Special Education Flashcards
Reading Levels
95%-100% - Independent Level
90%-95% - Instructional Level
Less than 90% - Frustration Level
Dyscalculia
-Defines a range of difficulties in math
-Inability to understand numbers’ meaning, measurements, patterns, mathematical terms and the application of mathematical principles
What are the early cues of dyscalculia?
A young child’s inability to group items by size or color, recognize patterns or understand the meaning of order of numbers
Dysgraphia
-Cannot manage the physical account of writing
-Highly intelligent and able to express themselves cogently, but they have extreme difficulty holding a writing implement and shaping letters
Dyslexic readers use ___ side of the brain
Non-dyslexics use the ___ side of the brain
Both sides
Left side
Increased, persistent thirst from dry cottony mouth (lasts for a few weeks)
Side effect of antidepressant
Diabetic hypoglycemia
-Also known as insulin reaction
-Occurs when blood sugar falls to a very low level
-It is important to treat it quickly or the person could faint
What are the symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia?
Irritable, pale, trembling, covered in fine sweat, acts confused
Autism Spectrum Disorder is also known as:
Pervasive Spectrum Disorder (PSD)
What is language load?
-The number of unrecognizable words an ELL encounters when reading or listening
-One of the barriers ELLs face
What are some strategies that can help lighten language load?
Rephrasing, dividing complex sentences into smaller units and teaching essential vocabulary before the student begins reading
When working with ELLs, teachers should…
-Avoid idioms and slang
-Involve students in hands-on activities like group reading and language play to make experiences more meaningful and more immediate
-Reference students’ prior knowledge
-Speak slowly
Word recognition
-Process of identifying a word’s meaning and pronunciation
-Especially important for ELLs and students with reading disabilities
Assessing silent reading fluency can be accomplished best by…
Giving a 3 minute test of contextual reading fluency four times a year
Explicit instruction includes:
-Clarifying the goal
-Modeling strategies and offering explanations geared to a student’s level of understanding
-Well-organized teaching that offers simple steps and frequent references to previously learned material
What is an ORF?
-Oral Reading Fluency Assessment
-Also called a curriculum based measurement
-1-minute assessment in which the student reads a grade level text aloud and errors are noted
What are the 4 types of Bilingual Special Education Instructional Delivery Models?
- Bilingual Support Model
- Coordinated Services Model
- Integrated Bilingual Special Ed
- Bilingual Special Ed Model
What is the Bilingual Support Model?
Teams bilingual para with English speaking special educators to assist with IEP implementation
What is the Coordinated Services Model?
Consists of English speaking special ed teacher and bilingual educator
What is Integrated Bilingual Special Ed?
Bilingual special education teachers give instruction in native language and ESL training and transition assistance as proficiency gained
What is the Bilingual Special Ed Model?
Integrates all school personnel who focus on bilingual special education instruction
A Cloze Test evaluates a student’s:
-Understanding of context and vocabulary
-Presents a reader with a text in which certain words are blocked out
-The reader must determine missing words based on context clues
-In order to supply the words, the reader must already know them
What is the best way for 1st/2nd graders to learn sight words?
-Memorize lists by using techniques like songs, mnemonic devices, and other fun activities
-Sight words cannot be decoded
Phonological awareness activities are:
Oral
What is phonological awareness?
The understanding of the sound within a spoken word
The ability to use tactics to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words, know words have multiple meanings, and use prior knowledge to figure out word meaning are elements of this:
-Word-recognition
-Include strategies to decode unfamiliar words
-Consider alternate word meanings to decode a text and the ability to apply prior knowledge to determine a word’s meaning
Emergent Writers pass through the following stages:
- Scripting the end-sound to a word
- Leaving space between words
- Writing from top left to top right and from top to bottom of the page
Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) depends upon which two practices?
Cooperative learning and reading comprehension
What is a Maze test (type of cloze test)?
Offers a number of possible answers and the student must read very carefully in order to make the correct selection
The 4 required activities described by the Assistive Technology Act are:
- Public awareness program
- Coordinating activities among state agencies
- Technical assistance and training
- Outreach to underrepresented and rural populations
What disability is degenerative and often leads to death in adolescence or early adulthood?
