Special ed Praxis

An early childhood teacher wants to support Susie, a student with cognitive impairment, to become more independent in managing schoolwork. Which of the following would likely be the most effective first step for this goal?

have a check-off list to document completed assignments

When Massachusetts enacted its compulsory education law in 1852, what ages were the students under compulsory attendance?

Ages 8-14

Cognitive Learning strategies include which of the following?

Teaching students problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Which of the following is NOT an environmental factor that could impact a student's academic development and achievement?

Lack of reinforcement with regard to learning and the importance of school performance.

What "internal time stealer" could negatively impact a teacher's performance?

Lack of self-discipline

Which verb is not appropriate for learning objectives?

Learn.

Which of the following might benefit a child with blindness and low vision?

Learning Braille, Orientation skills, and Independent Living Skills

Of the following, what should a teacher of a special education class make sure her classroom consists of?

Learning centers.

Bloom's Taxonomy identifies three domains of learning or educational activities. Which of the following is NOT one of the three?

Learning domain.

Which types of intelligences do most curriculum cover?

Linguistic and logical-mathematical.

What is LEA?

Local Education Agency

Who developed the direct instruction model of effective classroom instruction?

Madeline Hunter

Who outlined seven elements for lesson plans?

Madeline Hunter.

When a student is taking medication for a disability, the teacher should keep all of the following in mind except:

Medication does not have side effects and therefore the teacher does not need to compensate for anything

Megan, a second grade student, has been deemed to have a learning disability and placed in your classroom. You have met her parents during the pre-testing and testing stages of the process and now will meet with them to set up her IEP. They have been doing some research and have asked about IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Simply explain this act as you would to Megan's parents.

Megan will have great opportunities because of IDEA! Her individual needs will be met and she can advance at her own pace with support. The IDEA was passed to assure that all students have the same opportunities in the public schools. It was passed to remedy past discriminatory practices. Megan will participate in all areas of education, academics, music, physical education and art. She will be evaluated or tested with assessments designed to meet her particular needs. A program of education will be designed to meet her individual needs. This will be her IEP. We will work together with all of our support team to design this plan. As her parents, you will be asked for input and approval. Megan will be with her peers in every situation in which it is appropriate for her. She will be included in all activities. As her parents, you will be informed of any changes to Megan's program and will have the right to question any program or plan that is proposed. We know that you will be a great resource for all of the teachers who will be working to make Megan have success in school. She is a great kid and we all want to do what is best for her.

If you have a student gifted in art but has difficulty with reading, the best way to teach this child is to do what?

Motivate him/her with art, diagrams, maps, and charts.

Which of the following examines and certifies national and state academic content?

National Education Standards and Improvement Council.

The following sentence describes which of the following concepts? Enlarging print materials can help low vision students manage classroom materials.

Size

Of the following, which is NOT a major factor that goes into a child's ability to learn the key academic skills taught in school?

Social skills.

Perceptual disabilities are classified under what category of disability?

Specific learning disability.

The formula So * √1 - r (where So is the observed standard deviation and r is the reliability) is used to determine which of the following?

Standard Error of Measurement.

A tenth grade student with ADHD has a verbal stanine of 6. Which English class should he be in?

Standard.

Individual schools educate students with special needs based on what?

State mandates.

Under IDEA 2004, what are states required to submit to the Department of Education every year?

State performance plan.

What is the process in which a teacher makes a plan to coincide with the student's IEP?

Strategy Instruction.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that schools make adaptations to increase the accessibility of materials, facilities, activities, and other resources to students with disabilities. Below are some examples of adaptations that teachers in particular can make which promote accessibility. Which of the following is NOT an example of those adaptations?

Students with disabilities should NOT be treated like his classmates.

Which of the following assistive technologies would best benefit a student with a visual impairment?

Video/screen magnification, digital audio books, digital writers, and electronic Braille keyboards.

Which of the following is a behavioral checklist?

Vineland Teacher Survey.

