General
What is dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia?
Specific learning disability in reading, math, and writing.
What is the main principle in behaviorism?
Positive reinforcement (aka rewards) is most effective in behavioristic interventions.
Immediacy principle: Rewards and punishments must be given promptly after the behavior and must be valued by the person to be effective.
What is IDEA?
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a U.S. federal law that ensures students with disabilities have the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
Why do we need data?
To identify the problem and plan interventions
To increase or decrease levels of intervention
To help determine whether interventions are implemented with fidelity
To decide whether interventions are related to positive student outcomes (effectiveness)
To plan individualized instruction and strategic long-term educational planning
What is social learning theory and what are the main implications?
Social learning theory says people learn behaviors by observing others, especially when those behaviors are rewarded or modeled by people they identify with. Its main implication is that environments, role models, peers, media, and observed consequences strongly shape behavior—not just direct experience.
What are FBA/BIPs?
An FBA is a comprehensive and individualized method to identify the purpose or function or function of a student's problem behavior(s). FBAs are vital tools for school psychologists. FBAs are used to develop a plan to modify factors that maintain the problem behavior and to teach appropriate replacement behaviors using positive interventions.
BIPs are the behavior intervention plan informed by FBA to increase desired behavior or decrease undesired behavior by teaching replacement behaviors or targeting the antecedent.
What are the 14 SPED eligibilities?
What kind of informal data should you collect at the start of an assessment process?
Student files and records (Cumulative review) Teacher/student/parent interviews. Review of previous interventions (if applicable), Health/Development History/Family history
What kind of interviewing can you incorporate when you're using solutions-oriented counseling approaches? How do you do it?
Motivational interviewing. You use a series of questions to identify their motivations/values and identify barriers to the goals/motivations, and identify potential solutions to overcome the barriers.
Name the 10 practice model domains OR the 4 broad themes of the NASP ethical standards.
The 4 broad themes of the NASP Ethical Standards are:
What is cognitive-behavioral theory? Explain what it is and give an example of how to apply it in intervention.
Cognitive-behavioral theory says that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, and that changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors can improve emotional functioning. It assumes people’s interpretations of situations—not just the situations themselves—strongly influence how they feel and act.
Example intervention: a student with test anxiety might think, “If I fail this test, I’m stupid,” which increases panic and avoidance. A CBT intervention would help the student identify and challenge that thought (“One test does not define my intelligence”), practice coping skills like relaxation, and gradually engage in test-taking situations to reduce anxiety over time.