Muscular dystrophy
Compared with children without hearing loss, children born with hearing loss are more likely to experience significant delays in what developmental domains?
Language
What fine-motor skills do children typically develop last?
Cutting shapes with scissors
Compared with students with mild intellectual disabilities, students with learning disabilities are more likely to have:
One or more specific cognitive difficulties rather than global delays
Students with mild intellectual disabilities tend to exhibit what cognitive characteristics?
Difficulty applying newly learned skills to a different context
What gross-motor skills do children typically develop last?
Jumping forward and taking off and landing with two feet
What student is demonstrating characteristics most often associated with an emotional impairment?
A second-grade student who frequently complains of a stomach ache in the morning before going to school
What student is demonstrating characteristics most often associated with autism spectrum disorder?
A kindergarten student who does not engage in pretend play, exclusively talks about astronomy, and misinterprets social cues
What is generally the most advanced linguistic skill a typical eight-year-old can be expected to demonstrate?
Telling a story that includes cause-and-effect relationships
What social/emotional abilities typically appear for the first time during adolescence?
Understanding that the perspective of the other may be influenced by their background or circumstances
What student is demonstrating characteristics most often associated with a pragmatic language disorder?
A fourth-grader who has difficulty understanding conversational turn taking
What symptoms are most characterized by an absence seizure?
Staring blankly for a brief time
A student has a disability that impairs both his understanding of spatial relationships and his perceptual-motor skills. What math tasks would likely pose the greatest difficulty to this student?
Constructing congruent geometric shapes on graph papers
A middle school student with learning disabilities in reading and writing and ADHD recently began taking a prescribed stimulant medication. What behavioral changes should the student’s special education teacher expect to observe?
Increased ability to focus on academic tasks
A student with a mild intellectual disability and an emotional impairment frequently becomes physically aggressive when frustrated. The most effective way for the student’s family to support her social/emotional development would be to:
Implement a behavior management strategy at home that compliments her school behavioral plan
A student with short-term memory deficits would likely have the most difficulty with what task?
Following multi-step oral directions
A special educator is meeting with the parents and siblings of a student who will begin receiving special education services because of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), orthopedic impairment, and specific learning disabilities. To help support this student’s ongoing learning and development, it would be most appropriate for the special educator to encourage the family to:
Communicate openly among themselves about the student’s strengths and needs
A sixth-grade student with a learning disability in reading has difficulty understanding the meaning of words. This student is likely to experience the most difficulty with what activity?
Summarizing a passage from a chapter book
A special educator should be aware that anticonvulsant medications used to control seizure disorder most often have what side effect?
Drowsiness
A student who has spina bifida and wears orthoses must be monitored closely for what?
Pressure sores
Parents/guardians who consistently provide encouragement and feedback to their developing child are most likely to have an influence on the child’s ability to:
Engage enthusiastically in learning tasks
A special education teacher in a resource room has several students with specific learning disabilities in math who are frequently overheard complaining, “Why should we try to learn this stuff when we’ll never use it?” The SPED teacher decides to develop a community-based activity with a local store owner in which students practice buying and selling merchandise. What best describes the role this type of activity plays in student development?
Facilitating learning through an authentic experience
A kindergartner with type 1 diabetes will be attending a general education class. The student’s teacher should be aware of what common indicators of hyperglycemia?
Increased thirst and frequent urination
As part of a three-year-reevaluation, the IEP team would like to determine a student’s progress in reading, writing, and math. What would be the most appropriate assessment tool for this purpose?
An individually administered standardized achievement test
A SPED teacher is preparing to conduct an initial evaluation of an English language learner. TO minimize bias effectively, the teacher should administer:
Assorted formal and informal tests in the student’s primary language
A SPED teacher is preparing to conduct an evaluation of a kindergarten student who has fragile X syndrome. An adaptive behavior assessment would provide the teacher with information about:
The student’s self-help and social skills
A SPED teacher would like to identify where a student needs instructional help in learning to solve math word problems. The most effective strategy for the teacher to use would be:
Conduct a math task analysis
A SPED teacher will be participating in a functional behavior assessment (FBA) of a student who has recently become physically disruptive in class. What is the first step in conducting an FBA?