If a teacher recommends an evaluation for special education services for a child, who MUST agree before any part of the evaluation is initiated?

parent or guardian

You are a Special Education teacher who must teach budgeting skills to a group of high-school students with disabilities. Which of the following would be the best activity to accomplish this goal?

providing menus from local restaurants and having students decide what they will order for less than $10

Mr. Jordan's goal is to introduce a multicultural theme in his preschool classroom with special education students. What will be the best strategy to do that?

put pictures of different cultures around the classroom

A lunch tray with a non-slip bottom is an example of what type of instructional device?

Adaptive equipment

Teaching children functional skills that will be useful in their home life and neighborhoods is the basis of ____________.

Community-based instruction

Which of the following questions demonstrates an example of group alerting?

"Now that we know the length of all of the sides of the rectangle, how can we find the area of the rectangle?....[PAUSE]....Michelle?"

Active listening does not involve which of the following?

Arguing with what the other person is saying without listening first.

A criterion often used to determine whether or not a child has a learning disability, based on whether or not the child is working up to the expectations for his/her age is called what?

Achievement/ability discrepancy.

As one of the foundational Instructional Strategies, what is the primary explanation of Accommodation?

Accommodation makes adjustments to the teaching method to meet the specific needs of the student's age and ability.

The Federal government has issued special guidelines for "highly-qualified" special education teachers as defined in section 9101 of the ESEA. The term "highly qualified" applies to which of the following?

Any public elementary or secondary education teacher teaching a core academic subject

"A" in the SCREAM theory for effective instruction stands for which of the following?

Appropriate rate.

You are teaching more complex patterns to your students where problem-solving and quantitative reasoning is involved on higher cognitive levels. Which of the following is NOT true regarding teaching patterns and measurement?

Arrays do not help children to visualize patterns

One of the best tests available to evaluate a child's functional abilities is the ABLLS test. What does ABLLS stand for?

Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills

What instructional procedure is best for a student who has problems with social behavior?

Be certain academic prerequisites are met.

A teacher in an elementary ALE classroom notices that one of her student's with autism is reacting to changes in classroom routine much more emotionally than usual. The student has a 30-minute meltdown when rain prevents the students from going to the playground at their normal recess time. When the third meltdown happens in 2 days, the teacher calls the preferred contact number on the student's information card and requests a conference with the parents. The teacher does not hear back that day. The next day, there is a message waiting for her at the front office from the student's mother explaining that she is out of town on business and in a time zone that is 2 hours different from the teacher's. The mother asks if the teacher can call her that evening after 6 pm. What is the most appropriate response by the teacher?

Call the parent after 6 pm and thank her for calling back while being out of town. Explain the situation with the student, and brainstorm ideas with the parent to help the student feel more secure

What assessment measures a student's intellectual abilities?

Cognitive assessment.

A test that correlates with a measure that is valid is defined as what?

Concurrent validity.

Which type of instructional strategy is useful for calming anxiety in students with autism?

Controlled choice.

Which type of instructional arrangement establishes and enhances mutual respect for other students and promotes positive goals?

Cooperative learning

Besides modeling appropriate behavior, what is the proven most effective strategy to help students with behavioral issues?

Create a visual chart of behavior.

Which of the following assessments is norm-referenced and considered standardized testing?

Formal.

When developing lesson plans and lesson objectives, the teacher must NEVER do what?

Develop a lesson for only one type of all the multiple intelligences.

What compares a student's intelligence with academic success?

Discrepancy model.

Which of the following is a fatal disease?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Which of the following is a speech disorder?

Dysfluency

Under what category can a child not be categorized as having autism?

Emotional reactions to sensory experiences

What two political entities interact in order to make sure all special education laws are followed?

Federal and State.

You and your co-teacher have a conflict about what to do about a particular student. You realize that conflict with a co-teacher is often inevitable, and understanding the other's perspective is important. What is the best strategy for resolving your issue?

Focus on the viewpoint, not the person; keep the conversation about teaching and attention on the students and their learning

What answer best describes the desired results for using the "Formal" grouping strategy?

Formal grouping is used to facilitate positive interdependence, interactive information processing, individual and group accountability, and practicing appropriate social skills.

You are a Special Education teacher that has a group of students with language learning disabilities. Which of the following academic difficulties may characterize a language learning disability?

