Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Grades 5-9 (5623) — Form 1
According to social learning theory, which of the following introductions to a spelling lesson is most likely to result in students' successful learning? A. "If you learn some basic spelling rules, you will become a better speller." B. "Let's see how many spelling rules you can write down in one minute." C. "Let's use your last composition to identify some words you don't know how to spell." D. "How would you rate yourself as a speller?"
A. "If you learn some basic spelling rules, you will become a better speller." Option (A) is correct. Social learning theorists suggest that the effect of a behavior has an impact on people's motivation to engage in that specific behavior. If a student expects a positive outcome from a behavior or thinks a positive outcome is highly probable, then the student is more likely to engage in that behavior.
Students read an article discussing common causes of the endangerment of species in this decade. The teacher then asks students to answer the following question. "What are some factors that contribute to the endangerment of a species?" The question serves primarily to A. check for understanding B. request clarification C. encourage divergent thinking D. assess evaluative skills
A. check for understanding Option (A) is correct. This question is designed to assess a teacher's knowledge of questioning. When checking for understanding during a lesson, questions are generally at the lower levels, requiring students to recall facts and other information that was covered. The teacher's question requires students to recall factors that contribute to the endangerment of species.
The primary advantage of a student portfolio as an alternative to traditional tests and measures is that a portfolio A. measures student achievement over a long span of time B. does not require a grade to be assigned to a student C. contains only standardized test results D. contains only authentic assessments
A. measures student achievement over a long span of time Option (A) is correct. Portfolios are comprised of multiple samples of a student's work — both traditional and nontraditional — that are collected over time, offering a very reliable composite of the student's progress and successes.
Which of the following most accurately describes a criterion-referenced score? A. A score that indicates how well a student understands the specific content on the test . A ranking that indicates how well a student understands the content relative to all of his or her peers C. A number that indicates a student's percentile rank relative to all other students in the district D. A value that compensates for the difference in difficulty between the test a student took this year and the test used last year
A. A score that indicates how well a student understands the specific content on the test Option (A) is correct. A criterion-referenced score indicates how well a student understands the specific learning outcomes that are being measured.
Which of the following is a curriculum accommodation appropriate for a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? A. A set of supplementary materials B. An adjusted class schedule C. A daily homework checklist D. A behavior contract
A. A set of supplementary materials Option (A) is correct. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) defines individualized objectives for a student who has been found with a disability, as defined by federal regulations. The IEP is intended to help children reach educational goals more easily than they otherwise would. Supplying additional materials would not modify the curriculum, but would help to accommodate a student's curricular needs to make the student more successful in the classroom.
Which of the following is most appropriate for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a student who is new to the school district? A. Diagnostic test B. Aptitude test C. Self-evaluation D. Interest survey
A. Diagnostic test Option (A) is correct. A diagnostic test is used by a teacher to assess a student's skills and knowledge levels to determine areas of strength and weakness. A diagnostic assessment is the most appropriate way for a teacher to determine the instructional needs of a new student.
A teacher will get better information from a criterion-referenced test than from a norm-referenced test about which of the following? A. How much each student has learned about a particular aspect of the curriculum B. How each student's knowledge of a particular aspect of the curriculum compares to that of students across the school district and state C. How each student's knowledge of a particular aspect of the curriculum compares to that of a national sample of students at the same age level D. How much of what each student knows about a particular aspect of the curriculum is based on prior knowledge
A. How much each student has learned about a particular aspect of the curriculum Option (A) is correct. Criterion-referenced tests are developed to assess knowledge and understanding of specified standards for learning particular content.
A school district has instituted a new mentoring program for first-year teachers in which they spend time during the school day observing and talking with a more experienced colleague who offers guidance and assistance. Which of the following best describes the main purpose of the program? A. Increasing new teachers' job satisfaction and commitment B. Helping new teachers learn about classroom procedures C. Encouraging new teachers to work collaboratively D. Training new teachers to try innovative teaching techniques
A. Increasing new teachers' job satisfaction and commitment Option (A) is correct. According to research, mentoring programs have a positive effect on teacher job satisfaction and commitment and, thus, increase retention of new teachers.