Describe the student’s behavior in concise, observation-based terms
A portfolio assessment primarily provides an IEP team with documentation of:
A student’s strengths and evidence of progress that has occurred over time
An IEP team is preparing to conduct a three-year reevaluation of a high school student with learning disabilities and ADHD. What strategy would likely be the most effective when administering a standardized achievement test to this student?
Repeating oral directions as needed and providing frequent breaks during testing sessions
What describes a limitation of using a standardized test with a student who has a learning disability?
It is difficult to use the test results to develop effective instructional strategies
A SPED teacher is administering an initial individual achievement test to a second-grade student. What best explains why the teacher should discontinue a subtest after a student makes four consecutive errors?
A ceiling level as been reached
A SPED teacher is preparing to assess the academic abilities and skills of an eighth-grade student who has spastic cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. What would likely be the most appropriate testing accommodation for this student?
Incorporating the student’s current assistive technologies for oral and written communication
A SPED teacher in an elementary school has been asked to assess a kindergarten student as part of the eligibility process for special education services. At the beginning of the first testing session, the teacher engages the student in conversation while they explore various objects in the room. The teacher’s behavior best illustrates what test administration procedures?
Establishing rapport
A SPED teacher who co-teaches in a general education class would have what responsibilities?
Ensuring that the students in the class who have IEPs make adequate progress toward their individual goals
A student with developmental delays and visual impairment is entering kindergarten. This student’s IEP must include a statement saying that the student will be provided with:
Assistive technology as needed in order to participate in the general education curriculum
The primary role of a SPED teacher in developing a behavioral intervention plan for a student with learning disabilities is to:
Define individual expectations for the students in various school environments
A student with muscular dystrophy and specific learning disabilities will be receiving special education services. What placements should be considered first when selecting the least restrictive environment for this student?
A general education classroom with push-in services
What item must be specified in the IEP for a student who is 16 years old?
Transition services
What types of support would be the most appropriate for an IEP team to implement in order to integrate a first grader with a mild intellectual disability into a general education classroom?
A modified academic curriculum
A fourth-grade student with disabilities will soon be participating in statewide achievement testing. What must be true in order for the student to receive testing accommodations?
The student’s IEP must document the student’s need for consistent accommodations
What IEP team member is responsible for assessing a student’s gross-motor skills
A physical therapist
A SPED teacher has completed an initial evaluation of a fourth-grade student suspected of having a reading disability. Based on the student’s scores, the teacher should begin instruction by focusing on:
Improving phonics skills
A SPED teacher has been workin with a third graders on double digit subtraction. The SPED teacher has tried a new instructional approach with the student and is evaluating its effectiveness by using a graph. What would be the most accurate interpretation of this data?
The student improved consistently in response to the new instructional approach
What must occur after comprehensive individual evaluation in order for a student to receive special education services?
The evaluation team must meet to determine whether the student has a disability that adversely affects the student’s learning
What procedures should the pre-referral team follow before making a formal referral to evaluate a student’s eligibility for special education services?
Documenting the effects of intervention strategies
A SPED teacher in a middle school wishes to establish a token economy system with the student in his self-contained classroom. What guidelines would be most important for the teacher to follow in helping ensure this system’s effectiveness?
Provide tokens immediately after students demonstrate a targeted behavior
A new SPED teacher will be teaching elementary students with autism spectrum disorder in a self-contained classroom. What guidelines would be the most important for the special educator to follow in planning and managing the learning environment?
Develop consistent and predictable daily routines
A new SPED teacher will be working in a self-contained classroom with elementary students. What strategy would be most effective for the teacher to use in creating classroom rules?
Working with students to create a list of five to seven positively stated classroom rules and modeling to teach students the behaviors reflected by these rules
A middle school student with learning disabilities and a moderate bilateral hearing loss who wears behind-the-ear hearing aids will be attending general education classes throughout the day. A SPED teacher will be serving as a consultant to the student’s general education teachers. To promote the student’s success in the general education setting, the special educator’s first step would be to:
Ensure that the teachers understand the student’s communication needs and accommodations for meeting those needs
A second grader with spastic cerebral palsy and a moderate intellectual disability will begin attending a general education class for two hours twice a week. What approach would be the most effective for a SPED teacher to use in facilitating the student’s integration into this new setting?
