Sample operational definitions

Operational Definitions for Early Childhood 1. Answering Wh questions means that Jane will verbally answer who, what, where, what-doing (verbs/actions) questions. 2. Following basic concept directions means, when requested, Missy will physically respond within 5 seconds. Examples of requests could include quantity (more/less), time (night/day), position (under/over). 3. Increasing vocabulary means that Sarah will show/label items, actions or pictures. 4. Pre-reading means that Jack will turn pages, orient the book correctly, point to pictures on request, labels pictures, retell a pattern story, and tells a story looking at pictures of a book. 5. Pre-math means that Tom will rote count, one to one count, give objects, sort/match objects, color identification, and shape identification. 6. Play means that Emily will engage in pretend and symbolic play (Example: feeding a doll with a spoon, using a block as a phone.) 7. Social emotional means that Pablo will initiate interaction through communication with peers, ask a peer to play, share or exchange materials during play, take turns with others, and verbally expressing feelings. 8. Following directions means that when Stephanie requested will physically respond within 5 seconds to a one or two step direction (example: pick up the block, come to the circle and sit down).

Operational Definitions for Written Language 1. Writing Mechanics: Writing mechanics means that Jennifer starts sentences with a capital letter and capitalizes proper nouns as well as uses correct ending punctuation. Writing mechanics also means that Jennifer uses correct spelling. 2. Written Expression: Written expression means that Sidney uses correct subject-verb agreement and appropriately uses a variety of sentence structures (appropriate for grade- such as simple, compound, complex) 3. Organized Writing: Writing an organized product means that Paul composes a product that contains a main idea, supporting details, and concluding sentences. 4. Writing an organized story means that Mike writes a product in which the event follow a sequential order and contain a beginning, middle, and end. 5. Spacing: Writing with correct spacing means that Karri uses spaces the size of a popsicle stick or a finger between each word. 6. Handwriting: Writing with legibility means that Nicky uses correct letter formation, line placement, and spacing between words. Operational Definitions for Behavior (Social Emotional Learning) 1. Mumbles means that _________ makes inaudible statements. 2. Poor self concept means that __________ makes selfdepreciating remarks like Im dumb/stupid. 3. Aggressive means that _______ hits/kicks/throws objects at peers. 4. Off task means that _________ walks around the room when the teacher is instructing.

5. Noncompliant means that __________ says I dont have to when given a direction. 6. Impulsive means that __________ calls out without raising his/her hand. 7. Poor assignment completion means that __________ does not complete/turn in assignments by due date. 8. Tardy means that ________ is not in his/her seat/classroom when the bell rings.

Operational Definitions for Reading Reading Fluency: 1. Reading fluency means that ________ will orally read at a rate of ____ cwpm on a ____ grade level passage. Reading Comprehension: 2. Reading comprehension means that ___________ understands what he/she is reading as evidenced by ____ correct responses on ___ grade level maze comprehension probes. 3. Reading comprehension means that ___________ understands what he/she is reading as evidenced by ____ out of ___ correct responses on questions about the text. Phonemic Awareness: 4. Phonemic awareness means that ___________ verbally produces ____ phonemes in one minute when orally presented with words of 2 to 3 phonemic segments. (phonemic segmentation fluency).

Phonics: 5. Phonics fluency means that ___________ identifies and verbally produces ____ correct phonetic sounds when presented with

randomly organized upper/lower case alphabet letters. (lettersound fluency) 6. Phonics fluency means that ___________ identifies and verbally produces ____ correct phonetic sounds when presented with cvc-structured nonsense words. (nonsense word fluency) Vocabulary: 7. Vocabulary Decoding: 8. Decoding words means that __________ accurately reads____ words in one minute. (ORF). Math: Number sense means that _____________ has the ability to: Think flexibly about numbers Grasp and compare quantities Break numbers apart and put them together in a variety of ways

Problem solving means that ________________ can understand and successfully solve a problem when the solution is not immediately clear. (The problem can be solved in more than one way). Computation means that ______________ is able to add, subtract, multiply, or divide using numbers to obtain a final correct answer. Basic fact fluency means that ____________ is accurate, efficient, and flexible in single digit number computation. Operational Definitions for OT- related skills Writing Legibly: 1. Writing legibly means that _______ writes letters within words that are recognizable in isolation and that the words are recognizable in isolation (outside their contextual meaning). Eating independently:

2. Eating independently means that _______ is staying in designated seat, interacting with peers without need for teacher intervention, finger feeding snack foods, and drinking from personal adapted cup without tipping over. Operational Definitions for PT related skills Independently walking means ________ can move from one location to another as part of a meaningful activity with or without a assistive device

Transfer means ____________ can move from one position to another as part of a meaningful activity Operational Definitions for Math Number sense means that _____________ has the ability to: Think flexibly about numbers Grasp and compare quantities Break numbers apart and put them together in a variety of ways

Problem solving means that ________________ can understand and successfully solve a problem when the solution is not immediately clear. (The problem can be solved in more than one way). Computation means that ______________ is able to add, subtract, multiply, or divide using numbers to obtain a final correct answer. Basic fact fluency means that ____________ is accurate, efficient, and flexible in single digit number computation.