FT SPED 5 Way Test Opener

Does it BENEFIT learners?

You’re planning a lesson for your students with diverse learning needs.

One student struggles with reading comprehension so this lesson will be hard for them.

What best aligns with the Five-Way Test?

• Ask the student to read the passage independently, even if they don’t understand.

• Provide the student with adapted materials (visuals, simplified text) to support access to content.

• Skip the lesson for that student.

• Give the student unrelated work so they don’t disrupt others.

Does it ALIGN with our VALUES of flexibility, personalization, and quality?

You have a student who is highly motivated by cooking.

How could you plan instruction that reflects CCA’s values?

• Keep the same lesson for everyone, regardless of interests.

• Let the student watch cooking videos without any connection to standards.

• Create a functional math and reading lesson using recipes and cooking steps.

• Ask the student to pick their own unrelated activity.

Will it PREPARE learners for SUCCESS?

You’re deciding between two activities for a life skills lesson. Which best supports this principle?

• Completing a worksheet about grocery shopping vocabulary.

• Role-playing a grocery shopping trip with real-life vocabulary and math practice.

• Skipping the activity if students seem tired.

• Telling students what grocery shopping is without practice.

Does it SERVE and RESPECT families?

A parent shares that their child becomes overwhelmed during large group sessions.

What should you do?

• Tell the parent that the schedule can’t be changed. They need to come to the lessons.

• Ask the parent to manage it at home on their own.

• Acknowledge their response and ask if we can work together to provide learning opportunities that work better.

• Ignore the feedback.

Is it the RIGHT thing to do?

You notice a student isn’t receiving their SDI as documented in their IEP.

What is the best response?

• Assume someone else will fix it.

• Ignore it since the student seems fine.

• Document your observation and alert the appropriate team members immediately.

• Wait until the next IEP meeting.