Working with the general education teacher to modify activities so that the student can participate to the best of his or her ability
A SPED teacher would like to create a classroom climate that fosters students’ respect for diversity. What strategy would likely be the most effective for this procedure?
Ensuring that instructional materials reflect the diversity of the students
An elementary school SPED teacher routinely assigns jobs to students in his self-contained class. This practice would be especially effective for helping the students:
Develop a sense of responsibility as members of the classroom community
A SPED teacher has noticed an increase in verbal arguments between two middle school students in his self-contained class. The teacher is concerned that the students’ arguments will escalate into a physical altercation. What steps should the teacher take first in an effort to prevent this behavior from escalating?
Meet with the students to discuss why they have been arguing and discuss possible solutions
A new SPED teacher will soon begin working with a class of high school students who have emotional impairments. Several of the students have a significant history of physical aggression. What steps would be most important for the teacher to take in preparing for the upcoming school year?
Collaborate with other team members to establish a crisis intervention plan
A fourth-grade teacher asks the SPED teacher to recommend a strategy for helping a student with emotional impairment make transitions between academic tasks. The most appropriate response from the SPED educator would be to:
Identify in measurable terms the specific behaviors expected of the student
What strategy would be most effective for a SPED teacher to use in creating a motivating learning environment for students with Down syndrome?
Planning activities in which the students’ own efforts bring them success
When selecting software to supplement math instruction for students with learning disabilities in math, a SPED educator should look for software that:
Allows the modification of features such as instructional level and presentation speed
What behaviors best indicate that the student has begun to gain an understanding of letter-sound relationships?
A student sees KR and tells his teacher that is says “car”
A student with a mild intellectual disability can recite the alphabet and recognize all the letters individually. The student also recognizes several sight words. However, the student does not yet understand the alphabetic principle. What activities would best promote the student’s development in this area?
Helping the student choose pictures of favorite people or objects to create an alphabet book
Teaching students with learning disabilities how to use concept mapping in content-area assignments would be most useful for developing what academic skill?
Structuring information logically
A student with a reading disability has trouble retaining information from content-area texts. He tells his SPED teacher that even though he understands the content when he is reading, he often has difficulty recalling or explaining it afterward. The SPED teacher could best help the student by:
Teaching him to use comprehension strategies such as activating prior knowledge, self-questioning, and concept mapping
A fourth grader has a perceptual deficit that interferes with her ability to track text as she reads. For example, when reading down a page, she often rereads lines she just read. Similarly, she often skips lines of text and then becomes confused about the meaning of the text. The SPED teacher could best help the student compensate for her perceptual deficit in this situation by teaching her to:
Use an overlay device that enables her to focus on targeted sections of the text
A SPED teacher in a middle school resource room works with a student who has a mild-to-moderate and generalizes functional academic skills across the school environment. What steps would be the most important for the teacher to include when creating a plan to support this goal?
Create a matrix that shows how the targeted skills can be integrated into the student’s various classes and activities
A SPED teacher in a middle school resource room works with a student who has an emotional impairment. The student enjoys writing, and the SPED teacher wants to help the student create a showcase portfolio of the best writing from her English language class. The student collaborates with the SPED teacher to decide which pieces should be placed in the portfolio. The SPED teacher could best use this process as an opportunity to promote the student’s self-assessment skills by:
Asking the student to explain why particular pieces deserve to be included in the portfolio
A SPED teacher works twice a week with a small group of students with learning disabilities. The teacher wants to promote the students’ understanding of concepts that apply across subject areas. What would be the teacher’s best approach for introducing such a concept?
Explaining the concept using familiar examples from the students’ own experiences
A SPED teacher in a middle school resource room is working with a student who is having difficulty retaining new vocabulary words in various subjects. What strategy would be likely to be most effective for the teacher to use in this situation?
