CEP Instructional Support & Classroom Assistance 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A paraprofessional is assisting a student who uses a wheelchair during a science lab. Desks are not accessible. What should the paraprofessional do first?
- Have the student observe from the doorway
- Alert the teacher immediately so an accessible workspace can be arranged (Correct answer)
- Complete the lab activity on behalf of the student
- Ask another student to share their workspace without teacher input
Correct answer: Alert the teacher immediately so an accessible workspace can be arranged
Ensuring physical access is a priority; the teacher must coordinate accommodations to ensure full participation.
Question 2: Which behavior best demonstrates a paraprofessional maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with students?
- Sharing personal social media accounts to connect with students
- Keeping interactions focused on academic and behavioral support within school guidelines (Correct answer)
- Exchanging personal phone numbers for after-school help
- Giving a student gifts to encourage participation
Correct answer: Keeping interactions focused on academic and behavioral support within school guidelines
Professional boundaries protect both students and staff; relationships must remain within school-sanctioned parameters.
Question 3: During guided reading, a student substitutes a word that changes the meaning of the sentence. What should the paraprofessional do?
- Say 'wrong' and supply the correct word
- Ask the student if what they read made sense and prompt them to try again (Correct answer)
- Continue without correction to preserve reading flow
- Mark the error and wait until after the reading to address it
Correct answer: Ask the student if what they read made sense and prompt them to try again
Prompting comprehension monitoring encourages the student to self-correct using meaning as a cue.
Question 4: A student with ADHD frequently blurts out answers before others have a chance to respond. According to the student's behavior plan, the paraprofessional should use a private signal. The student still blurts. What is the next step?
- Publicly reprimand the student in front of peers
- Document the instance and discuss with the supervising teacher to review the plan's effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Increase the intensity of the private signal independently
- Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcing it with attention
Correct answer: Document the instance and discuss with the supervising teacher to review the plan's effectiveness
When a documented intervention is not effective, the paraprofessional must report to the teacher who can adjust the behavior plan.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a task analysis when supporting a student with a developmental disability?
- To assess how quickly a student can complete an assignment
- To break a complex skill into small, teachable sequential steps (Correct answer)
- To test whether a student qualifies for special education services
- To measure a student's IQ relative to peers
Correct answer: To break a complex skill into small, teachable sequential steps
Task analysis decomposes multi-step skills into discrete steps, making instruction manageable for students with disabilities.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a paraprofessional using positive reinforcement correctly?
- Removing a homework assignment when a student misbehaves
- Praising a student immediately after they follow a classroom routine correctly (Correct answer)
- Giving candy to all students at the end of the day regardless of behavior
- Withholding recess until all students complete work
Correct answer: Praising a student immediately after they follow a classroom routine correctly
Positive reinforcement means providing an immediate reward following the desired behavior to increase its future occurrence.
Question 7: A paraprofessional is asked to take anecdotal notes on a student's behavior. What should these notes include?
- Personal opinions about why the student behaves a certain way
- Objective descriptions of specific observable behaviors with time and context (Correct answer)
- Predictions about future behavior based on past patterns
- Comparisons of the student's behavior to that of other students
Correct answer: Objective descriptions of specific observable behaviors with time and context
Anecdotal notes must be factual and objective, documenting what is seen and heard without interpretation or judgment.
CEP Instructional Support & Classroom Assistance 4
A paraprofessional is assisting a student who uses a wheelchair during a science lab.
Desks are not accessible.
What should the paraprofessional do first?