SPED Midterm

What is the title of the federal law that establishes our current special education procedures? MC

The individuals with disabilities act (IDEA)

What was the major impact of 1954 Brown v. Board of Education (MC)

Separate cannot be equal

When was (IDEA) most recently reauthorized? (MC)

2004

What are the categories of disabilities listed in IDEA? (SA and BO) (only need to name four)

Specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, autism, other health impairment, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, hearing impairment, deafness, visual impairment/blindness, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, and developmental delay

What is person-first language? Please share an example (SA)

When you put the person before their disability. Ex. a girl who uses a wheelchair

Identify and explain one scientific right or protection guaranteed under IDEA for parents, families, or students (SA)

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - students must be able to participate with general education classmates to the highest extent possible

List and briefly describe at least 2 events that have impacted the treatment or perspective of special education. (SA)

No Child Left Behind - all students must pass every grade level proficiency exams. Every Student Succeeds Act - states must adopt standards for each grade leve

What types of services are included under the umbrella of special education? (MC)

special education services, supplementary aids and services, and related services

What is inclusion? How does it benefit students to be in an inclusive environment? (SA)

Inclusion is how adults and classmates welcome all students and all learning styles into the same learning opportunities. Commitment to inclusion has incredibly high academic outcome for students. 

Order the following events from the evaluation process (evaluation, IEP development, referral, eligibility determination

Referral, Evaluation, Eligibility Determination, IEP development

What is Rtl/MTSS and how does it connect to special education? (SA)

tiered support systems that provide a way to give specialized support to students depending on their need. Helps reduce need for special ed by providing students support before they fall behind

Draw a model of Rtl/MTSS and label the tiers and identify the tier with the most intensive interventions. (MC & BO)

a pyramid with three tiers : tier one at the bottom and tier three at the top, tier three has the highest support

Identify the IEP component and basic definition (matching). (Annual goals, present levels, special education services, supplementary aids, participation/placement)

Annual goals: academic and functional skills that the child can accomplish during the year. Present levels: describes the child’s current abilities, skills, challenges, and strengths. Special Education Services: what services the child will get and for how long, services outside the school year, transition planning to get the child ready for after high school. Supplementary aids: the modification or changes to what is expected of the child can also include info like assistive tech. Participation/placement: explains how and to what extent the child will be included in gen ed classes and other activities.

List 5 members that are likely to be invited to an IEP meeting (SA)

General education teachers, special education teachers, parents, student, school authorities such as principal

Why must we consider the impacts & implications of students’ cultural backgrounds when evaluating for special education? (SA)

To avoid misidentification ensuring accurate assessments leading to appropriate support. 

What are some strategies to help ensure students of diverse cultural & linguistic backgrounds are given fair & unbiased assessments?(*BO)

providing translators or translations for the student and offer different methods of assessment

Identify some qualities of an effective team member (MC)

kind, open-minded, cooperative, and caring

Why are parents/families such valued members of the special education team? (MC)

because they have a unique view of their child’s life

Why is collaboration important in the field of education? List 2 skills or strategies that can be used to support a positive collaboration between team members

Collaboration is important in special education because it requires a ‘team’ mentality. There are many people you need to work with in special education (gen. ed. teachers, other SPED teachers, parents, and the student). You need to make sure every one is involved in the education of the student.  Two skills that can be used to support a positive collaboration is to prioritize clear communication, and to have a positive shared goal.

What is co-teaching? Choose 2 models of co-teaching to describe below. (SA)

co-teching is pairing 2 teachers to work together to teach 1 group of students. Teaming: both teachers teach class at the same time side-by-side. One teach and observe: T1 teaches the class while T2 watchers for student concerns

In most cases, the cause of a learning disability is? (MC)

Not known

What does the term ‘learning disabilities’ actually refer to?

a diverse group of disorders impacting learning

Outside of just academic difficulties, what are other cognitive or social/emotional impacts that students with learning disabilities may also experience?

Bullying, feeling lonely, anxiety, and low self esteem

What are accommodations & modifications? Give 2 examples of each (SA)

An accommodation is additional support in how the student accesses the content, a modification is a change in what the student is expected to learn. Ex. of accommodation: Larger text and a notes outline Ex. of modification: a lower number of homework problems and an alternative level reading passage.

When selecting accommodations & modifications for students, what are key factors that the teacher should use to guide decision-making? (MC)

The specific strengths and needs of the student and the assignment/activity being presented to the student

What are some of the key elements of ADHD? (MC)

chronic, not situational, production deficit, impairment of executive function, neurobiological and is developmental

List at least 2 impacts of ADHD besides difficulty sustaining attention & hyperactivity (SA) (*BO)

Difficulty reading and following social cues and feeling unsure of how or where to start a new task

What is the primary ‘cause’ of ADHD according to research? (MC)

it is result of a disorder of the brain and contributing factors from environmental and physiological factors

What is the difference between a medical diagnosis and an educational diagnosis of ADHD? (MC)

an educational diagnosis of ADHD main purpose it to qualify the student for special education services

What formal term is used in IDEA to describe emotional and behavioral disorders? (MC)

emotional disturbance

What is one tip or strategy for working with students who experience emotional/behavioral problems?

One tip is to share your calm - don’t get caught in their storm. In order to bring the student out of their emotional storm, we need to keep our emotions in check. We can’t expect them to calm if we’re reacting emotionally too.

What are the purposes of a functional behavior assessment and a behavior intervention plan? (MC)

to determine the cause for the student’s behavior and what interventions would be best