Showing the students how to use a graphic organizer to link each new vocabulary word with known words
Using a graphic organizer is likely to promote the student’s reading comprehension primarily by:
Helping him activate his prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading
A SPED teacher has been teaching a second grader strategies for reducing the student’s negative language toward others. What would be the most appropriate feedback for the SPED teacher to give the student on a day when the student has used the strategies successfully?
“I noticed that you remembered to take a deep breath and speak calmly to your friend who you didn’t want to play with anymore.”
What teacher strategy would best promote an overall sense of self-confidence in middle school students with special needs?
Providing students with various instructional activities in which they are likely to experience success
What strategy would be most effective for promoting the use of good manners in a kindergarten class that includes several students with disabilities?
Modeling the use of good manners consistently and expecting students to do the same when they interact with each other
A third grader with a learning disability often becomes very anxious during computer lab. The student repeatedly asks the teacher and classmates for help or approval before she will move on to the next step. What teacher strategy best promotes the student’s self-confidence in this setting?
Reducing the amount of support given to the student gradually and choosing computer programs for her to use that provides instant feedback
After the student has learned to use the procedure for social studies assignments, the SPED educator wants to help him generalize it to assignments in other content areas. What would be the SPED teachers best strategy for achieving this goal?
Meeting with the student’s content-area teachers to explain the procedure and ask them to reinforce the student’s use of it
A kindergarten student with cerebral palsy communicates primarily through the use of a simple communication board. The board contains up to 12 pictures that can be easily removed or changed. At the beginning of the school year, the SPED educator and the student show the student’s other teachers and classmates how to use the board to communicate with the student. What additional step would be most important for the SPED educator to take in helping ensure that the student is able to communicate effectively throughout the school year?
Ensure that the pictures on the student’s communication board are updated as necessary to represent changing wants and needs
A SPED teacher has been working with a fifth-grader on reducing the student’s anger toward peers. The student knows that when he starts to become angry in a situation, he should silently count to ten and implement a learned strategy. After the student has encountered such a situation, it would be more beneficial for his teacher to follow up by:
Having the student evaluate how successful he was in using the strategy
A kindergartner with multiple disabilities speaks a few words but primarily uses gestures and sign language to communicate. Her SPED teacher wishes to promote the student’s ability to communicate more effectively with peers in the kindergarten classroom. What strategy would best address this goal?
Teaching the whole class basic signs by consistently integrating signs into lessons and activities
A SPED teacher in a resource room works with an eight-grade student with ADHD. The student’s social studies teacher is concerned that the student’s distractibility might be a problem during an upcoming guest lecture and asks the SPED teacher for advice. What would be the most appropriate recommendation for the SPED teacher to give in this situation?
“Let’s make a plan to meet with the student before the guest lecturer’s visit, explain our expectations, and work together to develop some strategies.”
At the beginning of the school year, an elementary school student with special needs is having difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next within her classroom. The SPED teacher must ask several times for the student to switch activities before she complies. What strategy should the teacher use first in addressing this behavior?
Giving the student frequent visual and verbal cues about the time allotted for each activity
What would likely be the most effective strategy for the SPED teacher to use in addressing the student’s difficulties with interpreting nonverbal cues during social interactions?
Providing the student with opportunities to role-play various social interactions involving nonverbal language in natural environments with peers
The student frequently has difficulty focusing on academics due to her interest in mythical creatures. She will often draw pictures during whole-class instruction or during seat work. What approach would likely address this behavior most effectively?
Establishing a contract with the student that provides time for her to draw pictures if she pays attention and completes her work during specific time periods
The student’s parents voice concerns to the SPED teacher about how their daughter’s ASD is affecting their home life. What would be the most appropriate recommendation for the teacher to give in this situation?
“Consider joining a local support group for families of children diagnosed with ASD.”
What question would be most important for the SPED teacher to consider when communicating with the student?
Are my statements and questions specific and direct to facilitate the student’s understanding?
What best describes the likely implication of TBI for this student’s educational future?
His IEP will likely need to be revised often as he continues to recover and his needs change
The student and his SPED teacher begin discussing transition planning. The student asks the teacher for information about how other students with TBI have made the transition to adulthood. What resource would likely provide the student with the most useful information?
Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
A SPED teacher works with high school students, many of whom wish to obtain a job after graduation. What is the most effective way for the teacher to promote the students’ successful transition from school to employment?
Providing opportunities for students to receive training at a desired job location while still in school
A SPED teacher will be teaching a middle school student with Down syndrome how to make a sandwich. What would be the most effective first step for the teacher to take in addressing this goal?
Break down the task of making a sandwich into a series of smaller tasks
What strategy is likely to be the most effective in promoting a successful transition from middle school to high school for a student with special needs?
Providing opportunities for the student to visit the high school and meet with staff who will be directly working with him
A high school SPED teacher would like to increase her students’ participation in civic activities. What strategy is likely to be most effective for this purpose?
Arranging for students to attend meetings and events of civic organizations that are of interest to them
A SPED teacher works in a self-contained elementary school classroom with students who have moderate intellectual disabilities. The teacher is planning a series of lessons on nutrition that includes having students prepare and taste a variety of foods. In addition to asking students’ parents/guardians about any possible food allergies, it would be most important for the teacher to find out whether any students:
Have dietary restrictions due to cultural or religious beliefs
A middle school SPED teacher wishes to increase students’ knowledge of and participation in different types of leisure activities. What strategy is likely to be most effective in addressing this goal?
Scheduling time during the week for students to learn and practice a variety of games and activities
A high school SPED teacher provides copies of checkbook registers with a balance of $50 fake checks, and $30 in play money to the students in her resource room. The teacher then gives the students several advertising circulars from various stores and tasks them to make lists of items they need and want. Students pay for the items with their money as they wish and then discuss their purchases. What best describes the primary benefit to the students of this type of activity?
Students will begin to learn basic money management skills necessary for becoming independent adults
A high school student with multiple disabilities is preparing to make the transition from the school setting to adult life. What resource would typically play the most significant role in facilitating this transition?
The state department of vocational rehabilitation and local service agencies that provide training or direct services and support with various living arrangements
A high school senior who has a moderate intellectual disability has expressed a desire to find a job after she graduates. Her parents are concerned that she will require a great deal of assistance in preparing for an obtaining a job that meets her skills, interests, and limitations. What strategy should the SPED teacher use first to assist the student in determining the type of employment most suitable for her?
Administering a vocational assessment to better identify the student’s strengths and needs in relation to various jobs
A high school student who has a learning disability and epilepsy tells her SPED teacher that she occasionally has physical symptoms before experiencing a seizure. Based on this information, it would be most important for the teacher to:
Work with the student to create strategies for the student to use to protect herself when she recognizes the physical symptoms that indicate she will soon have a seizure
A student with a learning disability in reading will be attending college in the fall. The student tells her SPED teacher that she is concerned that her college classes will be too difficult. What strategy would likely be the most effective in helping this student make a successful transition?
Discussing with the student how to self-identify at the college’s office of disability services
According to the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), the parents/guardians of a school-age child with an identified disability have the right to:
Participate in the development of their child’s IEP
To be identified as having an intellectual disability, a child must exhibit significantly below-average cognitive functioning during development as well as:
Deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors
What has been a recent trend regarding the education of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Early identification and intervention
The IEP for a student with multiple disabilities includes services from four different therapists, daily nursing care, and a one-on-one paraprofessional. School administrators state that they do not have enough funds to provide the services outlined in the student’s IEP. What best describes the school district’s legal obligation in this case?
Meeting all of the requirements of the IEP regardless of the cost
A community-based psychologist contacts a middle school student’s special educator and requests access to the student’s school records. What step should the teacher take before granting access to these records?
Obtain written permission from the student’s parents
An English language learner with an orthopedic impairment does not qualify for special education services but requires physical accommodations to participate in school activities. What federal laws require that an accommodation plan be developed for the student?
Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act
Students with what type of disability or impairment tend to receive services in more restrictive environments?
Emotional impairments
What factor has historically contributed most to the over representation of students from some culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in programs for students with disabilities?