Which of the following assessments evaluates a student's performance as it compares to a larger sample of students? A. Norm-referenced B. Summative C. Aptitude D. Diagnostic
A. Norm-referenced Option (A) is correct. This question asks you to demonstrate your understanding of the uses and characteristics of different types of assessments. A norm-referenced assessment is used to compare a student's performance to a predefined population, such as peers who have taken the same test.
A school establishes a mentoring program for incoming teachers. Which of the following is the primary goal of this program? A. Providing one-to-one assistance for new teachers B. Ensuring group staff-development for new teachers C. Creating a thorough growth plan for struggling new teachers D. Developing a community-relations plan for new teachers
A. Providing one-to-one assistance for new teachers Option (A) is correct. Mentorship has one-to-one support as its goal.
Which of the following is an appropriate task to assign to a para-educator in a classroom? A. Providing student support during independent practice B. Designing and implementing lesson plans C. Conducting evaluations to measure student progress D. Developing behavioral intervention plans
A. Providing student support during independent practice Supporting students during independent practice is a task that paraeducators may perform in the classroom.
Which of the following activities best reflects a family-centered program and the promotion of parent partnerships with the school? A. Relating classroom activities to the various needs and interests of children and families B. Creating programs that offer community resources after school C. Implementing before- and after-school programs for students in the community D. Providing opportunities for families to use the school's computer lab
A. Relating classroom activities to the various needs and interests of children and families By relating classroom activities to the needs and interests of students and families, the school promotes parent partnerships and a family-centered program.
Which of the following best summarizes the intended benefit of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for children with disabilities? A. Removing barriers to education by ensuring a free appropriate public education (FAPE) B. Providing remediation in the educational process C. Increasing access to educational assistive technology services D. Guaranteeing health, housing, educational, and employment services
A. Removing barriers to education by ensuring a free appropriate public education (FAPE) Option (A) is correct. The Section 504 regulation requires a school district to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified person with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the person's disability.
Throughout the year, a teacher assists students with developing and achieving specific, challenging, short-term goals. Which of the following is the teacher helping to foster in the students? A. Self-efficacy B. Attribution C. Extrinsic motivation D. Cognitive dissonance
A. Self-efficacy Option (A) is correct. By helping students to form and achieve attainable goals, the teacher is fostering the belief individuals need to have in themselves to be intrinsically motivated in future tasks.
Ms. Moran has concerns that one of her students is performing below grade level. Which of the following will provide the most accurate and meaningful information on the student's level of performance relative to others of the same age or grade level? A. Standardized test B. Relative grading standard C. Performance assessment D. Formative evaluation
A. Standardized test This question is designed to assess your understanding of the distinctions among different types of assessments. The student's standardized test scores would give the teacher information about the student's performance in comparison to others in his or her grade.
Which of the following expresses the primary purpose of thematic instruction? A. To help students build the mental connections necessary for recalling and integrating information B. To address students' different modes of learning and different learning styles C. To motivate students by engaging them in activities they naturally find interesting D. To encourage students to take responsibility for their learning processes
A. To help students build the mental connections necessary for recalling and integrating information Option (A) is correct. Themes offer students a way to understand new concepts by providing them with a mental organizing scheme with which to approach new ideas. The clearer and more easily understood a connecting pattern is, the easier it will be for the brain to integrate the new information.
One of the strategies teachers can use to best help students develop self-motivation is A. guiding students to see personal meaning in what they are learning B. providing opportunities for students to compete with one another C. emphasizing the importance of earning top grades D. encouraging students to set goals that exceed their potential
A. guiding students to see personal meaning in what they are learning Option (A) is correct. This question is designed to assess knowledge of the implications of foundational motivation theories for instruction, learning, and classroom management. Self-motivation refers to motivation that is driven by an interest or enjoyment in the task itself, and exists within the individual, rather than relying on any external pressure. Such motivation can be gained by seeing personal meaning in what is being learned.
