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Section 4: Sample Multiple-Choice Questions
WEST–E Early Childhood Special Education (071)

The sample test questions in this study guide are designed to give you an introduction to the nature of the questions included in the Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E). They represent the various types of questions you may expect to see on an actual test in this test field; however, they are not designed to predict your performance on the test as a whole.

Work through the sample questions carefully before referring to the answers. The correct response and test objective being assessed are provided for each question. When you are finished with the sample questions, you may wish to review the test objectives and descriptive statements provided in the test framework for this test field.

In addition to reading and answering the sample questions, you should also utilize the following preparation materials available in this study guide:

Practice Questions

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Understanding Young Children With Disabilities

Objective 0001: Demonstrate knowledge of human growth and development.

1. Which of the following terms describes the critical stage in language development in which typical four-month-old infants begin to vocalize the consonant and vowel sounds used in speech?

  1. babbling
  2. mouthing
  3. cooing
  4. gurgling
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

2. Which of the following motor skills should a child master prior to entering kindergarten?

  1. skipping with alternate feet
  2. demonstrating appropriate pencil grip
  3. balancing while walking on a narrow surface
  4. cutting precisely with scissors
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

3. By 6 months of age, typically developing babies show desire to interact with:

  1. other people, if their caregivers are present.
  2. other babies and young children.
  3. caregivers and family members.
  4. pets and other animals they encounter.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0002: Understand the characteristics and needs of young children with disabilities.

4. In which of the following situations must an early childhood special education teacher employ universal precautions for health and safety?

  1. when serving a snack to a group of students
  2. when washing the face of a student who has been crying
  3. when shaking the hand of a new student in the class
  4. when cleaning a cut on a student's forehead
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

5. Ensuring the consumption of sufficient calories to support health and development is an issue of particular concern with young children who have:

  1. cystic fibrosis.
  2. epilepsy.
  3. muscular dystrophy.
  4. asthma.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

6. Which of the following intellectual disabilities does not have a genetic component?

  1. Down syndrome
  2. fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)
  3. autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  4. cerebral palsy
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

7. A second-grade student with autism spectrum disorder was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The student's parents/guardians have asked the early childhood special education teacher if they can keep insulin injections at school in case they are needed. Which of the following actions should the teacher take first?

  1. finding a safe place within the classroom for the insulin injections and requesting training from the parents/guardians
  2. asking the school nurse to contact the parents/guardians to discuss storing the insulin injections
  3. scheduling a training session with the school nurse to learn how to administer the insulin injections
  4. requesting an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting and inviting the school nurse to discuss the student's needs
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0003: Demonstrate knowledge of the factors affecting the development and learning of young children with disabilities.

8. An early childhood special education teacher co-teaches in a classroom with three-year-old children. The teachers routinely provide children with opportunities to choose an area in which they would like to play. For example, children can choose between a block area with vehicles and various building blocks, a kitchen area with play food and utensils, and a writing area offering a variety of writing tools and papers. Which of the following statements best explains why this is a developmentally appropriate practice for young children?

  1. Playing in themed interest centers increases children's understanding of social rules.
  2. Young children learn best in relatively unstructured environments.
  3. Exercising choice fosters children's development of self-directedness and a sense of control.
  4. Young children tend to play more creatively when the play ideas are generated by adults.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

9. A second-grade student is demonstrating difficulty with letter sound recognition, rhyming, and pronouncing words correctly. These educational implications are common signs of which of the following disabilities?

  1. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  2. dyslexia
  3. developmental delay
  4. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders (FASDs)
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

10. The Deaf community views deafness as:

  1. a disability with which one is born.
  2. a difference in a person's history, traditions, and language.
  3. a trait that dictates with whom a person can communicate.
  4. a condition that can be corrected with technology.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Assessment and Program Development

Objective 0004: Demonstrate knowledge of types and characteristics of assessments for young children with disabilities and family needs and resources.

11. A special education teacher has administered a norm-referenced test to reevaluate a kindergarten student. At the team meeting, which of the following types of scores would be the most meaningful for reporting areas of improvement?

  1. grade equivalent score
  2. percentile rank score
  3. developmental score
  4. age equivalent score
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

12. A special education teacher has decided to evaluate a second-grade student using a curriculum-based assessment. Which of the following would be the most appropriate first step in this process?

