Hi, my name is Mayliann Moreau and I’m completing a program in Social Science at Ahuntsic College. I plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in teaching once I finish. I want to be a teacher for students with disabilities who require unique needs, so my field of study would be special education. This glossary would be helpful for those going to the same program as me at the university, but could also be interesting for everyone who wishes to learn new words or clarify some hazy terms.
academic
adjective
Relating to education and scholarship, it refers to subjects such as reading, writing, math, social studies, and science.
fr: académique
anxiety disorders
noun
A diagnosed condition involving heightened feelings of tension and worry, often resulting in physical symptoms, behaviors and distortions in thinking.
fr: troubles anxieux
aptitude test
noun
A test which measures someone’s capacity, capability, or talent for learning something.
fr: test d'aptitude
Asperger's Syndrome
noun
One of the five Autism Spectrum Disorders as outlined in the DSM-IV. Asperger’s is characterized by a social interaction impairment, limited or preoccupying interests and difficulty with non-verbal communication skills.
fr: syndrome d'Asperger
assessment
noun
The evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something. It may include observation, interviews, and testing methods to identify if a child has a disability, the severity of that condition, and the child’s educational needs based on his or her learning profile.
fr: évaluation
assistive technology
noun
Products or systems that support and assist individuals with disabilities, restricted mobility or other impairments to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible.
fr: aide technique
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
noun
A disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
fr: Trouble du Déficit de l'Attention avec ou sans Hyperactivité (TDAH)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
noun
A developmental disorder characterized by abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication; restricted repertoire of activities and interests; and/or repetitive patterns of behavior.
fr: Trouble du spectre de l'autisme (TSA)
bipolar disorder
noun
A diagnosed medical condition that involves intense phases of depression and mania that impair daily functioning.
fr: trouble bipolaire
classroom management
noun
The actions educators take to create and maintain an environment that's conducive to learning.
fr: gestion de classe
disability
noun
A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
fr: handicap
Down syndrome
noun
A diagnosed medical condition, caused by extra genetic material, resulting in impaired development, both mentally and physically.
fr: syndrome de Down
dyslexia
noun
A condition of neurodevelopmental origin that mainly affects the ease with which a person reads, writes, and spells despite normal intelligence.
fr: dyslexie
expressive language skills
noun
Skills required to produce language for communicating verbally or nonverbally with other people.
fr: compétences linguistiques expressives
fine-motor coordination
noun
Pertains to usage of small muscle groups (writing, cutting).
fr: motricité fine
individualized education program (IEP)
noun
A written educational plan for each special education student that includes instructional goals and objectives based upon the educational needs specified and developed by the IEP team.
fr: plan éducatif individualisé
intellectual disability
noun
A student who has significantly below average general intellectual functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior, which manifested during the developmental period, and adversely affects the student’s educational performance.
fr: déficience intellectuelle
pedagogy
noun
The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.
fr: pédagogie
social skills training
noun
Using direct instruction to teach students appropriate social behaviors that increase the individual’s social competency and acceptance.
fr: formation aux compétences sociales
visually impaired
noun
Students who are blind or who have partial sight and who, as a result, experience lowered educational performance.
