TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Exam
Austin, a student with mild vision impairment, often has difficulty viewing text when the
teacher writes on the board or shows PowerPoint presentations to the class. Which of
the following suggestions is the most appropriate first step to try to help Austin view
text? ** Answ** Move Austin's seat to the front row of the classroom and enlarge
font size for presentations.
Roman has recently started on medication for ADHD. His mother sent an email to the
teacher to let her know that his behavior and attentiveness should improve. What
negative side effects may the parent ask the teacher to monitor? ** Answ** lack of
hunger or excessive thirst
Students in Mr. Carson's third-grade class are often asked to work in small groups. Mr.
Carson noticed that students picked the same partners or group members, so other
children often felt left out. When he assigned group members, students had difficulty
choosing roles and working together, so the workload appeared unbalanced and not all
students remained focused. Mr. Carson recently began assigning designated roles to
each group member when students complete small group assignments. Which of the
following is the most likely benefit to students of this type of classroom? ** Answ**
increased on-task behavior
A curriculum that focuses on teaching academic and social skills, utilizes therapeutic
and behavioral strategies, and provides support during transitional activities is most
likely used with students with: ** Answ** emotional disabilities.
A fifth-grade student with dyslexia continues to struggle with reading even though she
has received special education services for over a year. The teacher would like to use
assistive technology (AT) to help her. What would be the first low-tech type of assistive
technology that may be considered for addition into her Individualized Education Plan
(IEP) and why? ** Answ** word prediction software, so that she can type written
responses more quickly
Which of the following behaviors are most likely to be associated with a student who
has post-traumatic stress disorder?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** becoming easily startled
demonstrating mistrust in adults
appearing unusually fearful
Isaiah and Matthew, who sit at the same table, often talk during independent work time
and are the last in class to finish their assignments. They rush to complete their work in
, TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Exam
the last five minutes so that they can line up to go to computer lab. Their teacher tried
walking around the room and praising all of the students who were working, but this
didn't change their rate of work completion. Then she started a new policy in which
students cannot go to computer lab until their work has been reviewed for completion
and accuracy. She reminds students of this rule before giving directions for the
independent assignment. What type of technique did their teacher use? ** Answ**
manipulating the consequent stimulus
A student who uses screen magnification software most likely has a primary
classification of: ** Answ** vision impairment.
Mr. Miller recognizes that his seventh-grade science class has many new vocabulary
words with each unit. What is one teaching practice he can use to assist his students
with disabilities that are also English Language Learners (ELLs)? ** Answ** Provide
a word wall with vocabulary words and pictures.
Jackie is a high school student with severe anxiety. Her intelligence falls into the high
average range, and she excels in language arts. Her anxiety has begun impacting her
ability to complete assignments, as she fears that she has misunderstood directions.
Which of these accommodations could help to ease her anxieties in the general
classroom? ** Answ** providing written and oral directions for assignments and
checking for understanding of the directions
Which of the following statements about Extended School Year (ESY) services is
accurate according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)? **
Answ** Eligibility for ESY is determined annually.
A special education class has been working on consonant digraphs and recognizing the
sounds that they make in words. The teacher used the "ch" digraph as an example, and
the class helped her make a list of words beginning with the digraph. What would be the
next activity to assess if students are beginning to grasp the concept of digraphs? **
Answ** Have students read a short, familiar story and then circle the digraph words
that begin with "ch."
Which of the following is the main purpose of instructing students with significant
cognitive disabilities using a functional curriculum? ** Answ** help students to
develop daily living skills needed for adulthood
A second-grade resource reading teacher is working with her students on nonfiction
text. When they encounter an unfamiliar word, she encourages them to use different
techniques such as sounding out the word, looking for known prefixes or suffixes, and
, TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Exam
determining meaning within context. What other technique might be helpful when
encountering a new word? ** Answ** looking at nearby pictures for hints
Which characteristics are common to students with visual impairment?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** stumbling or uncoordinated movement
heightened senses to accommodate for the lower functioning sense of sight
Mr. Ortiz is a paraprofessional that provides in-class support for second-grade students
with emotional disabilities. He has two students with Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
that center around work completion. One component of the plan is that the students will
receive 5 minutes of free choice time if they complete work independently. Mr. Ortiz
often prompts the students to begin working and reminds them of their free choice
activities, but he doesn't consistently follow through with providing free choice options
before moving onto the next activity.
How can his supervisor help with the implementation of the BIPs? ** Answ** Explain
the effects of assigning consequences and not following through on them, especially
with students who have behavior concerns.
Justine is a first grade student who receives resource services. She has multiple
disabilities and is an auditory learner. Which of the following instructional strategies best
supports Justine's preferred learning style? ** Answ** Allowing Justine to listen to
stories and directions read aloud by the teacher.
Which two of these would be appropriate accommodations for a student while
maintaining the integrity of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** A ninth-grade student is working on maps in
World Geography. He has a visual impairment, so the maps are enlarged to 20-point
font size, and he is provided large-type labels with black print on a white background to
place on the countries, rather than writing the name over the color.
AND
A fifth-grade student with severe dyslexia is working on a research paper. The student
will be graded like other students, except his spelling will not count until the final draft.
He uses a word processor to assign spelling corrections on rough drafts..
A teacher has presented adding fractions to her class and they have used
manipulatives to gain a basic understanding. What is the next step in the learning
process? ** Answ** Give the students fraction addition problems using numbers
instead of manipulatives.
