NPC Special Education Needs & Inclusive Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student with ADHD has difficulty staying on task during independent work. Which strategy is MOST effective for the paraprofessional to use?
- Have the student complete all work during lunch to make up lost time
- Break the task into smaller chunks with brief check-ins (Correct answer)
- Seat the student in isolation to minimize distractions
- Reduce all academic expectations for the student
Correct answer: Break the task into smaller chunks with brief check-ins
Breaking tasks into smaller segments with check-ins helps students with ADHD maintain focus and experience success.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes 'differentiated instruction' in an inclusive classroom?
- Teaching all students the same content in the same way
- Providing separate and unequal curriculum to students with disabilities
- Adjusting content, process, or product based on individual student needs (Correct answer)
- Assigning additional homework to students who learn more slowly
Correct answer: Adjusting content, process, or product based on individual student needs
Differentiated instruction tailors teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs while keeping all students engaged.
Question 3: A student's IEP specifies that the paraprofessional should provide 'verbal prompting' before physical assistance. What does this mean?
- The paraprofessional should always physically guide the student first
- The paraprofessional should use spoken cues before touching or guiding the student (Correct answer)
- The paraprofessional should only speak to the student, never touch
- The paraprofessional should prompt the teacher verbally first
Correct answer: The paraprofessional should use spoken cues before touching or guiding the student
A prompt hierarchy from least to most intrusive starts with verbal cues before escalating to physical assistance.
Question 4: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA primarily because Section 504:
- Only applies to students in higher education
- Covers a broader range of disabilities and does not require specialized instruction (Correct answer)
- Requires an IEP for every student it covers
- Only provides services in self-contained classrooms
Correct answer: Covers a broader range of disabilities and does not require specialized instruction
Section 504 provides accommodations for students with disabilities who do not need specialized instruction, covering a broader definition of disability than IDEA.
Question 5: When a student with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) escalates toward a crisis, the FIRST step for the paraprofessional is to:
- Immediately apply a physical restraint technique
- Attempt to de-escalate using calm communication and space (Correct answer)
- Send the student to the principal's office immediately
- Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcing it
Correct answer: Attempt to de-escalate using calm communication and space
De-escalation using calm, non-confrontational communication is the first step to prevent crisis escalation.
Question 6: A paraprofessional is supporting a student with a visual impairment in an art class. Which is the MOST inclusive approach?
- Have the student listen to an audio description of artwork instead of participating
- Excuse the student from art class and provide an alternative quiet activity
- Adapt materials with tactile elements so the student can participate alongside peers (Correct answer)
- Assign the student an art history written report instead
Correct answer: Adapt materials with tactile elements so the student can participate alongside peers
Adapting materials with tactile elements allows full participation in the same activity as peers, supporting inclusion.
Question 7: A student with a learning disability in math uses a calculator as an accommodation. A new substitute teacher refuses to allow it. What should the paraprofessional do?
- Tell the student to follow the substitute's rules for the day
- Politely inform the substitute that the calculator is an IEP-mandated accommodation (Correct answer)
- Have the student complete the work without the calculator and report it later
- Contact the parents immediately and leave the classroom
Correct answer: Politely inform the substitute that the calculator is an IEP-mandated accommodation
IEP accommodations are legally required and must be provided regardless of which staff member is present.
NPC Special Education Needs & Inclusive Practices 3
A student with ADHD has difficulty staying on task during independent work.
Which strategy is MOST effective for the paraprofessional to use?