The potential for bias in the assessment process
A manifestation determination hearing is taking place to decide whether a high school student with a disability should be suspended after hitting another student during gym class. According to federal law, what must be considered during this hearing?
Whether the student’s disability played a role in the incident
What action by a special educator would be considered a violation of a student’s confidentiality rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
Leaving a copy of a student’s IEP in plain view on her desk during class
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a current trend in the identification of what types of disabilities?
Learning disabilities
What describes the greatest effect that word-prediction and voice-activated software have had on the education of students with physical and/or sensory disabilities?
Helping students become more independent as learners
In general, what would be the most effective way for an elementary school SPED teacher to establish regular communication with each student’s parents/guardians?
Obtaining parental consent for individual notebooks in which the teacher and parents/guardians can write updates, questions, and comments
A fourth grader who attends a general class has several individual goals related to functional living skills. What would be the most effective way for the SPED teacher to collaborate with the fourth grade teacher in promoting the student’s achievement of these goals?
Working with the teacher to incorporate life skills into the student’s daily routine
What is the primary benefit of involving high school students with disabilities in the planning of their own academic programs?
Students will be able to practice self-determination by advocating for their learning needs and goals
A SPED teacher needs to learn more about universal precautions to use in the classroom to avoid blood-borne infections. What organization would be the most appropriate resource for this type of information?
Occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)
What strategy would provide a SPED educator with the most objective method for analyzing his or her instructional effectiveness?
Videotaping a lesson and critiquing it using a checklist
What strategy would likely be the most effective for helping a SPED teacher evaluate his or her own long-term professional growth?
Maintain a teaching portfolio (e.g., samples of student work, administrative observations, self-reflection)
A SPED teacher teaches in a self-contained classroom for students with multiple disabilities. Several students receive pull-out instruction from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). In order to integrate students’ speech and language goals into their regular and extended curricula, the SPED teacher should ask the SLP what question?
“What are the specific skills that you are working on with each student?”
What activity would likely be the most effective for helping the SPED teacher begin to identify their own cultural biases?
Tracing their own background, values, and traditions
A middle school SPED teacher in a self-contained classroom is assigned a paraprofessional. The most effective way for the teacher to collaborate with the paraprofessional in meeting the student’s learning needs is to:
Review together each student’s IEP and discuss the paraprofessional’s role in the implementation of each IEP
A middle school student with a learning disability in written expression has recently made a transition from the resource room to the general education classroom for language arts instruction. While monitoring the student’s progress, the SPED teacher notices that the student’s performance has declined while attending the general education class. Despite this performance, the general education teacher has given the student above-average grades. The SPED teacher’s most effective response would be to:
Meet with the general education teacher to show samples of the student’s prior work that reflect her capabilities
A high school math teacher will be teaching a class that includes several students with learning disabilities in math. In preparation, the SPED teacher has collaborated with the math teacher in developing instructional activities for an upcoming math unit. What step should the SPED teacher take next in collaborating with the math teacher?
Explain which parts of the unit activities pose the most difficulty for each student
Which disability is degenerative and often leads to death in adolescence or early adulthood?
Muscular dystrophy
Compared with children without hearing loss, children born with hearing loss are more likely to experience significant delays in which of the following developmental domains?
Language
Which fine-motor skills do children typically develop last?
Cutting shapes with scissors
Compared with students with mild intellectual disabilities, students with learning disabilities are more likely to have:
One or more specific cognitive difficulties rather than global delays
Students with mild intellectual disabilities tend to exhibit what cognitive characteristics?
Difficulty applying newly learned skills to different context
What gross-motor skills do children typically develop last?
Jumping forward, taking off and landing with two feet
What student is demonstrating characteristics most often associated with an emotional impairment?
A second-grade student who frequently complains of a stomach ache in the morning before going to school
What student demonstrated characteristics most often associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
A kindergarten student who does not engage in pretend play, talks exclusively about astronomy, and misinterprets social cues
What is generally the most advanced linguistic skill a typical eight-year-old can be expected to demonstrate?
Telling a story that includes cause-and-effect relationships
What social/emotional abilities typically appear for the first time during adolescence?
Understanding that the perspective of others may be influenced by their background or circumstances