  1. planning an effective way to score the test
  2. describing the skills that need to be measured
  3. creating a comprehensive bank of test items
  4. determining the appropriate performance standards
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

13. In which of the following ways can early childhood special education teachers most effectively use standardized assessment results?

  1. determining Individualized Education Program (IEP) goal selection
  2. deciding a student's educational placement based on data
  3. diagnosing a student with a specific disability
  4. making comparisons about student ability based on normed data
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0005: Demonstrate knowledge of procedures for conducting assessments to address the individual needs of young children with disabilities.

14. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team has decided to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) of a kindergartner who has suddenly become physically aggressive with peers and adults. In order to develop an effective intervention plan, which of the following FBA procedures should the team follow first?

  1. Create a hypothesis to explain the purpose of the behavior.
  2. Identify the events that occur before the behavior.
  3. Define the behavior in observable and measurable terms.
  4. Prepare a plan for collecting data on the behavior.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

15. Which of the following methods is most efficient and effective in identifying preschoolers who may be in need of intervention services?

  1. behavior rating scales
  2. developmental screenings
  3. curriculum-based assessments
  4. standardized instruments
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

16. Parents/guardians of a kindergarten student have requested that their child be evaluated for special education services. Which of the following actions should the school district take first?

  1. obtaining parent/guardian consent, in written form, prior to the evaluation
  2. conducting the initial evaluation within 60 days of the parent/guardian request
  3. providing the parent/guardian with a list of least restrictive environment options to consider
  4. assembling a team of multidisciplinary professionals to evaluate the student
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

17. A three-month-old infant who spent 25 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and was diagnosed with visual impairment was referred to early intervention (EI) services. The EI multidisciplinary team had an initial visit with the infant's family and will return to complete the initial assessment on the second visit. Which of the following diagnostic methods would be most appropriate for the EI team to use to qualify the infant for EI services?

  1. observing the infant and collecting relevant developmental data
  2. administering a vision and hearing test with the infant
  3. utilizing a curriculum-based assessment with the infant
  4. asking the infant's parents/guardians to complete several questionnaires
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0006: Apply knowledge of procedures for developing and implementing individualized programs for young children with disabilities.

18. A team will be meeting to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for an infant with Down syndrome. Which of the following would be the most appropriate strategy for engaging the infant's parents/guardians in the IFSP process?

  1. putting the parents/guardians in touch with other families who have participated in IFSP development
  2. drafting a tentative IFSP for the parents/guardians to review and respond to before the meeting is held
  3. asking the parents/guardians to read specific articles on Down syndrome prior to the IFSP meeting
  4. helping the parents/guardians identify family needs, concerns, and preferences to address in the IFSP
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

19. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to include:

  1. provisions for extended school year services.
  2. a statement regarding placement in natural environments.
  3. consideration for the least restrictive environment.
  4. transition planning documents.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

20. Which of the following placement options is the most restrictive for a five-year-old child receiving early intervention (EI) services?

  1. resource classroom
  2. separate specialized school
  3. general education classroom
  4. residential facility
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Delivering Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) to Promote Development and Learning

Objective 0007: Demonstrate knowledge of research-based strategies for designing and managing developmentally appropriate learning environments and utilizing Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) to promote the learning, behavioral, and social interaction skills of young children with disabilities.

21. A special education teacher works in a preschool classroom. Whenever the teacher sees a potential dispute developing, the teacher defuses the situation by providing words to use and actions to take. For example, the teacher might say, "Jean, please give the drum back to Terica and tell her you would like to use it when she is through." The best rationale for this type of behavior management is that such an approach:

  1. resolves conflicts instantly and allows for no argument.
  2. definitively identifies the individual who initiated the conflict.
  3. takes advantage of peer pressure to minimize the incidence of conflicts.
  4. models tools children can use to avoid or resolve conflicts.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

22. A kindergarten student receives Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) for mild developmental delays that affect learning, behavior, and social interactions. The student spends much of her time alone. The student's infrequent attempts to play with peers generally result in tearful or angry complaints that the student shoved someone, or grabbed a toy, or knocked over something that had been carefully built. Which of the following would be the teacher's most effective strategy for meeting the student's needs under these circumstances?