Ms. Petra is presenting a lesson about the water cycle and has given each student a diagram to label. As she teaches, she moves toward a student named Tyler, who she notices is being inattentive. Without interrupting instruction, she points to the place on Tyler's diagram where he should be writing a label. Ms. Petra's actions can best be classified as an example of A. nonverbal communication B. differentiation of instruction C. checking for understanding D. closure
A. nonverbal communication Option (A) is correct. Cues, such as the teacher pointing to the place on the student's diagram, are types of receptive nonverbal communication in which some type of interaction is used to communicate a desired reaction.
Explaining to students what they are going to learn and why that learning will be important to them is one of the elements of A. scaffolding B. modeling C. guided thinking D. differentiating instruction
A. scaffolding Option (A) is correct. Scaffolding involves the use of specialized teaching strategies geared to support learning when students are first introduced to a new subject. Scaffolding gives students a context, motivation, and foundation from which to understand the new information.
Students can be taught to throw and catch any ball without being taught how to throw and catch every type of ball used in sports. This cognitive ability is best known as A. transfer B. cause and effect C. patterning D. accommodation
A. transfer Option (A) is correct. Transfer is the ability to apply learning from one context to another context that shares similar skills or characteristics.
Some gifted students have been integrated into a regular classroom. The teacher can most appropriately meet the needs of the gifted students by doing which of the following? A. Increasing the amount of classwork required of the gifted students B. Creating assignments for gifted students that allow them to explore the content in greater depth C. Having a teacher of gifted students pull the gifted students from the class for separate instruction D. Providing homework for the gifted students that is more difficult than the homework given to the rest of the class
B. Creating assignments for gifted students that allow them to explore the content in greater depth Option (B) is correct. Differentiating curricula for the gifted implies modifying the curriculum to meet students' differing learning rates, styles, interests, and abilities. One means of modification is creating assignments that allow gifted students to explore content in greater depth.
A teacher-centered, skill-building instructional model in which the teacher provides the majority of the information is best known as which of the following? A. Socratic B. Direct C. Indirect D. Integrated
B. Direct Option (B) is correct. This question tests knowledge of a variety of instructional models. Direct instruction is teacher-centered and involves the teacher giving instruction with little to no input from the students, as in a lecture. It is most often used when presenting new information.
The concept of a spiraling curriculum, where learners continually build knowledge on what they already know, has its basis in the theories of A. Lev Vygotsky B. Jerome Bruner C. Lawrence Kohlberg D. Benjamin Bloom
B. Jerome Bruner Option (B) is correct. This question asks you to identify the contributions of various educational theorists. Bruner contended that learning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current and past knowledge.
Which of the following resources is primarily used as an aid in getting students to understand an abstract concept at a physical or concrete level? A. Computer simulations B. Manipulatives C. Videos or DVDs D. Learning games
B. Manipulatives Option (B) is correct. For a learner to understand and handle a concept at the abstract or symbolic level successfully, he or she must first understand the concept at the other two levels — concrete then pictorial. Using concrete manipulatives is the first step to using mental images and models. When students demonstrate understanding with the concept at this physical, or concrete, level, then they are ready to move to the next level, where they can apply their knowledge using representations of the objects in place of the objects themselves.
Which of the following is the best example of a First Amendment right being exercised in the classroom? A. Mr. Jax allows students to use the restroom during any part of his class. B. Ms. Steel frequently holds debates and allows students to voice their opinions. C. Ms. Swisher allows students to tease one another during lunchtime, if they are not serious. D. Mr. Jones does not allow students to voice poor opinions of elected officials.
B. Ms. Steel frequently holds debates and allows students to voice their opinions. Option (B) is correct. The First Amendment offers five freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. By allowing students to voice their opinions frequently during class debates, the teacher is supporting freedom of speech.