Austin, a student with mild vision impairment, often has difficulty viewing text when the
teacher writes on the board or shows PowerPoint presentations to the class. Which of
the following suggestions is the most appropriate first step to try to help Austin view
text? ** Answ** Move Austin's seat to the front row of the classroom and enlarge
font size for presentations.
Roman has recently started on medication for ADHD. His mother sent an email to the
teacher to let her know that his behavior and attentiveness should improve. What
negative side effects may the parent ask the teacher to monitor? ** Answ** lack of
hunger or excessive thirst
Students in Mr. Carson's third-grade class are often asked to work in small groups. Mr.
Carson noticed that students picked the same partners or group members, so other
children often felt left out. When he assigned group members, students had difficulty
choosing roles and working together, so the workload appeared unbalanced and not all
students remained focused. Mr. Carson recently began assigning designated roles to
each group member when students complete small group assignments. Which of the
following is the most likely benefit to students of this type of classroom? ** Answ**
increased on-task behavior
A curriculum that focuses on teaching academic and social skills, utilizes therapeutic
and behavioral strategies, and provides support during transitional activities is most
likely used with students with: ** Answ** emotional disabilities.
A fifth-grade student with dyslexia continues to struggle with reading even though she
has received special education services for over a year. The teacher would like to use
assistive technology (AT) to help her. What would be the first low-tech type of assistive
technology that may be considered for addition into her Individualized Education Plan
(IEP) and why? ** Answ** word prediction software, so that she can type written
responses more quickly
Which of the following behaviors are most likely to be associated with a student who
has post-traumatic stress disorder?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** becoming easily startled
demonstrating mistrust in adults
appearing unusually fearful
Isaiah and Matthew, who sit at the same table, often talk during independent work time
and are the last in class to finish their assignments. They rush to complete their work in
, TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Exam
the last five minutes so that they can line up to go to computer lab. Their teacher tried
walking around the room and praising all of the students who were working, but this
didn't change their rate of work completion. Then she started a new policy in which
students cannot go to computer lab until their work has been reviewed for completion
and accuracy. She reminds students of this rule before giving directions for the
independent assignment. What type of technique did their teacher use? ** Answ**
manipulating the consequent stimulus
A student who uses screen magnification software most likely has a primary
classification of: ** Answ** vision impairment.
Mr. Miller recognizes that his seventh-grade science class has many new vocabulary
words with each unit. What is one teaching practice he can use to assist his students
with disabilities that are also English Language Learners (ELLs)? ** Answ** Provide
a word wall with vocabulary words and pictures.
Jackie is a high school student with severe anxiety. Her intelligence falls into the high
average range, and she excels in language arts. Her anxiety has begun impacting her
ability to complete assignments, as she fears that she has misunderstood directions.
Which of these accommodations could help to ease her anxieties in the general
classroom? ** Answ** providing written and oral directions for assignments and
checking for understanding of the directions
Which of the following statements about Extended School Year (ESY) services is
accurate according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)? **
Answ** Eligibility for ESY is determined annually.
A special education class has been working on consonant digraphs and recognizing the
sounds that they make in words. The teacher used the "ch" digraph as an example, and
the class helped her make a list of words beginning with the digraph. What would be the
next activity to assess if students are beginning to grasp the concept of digraphs? **
Answ** Have students read a short, familiar story and then circle the digraph words
that begin with "ch."
Which of the following is the main purpose of instructing students with significant
cognitive disabilities using a functional curriculum? ** Answ** help students to
develop daily living skills needed for adulthood
A second-grade resource reading teacher is working with her students on nonfiction
text. When they encounter an unfamiliar word, she encourages them to use different
techniques such as sounding out the word, looking for known prefixes or suffixes, and
, TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Exam
determining meaning within context. What other technique might be helpful when
encountering a new word? ** Answ** looking at nearby pictures for hints
Which characteristics are common to students with visual impairment?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** stumbling or uncoordinated movement
heightened senses to accommodate for the lower functioning sense of sight
Mr. Ortiz is a paraprofessional that provides in-class support for second-grade students
with emotional disabilities. He has two students with Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
that center around work completion. One component of the plan is that the students will
receive 5 minutes of free choice time if they complete work independently. Mr. Ortiz
often prompts the students to begin working and reminds them of their free choice
activities, but he doesn't consistently follow through with providing free choice options
before moving onto the next activity.
How can his supervisor help with the implementation of the BIPs? ** Answ** Explain
the effects of assigning consequences and not following through on them, especially
with students who have behavior concerns.
Justine is a first grade student who receives resource services. She has multiple
disabilities and is an auditory learner. Which of the following instructional strategies best
supports Justine's preferred learning style? ** Answ** Allowing Justine to listen to
stories and directions read aloud by the teacher.
Which two of these would be appropriate accommodations for a student while
maintaining the integrity of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)?
Select all answers that apply. ** Answ** A ninth-grade student is working on maps in
World Geography. He has a visual impairment, so the maps are enlarged to 20-point
font size, and he is provided large-type labels with black print on a white background to
place on the countries, rather than writing the name over the color.
AND
A fifth-grade student with severe dyslexia is working on a research paper. The student
will be graded like other students, except his spelling will not count until the final draft.
He uses a word processor to assign spelling corrections on rough drafts..
A teacher has presented adding fractions to her class and they have used
manipulatives to gain a basic understanding. What is the next step in the learning
process? ** Answ** Give the students fraction addition problems using numbers
instead of manipulatives.