Frequent misspelled words

Educational programs designed for children with autism spectrum disorders could include all but which of the following goals?

Goals for postsecondary activities

The statement "an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness" describes a child identified as having which of the following disabilities?

Hearing Impairment

For what other reason besides turning 21 can a student leave special education classes?

If he meets the goals and objectives outlined in the IEP.

Is collaborative heterogeneous or homogeneous learning better for special needs students?

It depends on the class.

Which of the following is an essential component of lesson planning?

Objectives

What type of directions work well for visually impaired students?

Oral.

What part of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) referred to the need for special education evaluation in babies and toddlers?

Part H.

Which of the following disorders is characterized by a chronic feeling of hunger that can lead to extreme overeating and gross obesity?

Prader-Willi syndrome

Mr. Takei, a regular education earth science teacher, is planning a lesson on why volcanoes erupt and the effects of an eruption on the environment. As he thinks about his students, he reflects that two of his students (Maggie who has an IEP, and Sean who does not) seem to need concrete examples to understand concepts. Another Special Education student, Marcus, seems to retain more information when he has to talk about it himself. Several students need to see a picture to better understand what the teacher is talking about. Which of the following lesson presentation ideas best meets the needs of all of the learners in Mr. Takei's class?

Prepare a model of a volcano, and ask Maggie and Sean to be assistants in causing it to erupt. Ask Marcus to serve as narrator for the entire experiment. Place chairs in a semi-circle around the experiment table to allow for a good view.

According to IDEA, a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) includes which of the following?

Preschool, elementary and secondary school education

A special education co-teacher is working with a 5th grade student with learning disabilities. As the student works through a series of math problems, the teacher observes that word problems, particularly ones with multiple steps, seem particularly challenging for the student. The student often does just the first operation that he can figure out and then abandons the problem. Based on this informal assessment, what type of cognitive deficits is the student most likely exhibiting?

Procedural learning deficits

Which of these is NOT an area that can be measured in a reading assessment?

Quality of story.

What is one way that a teacher could help a child labeled with a reading disability?

Read along with the child.

Test accommodations can be made to fit the needs of the student. For example, a student with vision issues might have the test's text enlarged or read aloud. Test modifications are changes made to the content of a test. For example, tests might be changed from short answer to multiple-choice. List two accommodations and two modifications that might be made in the following situation. Give a short example for at least one of each. Andy is a student who has trouble focusing. He understands the information given but has trouble remembering it. He often fails tests because he does not finish or is distracted and confuses answers.

Score of 3: Andy's attention issues and memory issues must be addressed. Accommodations: A) Andy should be separated from the group for the test to minimize distractions. B) Andy should be given the test in short segments. Frequent breaks will help Andy focus. C) More time should be allotted for the test. D) The test should be given at the times when Andy is most likely to be attentive, i.e., when he is alert and well-rested. Modifications: A) Include fewer questions on each page to minimize distraction. B) Highlight or underline key words to help Andy focus on important information or cues. C) Allow Andy to refer to the text to aide memory. D) Read the test aloud to Andy and provide cues which will assist memory. E) Give Andy choices to elaborate on. For example, if Andy cannot remember who the first president was, let him choose from a group of names and then give a few details to support his choice. F) Use the same modifications which Andy's teacher uses in class. For example, if Andy is allowed to mark his text, he should be allowed to mark his test. These accommodations and modifications will help Andy achieve on his tests.

Which selection best describes who should participate in writing a student's IEP?

The parents, teachers (both special education and regular), testing results evaluator, and a school district representative.

Lighting, sound and temperature are a part of what?

The environment

Which is a characteristic of group testing?

The examiner monitors several students at the same time

Gina, a new student in Mr. Hamm's classroom identified with behavior issues, refuses to follow directions. She ignores Mr. Hamm or says, "No thanks," when asked to do anything. She drops all papers on the floor. When ignored, she sighs or walks about interrupting other instruction. Suggest two strategies which Mr. Hamm might employ to change Gina's behaviors in the classroom.

