Multiple Disabilities and Gifted and Talented

The Menendez family moved to the United States from Mexico a few years ago. They have a son, Miguel, who is 17 years old and has severe and multiple disabilities. Each year, the Menendez family has conflicts with Miguel’s teachers because they feel the focus of his education should be on communication, not becoming more independent. These differences are most likely the result of:

• The influence of the family’s level of education.

• The influence of academic expectations.

• The influence of culture on student learning.

• The influence of poverty on learning.

Curriculum built around each student according to interests, personal goals, and limitations in reaching these goals is called:

• Meaningful curriculum

• Individual curriculum

• Supported curriculum

• Diverse curriculum

Paraprofessionals MAY do each of the following EXCEPT:

• Move the student from pace to place

• Decide whether a specific behavior intervention is working and whether to continue it

• Implement behavior interventions as directed by the teacher

• Lead small group instruction that includes both students with significant disabilities and typical peers

Paraeducators should NOT do any of the following EXCEPT:

• Help the student when a peer could provide the assistance or the student could complete the task independently

• Record student learning and behavior as directed by the teacher

• Communicate with parents to discuss a student’s problem behaviors or instructional challenges

• Provide initial instruction or primary instruction to the student, including finding new ideas and trying them out

Which statement is true regarding identifying students who are gifted and talented?

• Students are identified by IQ scores.

• Each state sets its own definition and uses its own procedure for identifying students.

• Each state uses the same definition of giftedness and uses a common procedure for identifying students.

• none of the above

The estimates of the prevalence of students who are gifted and talented vary dramatically because:

• No single federal agency gathers the data

• So many definitions have been offered

• No tests exist to identify students as gifted

• Students identified as gifted are underrepresented

Giftedness is generally considered to be the result of a combination of what two factors?

• Genetic and financial status

• Environment and parents’ education level

• Genetics and environment

• Environment and financial status

Gifted learners can be misidentified as hyperactive for what reason?

• High energy levels

• Impulsivity

• Inattentiveness

• Cognitive abilities

In some cases, cognitive abilities cannot be accurately assessed using standardized tests. Which of the following is an alternative approach to assess student learning needs and ability?

• Self-rating checklist

• Aptitude test

• Achievement test

• Dynamic assessment

Many professionals in the field of gifted education are skeptical that students receive the education they need when they spend their days with their peers in general education because:

• Students cannot interact appropriately with their peers.

• They would benefit more from one-on-one instruction in a resource setting.

• Little differentiation is implemented in typical classrooms.

• Teachers are not trained to teach these students.