  1. watching closely when the student tries to play with others and stepping in immediately if she starts behaving inappropriately
  2. explaining to the student why her classmates respond the way they do and encouraging her to consider the situation from their perspective
  3. teaching the student specific skills for initiating play and turn-taking, and coaching her in the context of actual play situations
  4. guiding the student to play beside other children who are playing alone, and gradually prompting the children to combine their activities
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

23. An early childhood special education teacher notices that a four-year-old child in the class is working on building a tower with wooden blocks. The child is becoming frustrated because the tower keeps falling down and begins yelling and crying. To most effectively promote positive behavioral support with the child, the teacher should:

  1. redirect the child to an activity the teacher knows he can perform successfully.
  2. ask a peer who is playing near the child to assist him with his building project.
  3. remind the child of the consequences for losing his temper in the classroom.
  4. help the child move to the time-out area.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0008: Demonstrate knowledge of research-based strategies for delivering Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) in academic areas to young children with disabilities.

24. A third-grade general education teacher asks a special education teacher for advice about working with a student who has an auditory processing disorder. The teacher says that the student does not answer questions during whole-class and small-group discussions about familiar content, even when asked a direct question. Which of the following would be the special education teacher's best initial suggestion for supporting the student's participation in discussions?

  1. Review questions with the student at the beginning of the week that may be asked during upcoming lessons.
  2. Ask the student questions that require simple yes-or-no responses.
  3. Have the student write down his answers and give them to you to read aloud for him.
  4. Provide the student with additional wait time after you ask him a question.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

25. A special education teacher works in a first-grade inclusion classroom. The class is studying a mathematics unit in which they identify various coins and their values and applying basic addition and subtraction concepts. Which of the following instructional strategies would be most appropriate for the teacher to recommend to promote all students' understanding and acquisition of these skills?

  1. creating a classroom store in which students use play money to purchase items while acting out the roles of shoppers and cashiers
  2. playing a math Bingo game based on the various coins and their denominations
  3. designing a long-term project in which students and their parents/ guardians open savings accounts and make deposits and withdrawals
  4. assigning homework in which students match pictures of coins with their corresponding values
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

26. A third-grade student with an intellectual disability is having difficulty understanding the concept of simple fractions. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate to support the student's conceptual understanding of fractions?

  1. practicing fraction flashcards with the student until the student has memorized fraction concepts
  2. utilizing practice worksheets that focus on rote learning with the student
  3. allowing the student to work with a peer mentor during fraction-based activities
  4. using concrete objects such as fraction tiles with the student to practice fractions visually and tactilely
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

27. Tier 3 of response to intervention (RTI) requires students to be monitored by the early childhood special education teacher:

  1. during alternative strategies in small-group settings.
  2. when using behavior plans on a periodic basis.
  3. through individualized, intensive interventions.
  4. within high-quality, scientifically based classroom instruction.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0009: Demonstrate knowledge of research-based methods for delivering Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) in the areas of adaptive, communication, and functional living skills for young children with disabilities.

28. Which of the following approaches would likely be most effective in promoting the expressive language skills of a preschool child who has language delays?

  1. assigning the child classroom helper jobs that require gathering information from others
  2. ensuring that the child is called upon each day to answer a question during circle time
  3. providing the child with activities where an item essential to completing the activity is missing
  4. encouraging the child to bring a favorite toy from home to play with each day
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

29. A family with an infant who is deaf is receiving early intervention (EI) services. The infant is profoundly deaf and will receive bilateral cochlear implants in a few months. The infant's parents/guardians would like their child to learn how to listen and talk; however, they are unsure about how best to communicate with their child until the implantation. The early childhood special education teacher suggests using sign language until the infant has access to sound and then slowly discontinuing sign language. This suggestion is an example of:

  1. Specially Designed Instruction (SDI).
  2. second language acquisition.
  3. response to intervention (RTI).
  4. English language skills development.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

30. A two-year-old child with CHARGE syndrome who has been receiving early intervention (EI) services is about to turn three years old and attend preschool. The parents/guardians are concerned about their child's needs. They would like to know what types of services will be provided to their child in preschool and have requested a team meeting. At the meeting, which of the following topics would be most important to discuss first?