The first step is to find out what underlying issues may be causing Gina's behaviors. Are the issues academic? Can she read the assignments? Does she understand the directions? Does she have a hearing or processing problem? After taking these into consideration, the next step would be to define a specific behavior to focus on. For example, if Gina has difficulty reading assignments, reading skills should be focused on. The assignments might be read aloud to her. She might work with an aide or a partner. Multistep activities could be broken down to make them less overwhelming. If the behaviors are not related to health or academic issues, Gina should be instructed in classroom and teacher-expectations. The teacher should sit down with her alone to discuss these so that Gina has a chance to ask questions. Gina might need to be put in an isolated area so that she doesn't disturb the other students. She should be given an individual behavior plan which she understands and which clearly states expectations, behaviors and consequences. This should focus on one behavior at a time. For example, if Gina is throwing papers on the floor, baskets could be placed by her desk. She could be instructed to put work that is confusing in one basket and finished work in another. This should help the teacher focus on her needs and since there is no throw-away basket, Gina will have to take responsibility for her choices. A goal could be set for the number of finished pieces in the basket on an increasing scale.

Who is responsible for adapting the curriculum?

The school.

Which of the following would NOT be a reason to modify a student's daily routine?

The student doesn't feel like the routine is conducive to his / her lifestyle.

The use of paraprofessionals has raised some questions as to who is ultimately responsible for a student's educational program. Which of the following individuals is considered ultimately responsible?

The teacher

What modeling strategy helps students with their thought processes?

Think Aloud

Which ruling protected the Constitutional rights of students?

Tinker v. Des Moines.

Following an assessment indicating a student's reading level to be 3.0, the Special Education teacher is with the student's class in the school library. She notices the student looking at an action/adventure book. It is approximately a 6.0 reading level. An appropriate reaction on the part of the teacher would be to _________________________________________________________________.

call the student aside and recommend a similar-themed book that is written at a 3.0 reading level

It is time to make a new arrangement for your classroom. Which of the following is the first step in choosing a new arrangement for a classroom where the students often hit one another when they are going to the pencil sharpener, trash can, or the water fountain?

check for traffic patterns in the room

Resource room teachers also work with small groups, whether they are push-in or pull-out resources for student support. Resource room teachers who use pull-out may have their own small room or office in which they meet with students in small groups to remediate and support and support classroom instruction. Push-in refers to ____________________.

coming into a general education classroom to offer support with the classroom

Hearing impairment refers to an impairment that undermines the students education performance but is not severe enough to be classified as deafness. Hearing impairments may be...

congenital or adventitious

Which of the following types of learning disabilities involve problems with sensory integration and motor coordination?

dyspraxia

Jane is a third grader. Mrs. Smith, her teacher, noted that Jane was having difficulty with math and reading assignments. The results from recent diagnostic tests showed a strong sight vocabulary and strength in computational skills, but a weakness in comprehending what she read. This weakness was apparent in mathematical word problems as well. The multi-disciplinary team recommended placement in a special education resource room for learning disabilities two periods each school day. For the remainder of the school day, her placement will be _____________________________.

in the regular classroom.

Miss Shawley asks the students to take out their books during reading class and begins to review what they had read during the last class. She then notices that Wesley has failed to bring his reading book with him to class. She asks him where it is and why he did not bring it to class. She then directs him to go to his locker to get his book. Through this exchange, Miss Shawley has destroyed which component of the lesson?

momentum

Some environmental elements that influence the effectiveness of learning styles include all of the following except:

motivation

Phonemic awareness in reading is analogous to what mental construct in mathematics?

number sense

Educational programs that have been developed for children who are at-risk for failure (based on socioeconomic status and family structure) and that target students from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds include all of the following EXCEPT

special education

The key to success for the exceptional student placed in a general education classroom is _____________________.

the general education teacher's belief that the student will profit from the placement

A 3rd grade student is evaluated for Special Education services, and the assessments indicate she has a reading disability characterized by visual-spatial deficits. At the ARD committee meeting, the parents indicate an interest in learning more about these types of reading disabilities. Which of the following educational organization websites would be the most appropriate to recommend the parents explore?

www.cec.sped.org or www.Idanatl.org