CODESP Paraeducator 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student with autism spectrum disorder becomes upset during a transition between activities. What is the BEST first response for a paraeducator?
- Firmly redirect the student to the next activity immediately
- Use a visual schedule or timer to prepare the student for upcoming transitions (Correct answer)
- Allow the student to stay in the current activity indefinitely
- Send the student to the principal's office
Correct answer: Use a visual schedule or timer to prepare the student for upcoming transitions
Visual supports and advance warning help students with ASD manage transitions by reducing uncertainty.
Question 2: Under IDEA, a paraeducator's role in the IEP process is best described as:
- Leading the IEP team meetings as the student's primary support
- Providing observational data and input but not making final placement decisions (Correct answer)
- Writing the IEP goals and objectives independently
- Signing the IEP on behalf of the supervising teacher
Correct answer: Providing observational data and input but not making final placement decisions
Paraeducators contribute valuable classroom observations to the IEP team but do not lead the process or make final decisions.
Question 3: When using a least-to-most prompting hierarchy, which prompt type should be used FIRST?
- Physical guidance
- Verbal prompt
- Indirect verbal cue or gesture (Correct answer)
- Model prompt
Correct answer: Indirect verbal cue or gesture
Least-to-most prompting starts with the most indirect cue to encourage independence before increasing support.
Question 4: A paraeducator notices a colleague is using inappropriate physical restraint on a student. The paraeducator should:
- Ignore it to avoid workplace conflict
- Immediately intervene if safe to do so and report to a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Discuss it privately with the colleague later
- Document it in the student's permanent file without telling anyone
Correct answer: Immediately intervene if safe to do so and report to a supervisor
Student safety is the priority; paraeducators are mandated reporters and must report inappropriate restraint to a supervisor.
Question 5: Which instructional strategy involves breaking a complex skill into smaller sequential steps and teaching each step individually?
- Differentiated instruction
- Task analysis (Correct answer)
- Universal Design for Learning
- Scaffolding
Correct answer: Task analysis
Task analysis breaks complex skills into teachable steps, making learning manageable for students with diverse needs.
Question 6: A paraeducator is working with a student who has a hearing impairment. To best support comprehension, the paraeducator should:
- Speak loudly and exaggerate lip movements
- Ensure the student can see the speaker's face and use visual aids alongside speech (Correct answer)
- Avoid written materials as they can overwhelm the student
- Only communicate through sign language regardless of the student's needs
Correct answer: Ensure the student can see the speaker's face and use visual aids alongside speech
Visual access to the speaker's face and supplementary visual aids support comprehension for students with hearing impairments.
Question 7: What does the term 'confidentiality' mean in the context of a paraeducator's professional responsibilities?
- Sharing student information only with authorized school personnel on a need-to-know basis (Correct answer)
- Keeping all student information secret from all other school staff
- Sharing student progress updates with the student's neighbors when asked
- Posting student work publicly to celebrate achievements without consent
Correct answer: Sharing student information only with authorized school personnel on a need-to-know basis
FERPA requires that student information be shared only with those who have a legitimate educational interest.
CODESP Paraeducator 2
A student with autism spectrum disorder becomes upset during a transition between activities.
What is the BEST first response for a paraeducator?