Question 1

Rico's parents speak very little English. What are their rights in relation to Rico's testing under federal law?

Accepted Answer

Rico's parents have the right to an interpreter who can explain the tests and suggested interventions in their native language.

Question 2

In addition to formal assessments, what other tools should be used to make a decision concerning a child's educational placement?

Accepted Answer

In addition to a formal assessment, the team should consider the observations of parents and teachers, as well as work samples and informal assessments.

Question 3

Which of the following represents a potential limitation of formal assessments?

Accepted Answer

Formal assessments may be skewed by a child's fatigue or anxiety and should not be used as a sole means for determining a child's educational development.

Question 4

Which of the following times are not recommended for conducting formal assessments?

Accepted Answer

Children are more likely to be distracted or unfocused on days immediately following or preceding a holiday, making these times undesirable for testing. Avoid testing on Mondays and Fridays for the same reason.

Question 5

The 1979 California court case, Larry P. v. Riles, California, was about which of the following issues in relation to formal assessments?

Accepted Answer

The 1979 California court case, Larry P. v. Riles, California, regarded the question of whether IQ tests were culturally and racially discriminatory. In this case, the court ruled that the intellectual functioning of a black child must be assessed by his classroom performance, academic achievement, personal history, and behavior, as opposed to an IQ test.

Question 6

First grader Travis sits at a circle table with three peers. He is constantly touching his friends, taking their supplies, or moving into their work space. Miss Jones is hesitant to move him to a desk by himself. Which of the following strategies would be most effective in helping him be successful with the group?

Accepted Answer

Provide Travis with a work tray to help him stay in his own space. Some teachers use contact paper or tape to define a work space for a child. Once children are given this visual boundary, they are usually very successful in staying within the limits. Keeping the supplies in a group supply box and providing frequent motor breaks may help Travis, as well, but defining the work space is the most effective strategy.

Question 7

Fifth grader Sarah is constantly losing her papers, coat, and personal belongings. Her teacher has tried logical consequences, as well as taking away privileges. Which of the following classroom planning strategies might help Sarah?

Accepted Answer

A well-organized classroom with a file and cubby for each child will likely help Sarah be successful. Set expectations at the beginning of the year and follow through consistently. Once a routine is established, most children will follow it.

Question 8

Kindergartner Sebastian has experienced many transitions in his home life. He is easily agitated and has frequent angry outbursts. Which of the following strategies can his teacher use in the classroom to help him calm down?

Accepted Answer

Sebastian's teacher can help him by monitoring his behavior and stepping in when he becomes agitated. A cozy corner is a box, bean bag, or other area in the room designated as a quiet place to go to calm down. Cozy corners are often stocked with small fidget toys, books, and stuffed animals. The teacher can calmly talk with Sebastian, helping him to feel safe and offering alternatives to angry outbursts.

Question 9

Unlike most classrooms that are filled with brightly colored posters and bulletin boards, Mrs. Williams keeps at least half the wall space empty. She uses soft, muted colors in her decorating, and prefers to display the children's artwork instead of commercial posters. Which of the following benefits does this approach provide?

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Williams uses muted colors and children's artwork because many children are visually overstimulated by brightly colored posters plastering the walls of a classroom. Displaying children's work also gives children ownership in the classroom and is a powerful way to communicate their learning to parents.

Question 10

Second grader Lexi often perseverates on an activity and has a hard time finishing it and moving on to something else. Which of the following strategies might help Lexi finish her work?

Accepted Answer

Providing Lexi with an "All-Done" box may help her transition to the next activity. Many children with autism, learning disorders, or Prader-Willi fixate on a task and have difficulty finishing it or moving on. A cardboard box, simply labeled "All Done," may help her. When she completes her work, she puts it in the box and moves on to the next task. A timer may increase her anxiety, while assigning a peer to help doesn't address the underlying source of her problem, which is that she gets mentally stuck and needs a visual cue to get unstuck.

Question 11

Kindergartner Duncan is struggling to hear sounds and learn to read. He seems embarrassed and discouraged, which is reducing his motivation to try. Which of the following strategies can Mrs. Christensen employ to encourage Duncan?

Accepted Answer

By approaching reading tasks playfully, avoiding making comparisons, and praising Duncan for his efforts, Mrs. Christensen will encourage Duncan to keep trying. Focus on strengths, rather than weaknesses, and use activities, games, and concepts that interest the child. Focus on learning, having fun, and giving best effort.

Question 12

Before planning reading interventions, it's important to assess a child's current reading ability. The classification "emerging reader" is based on which of the following criteria?

Accepted Answer

An emerging reader is one who can recognize all the letters of the alphabet and gives the correct sound for at least 19 letters. Emerging readers may be able to blend nonsense words, identify beginning and ending sounds, and read at grade level 1.5 to 1.9.

Question 13

Which of the following describes a word wall?

Accepted Answer

A word wall displays words students have learned. Students can use word walls to support writing tasks. A word wall may be a large classroom display, or teachers may make small, individual word walls for desk use.

Question 14

Which of the following describes a word clump?

Accepted Answer

A word clump describes a portion of a word that can make other common words. For example, the ending of the word bad is also found in the words mad, sad, had, and Dad. Teaching emerging readers to recognize word clumps can increase their confidence and help them learn new words more quickly.

Question 15

Simonton teaches phonemic awareness and phonics in her kindergarten reading program, but she also uses sight words. What are the advantages of this approach?

Accepted Answer

Teachers often introduce sight words because many of them are difficult to sound out. Memorizing them increases a child's fluency and confidence, especially because sight words are among the most commonly used words in the English language and form the foundation for reading and writing assignments.

Question 16

Which of the following describes syntax as a component of language development?

Accepted Answer

Syntax refers to the structure of language and how a child forms sentences. Most children use simple sentences initially with a noun and predicate. Later, children learn to form complex sentences, questions, and requests.

Question 17

Third grader Kylie has difficulty reading social cues in relation to communication. She may misinterpret a rhetorical question as a literal question or misunderstand metaphors or similes. She frequently dominates conversations or skips from topic to topic. These characteristics show a breakdown in which of the components of language development?

Accepted Answer

An inability to read social cues or interpret rhetorical questions or metaphors relates to the language component of pragmatics, which is the speaker's intent. The child may hear and understand the words, but doesn't attach the appropriate meaning.

Question 18

The sensorimotor stage of development refers to which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

The sensorimotor stage of development refers to a stage marked by exploring the environment and objects for their sensory value. A young toddler, for example, might pound blocks together because he enjoys the sound they make, rather than for a meaningful purpose.

Question 19

Differentiated instruction requires a teacher to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Differentiated instruction requires an assessment of the students' current level of knowledge, followed by careful planning to meet the needs of the students. Although preparing lesson plans for each individual child is unrealistic, a teacher can effectually differentiate simply by altering the lesson plan slightly.

Question 20

Williams is planning lesson plans for the month. She is currently considering what she wants the children to learn based on assessments of their current growth, as well as standards set forth by the school district and state. Which of the following components of lesson planning is she considering?

Accepted Answer

When Mrs. Williams evaluates what she wants to teach, she is thinking about the content of lesson plans. This step must be first in the lesson planning process to ensure the teacher achieves her goals.

Quiz 38: Praxis II Special Education