  1. identification of appropriate goals for the child in the new setting
  2. location of a support group for parents/guardians of children with CHARGE syndrome
  3. transition planning to ensure the child's and family's needs are met
  4. alternative placement options available within the community
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Foundations and Professional Practice

Objective 0010: Understand the philosophical, historical, and legal foundations in the education of young children with disabilities.

31. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) safeguards the interests of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers by:

  1. requiring states to create child find and early intervention programs.
  2. directly monitoring the services received by each child.
  3. mandating federal funding for early childhood programs.
  4. affirming children's right to state-of-the-art assistive technologies.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

32. The trend toward incorporating play and other developmentally appropriate activities into the education of young children with disabilities is supported by research that demonstrates the benefits of:

  1. resource rooms.
  2. center-based programs.
  3. clinical instruction.
  4. natural environments.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

33. Which of the following factors most frequently contributes to disproportionate representation of students in special education and gifted education programs?

  1. behavioral abilities
  2. systemic bias
  3. language delays
  4. academic aptitude
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

34. Which of the following court cases provided constitutional precedence to the disability rights movement and the parents/guardians of children with disabilities to seek laws for equal educational opportunities for all children regardless of ability?

  1. Brown v. Board of Education
  2. Honig v. Doe
  3. Armstrong v. Kline
  4. Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0011: Apply knowledge of strategies for communicating and collaborating with others to help young children with disabilities achieve desired learning outcomes.

35. An early childhood special education teacher works in a kindergarten inclusion classroom. Which of the following approaches would likely be the most effective way for the teacher to promote positive and strong relationships with students' parents/guardians?

  1. creating a classroom newsletter that highlights parents/guardians who have donated materials or volunteered time in the classroom
  2. contacting parents/guardians on a regular basis to report their children's successes and accomplishments in school
  3. scheduling yearly parent-teacher conferences in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate parents'/guardians' work schedules
  4. requesting that parents/guardians send in photographs to be displayed on a classroom bulletin board featuring the children's families
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

36. Which of the following approaches would best describe the collaboration between parents/guardians and professionals in the natural environment setting working with children birth to three years of age?

  1. group intervention
  2. relationship-based intervention
  3. collaborative intervention
  4. play-based intervention
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

37. A single mother of an infant with a disability is concerned about being evicted from her apartment as she is unable to work while caring for her child. The mother voices this concern to a member of her child's early intervention (EI) team. To best support the mother's needs, which of the following resources should the EI provider recommend first?

  1. local counseling services
  2. Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Head Start
  3. the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  4. daycare options with sliding scales
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0012: Demonstrate knowledge of the professional and ethical responsibilities of the early childhood special education teacher.

38. A new paraeducator will begin working with a first-grade student with an intellectual disability. The early childhood special education teacher would like to ensure that the paraeducator understands the student's needs and knows some strategies for working effectively with the student. Which of the following approaches would be the most appropriate first step for the teacher to take in meeting this goal?

  1. providing the paraeducator with journal articles about students with intellectual disabilities to read prior to working with the student
  2. encouraging the paraeducator to contact student's parents/guardians to ask for advice on how best to establish a bond with their child
  3. asking the paraeducator to read the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) reports from the time she began attending school
  4. discussing the student's strengths and needs with the paraeducator and having the paraeducator observe as the teacher works with the student in various contexts
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

39. A five-year-old child walks with crutches as the result of an orthopedic impairment. The child attends a general education preschool class and receives related services twice a week. One day the child tells his special education teacher that the class will be going on a field trip to the zoo. The special education teacher knows that this type of trip may be physically difficult for the child. The special education teacher could best advocate for the child in this situation by:

  1. contacting the child's parents/guardians to encourage one of them to volunteer as a trip chaperone to monitor the child's comfort and well-being.
  2. offering to plan a substitute activity for the child at school that would present similar concepts without the physical challenges a field trip would entail.
  3. meeting with the preschool teacher to discuss accommodations that would enable the child to participate fully during the trip.
  4. suggesting other potential field trip ideas that would be less likely to pose significant difficulties for the child.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

40. Which of the following attributes is most important for an early childhood special education professional to possess to effectively work with all students?

  1. demonstration of cultural sensitivity and awareness
  2. knowledge of components of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)
  3. awareness of and ability to use alternate communication modes
  4. an understanding of the history of special education
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.