No worksheets required. 🙌

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with paperwork, struggling to keep things engaging, or just want a low-prep, hands-on way to meet student goals - this one’s for you.
I’m walking you through exactly how I use task boxes to target fine motor, academic, life skills, and even social-emotional goals - without burning out, and without spending hours laminating.

I’ll also be sharing how my Task Box Library makes this whole process 100x easier, and how I track progress in a simple, realistic way (no massive binders here).

Let’s dive in!

🧠 Inside the Episode, I Talk About:

💬 Why I Use Task Boxes Over Worksheets
Worksheets have their place - but for my students, task boxes offer:

  • Visual, tactile learning

  • Reusability and flexibility

  • Higher engagement and independence

  • Easy ways to level and differentiate

  • Real progress toward IEPs without stress

🎯 How I Use Task Boxes to Target Specific IEP Goals

Here’s how I break it down:

  • ✏️ Fine Motor Goals: Hole punches, tweezers, cutting strips, play dough shapes — all fun, all goal-based.

  • 🔤 Literacy Goals: Letter matching, CVC puzzles, sight word visuals, beginning sound clips.

  • 🔢 Math Goals: Counting bears, ten frames, shape matching, quantity tasks like “candles on the cake.”

  • 🧠 Life Skills Goals: Clean vs dirty sorting, grocery bags, community roles, money skills.

  • 😌 Social-Emotional Goals: Emotion matching, safe vs unsafe, regulation strategies, scenario sorters.

Everything is hands-on, clear, and adaptable - without the daily worksheet shuffle.

📦 Where I Get All These Boxes
Spoiler alert: I don’t make them from scratch every time.

I created my Task Box Library to save my sanity and give myself (and you!) a go-to toolkit for every goal, theme, and season.

Inside the library:

  • 1,100+ pre-made task boxes

  • Organized by skill, theme, and month

  • Visual covers + storage labels

  • Staff training modules

  • Assessment tools + tracking sheets

👉 Check it out here

📋 How I Track Progress (Without Losing My Mind)
I keep it super simple:

  • Use a tracking sheet

  • Record level of independence + accuracy

  • Add quick notes for next steps

  • Keep it consistent - that’s the key

💡 Tips for Getting Started with Task Boxes

  • Start with 5–10 per student

  • Match them to actual IEP goals, not just curriculum

  • Use rainbow photo cases for storage

  • Rotate boxes regularly during routines

  • Reuse and level up instead of always making new ones

🛍️ Resources I Mention:

🧩 The Task Box Library
My done-for-you library of 1,100+ task boxes, organized and ready to go.
👉 Join here

🎒 End of Year Google Drive Bundle
Perfect for finishing strong with themed activities, crafts, and more.
👉 Grab it here

📚 Back to School Google Drive Bundle
Plan ahead and walk into September feeling totally prepped.
👉 Grab it here

🏁 Final Thoughts

Task boxes are such a powerful way to make progress on IEPs - in a way that’s doable, repeatable, and meaningful.
They save time.

They support student independence.
And they let us ditch the worksheets without sacrificing goals.

If you’re ready to streamline your support - the Task Box Library is the easiest way to start.

👉 Join the Task Box Library

👉 Find all my task boxes on TpT here.

📲 Let’s Connect!
Let me know what skills you’re targeting - tag me on Instagram @teachingautism or send me a DM. I love seeing your classroom magic in action!

Thanks for hanging out with me today -
Until next time, stay caffeinated, trust your gut, and go crush those IEP goals. 💛
Nikki