An English-language learner (ELL) recently dismissed from the English as a Second Language (ESL) program is now having difficulty in science. The student is proficient in everyday spoken English but has difficulty answering questions orally during class and responding in writing to test questions. Which of the following should the teacher do to best support the development of the student's academic language proficiency? A. Readmit the student to the ESL program B. Scaffold instruction to support the student's comprehension C. Talk to the student about the importance of studying D. Lower achievement expectations for the student
B. Scaffold instruction to support the student's comprehension Option (B) is correct. English-language learners will continue to need scaffolded instruction during their transition out of the ESL program.
Some parents complain to the principal about a project assigned to their children by the eighth-grade English teacher. The principal reviews the assignment and determines that it is indeed too advanced for the students' grade level. To best explain to the teacher why the assignment is inappropriate, the principal should refer to which of the following curriculum components? A. Sequence B. Scope C. Behavioral objectives D. Philosophy statement
B. Scope Option (B) is correct. The curricular concept of scope deals with the breadth of what will be taught in a subject, while sequence deals with the order in which the constituent materials will be taught. A project that is too advanced for the students lies outside the appropriate scope.
Which of the following is a limitation of using a scoring guide for assessing student writing? A. Using a scoring guide increases the likelihood of subjectivity. B. Students may be overwhelmed by the amount of information provided on the scoring guide. C. A scoring guide gives students no information on why they received a particular grade. D. A scoring guide offers students no suggestions for writing improvement and growth.
B. Students may be overwhelmed by the amount of information provided on the scoring guide. There is generally a wealth of information on a scoring guide that can be overwhelming to students, which is a limitation of using this type of assessment.
A teacher implements message journals in the classroom. The teacher sends a journal home with each student on Monday, along with a note regarding accomplishments, concerns, needs, and upcoming school events. Parents return the journals on Thursday with any questions or concerns. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the journals? A. Increasing family participation in school events B. Supporting communication between home and school C. Encouraging honest family conversations about school D. Promoting awareness of the complexity of the student's school day
B. Supporting communication between home and school Option (B) is correct. The message journals support the communication between home and school by providing two-way communication.
A high school English teacher wants to incorporate interactive message boards and other social media activities into an upcoming unit of study. Which of the following would be the best resource for helping the teacher develop the activities? A. The child study team B. The libraBry media specialist C. The special education teacher D. The gifted and talented teacher
B. The libraBry media specialist Option (B) is correct. The library media specialists look at curriculum, assignments, and learning in terms of the information resources, processes, and technologies required for student success. The library media specialist could best assist the teacher in incorporating interactive message boards and other social media activities.
Which of the following best characterizes a teachable moment? A. The teacher includes news accounts of contemporary historical events as part of the planned instructional materials. B. The teacher briefly digresses from the planned lesson to explain a concept or event that has captured students' collective interest. C. The teacher discontinues a lesson to address poor behavior or to improve a negative classroom atmosphere. D. The teacher gives students an opportunity to learn a concept implicitly rather than through direct instruction.
B. The teacher briefly digresses from the planned lesson to explain a concept or event that has captured students' collective interest. Option (B) is correct. A teachable moment is often spontaneous, such as focusing on a concept that has captured students' collective interest.
Mr. O'Conner is a first-year middle school mathematics teacher. Over the course of the year, he has struggled with classroom management. Which of the following opportunities would be the most beneficial for Mr. O'Conner right now? A. The school district is offering a workshop focused on various ways to communicate with parents. B. There is a local workshop on promoting emotional intelligence in the classroom. C. There are research articles that focus on new strategies in mathematics instruction. D. A community agency is offering teachers the opportunity to apply for grant funds.
B. There is a local workshop on promoting emotional intelligence in the classroom. Option (B) is correct. This question is designed to assess your understanding of a variety of professional development practices and resources. A workshop that promotes emotional intelligence would give the teacher strategies that he could use in his classroom to address his management problems.
Which of the following actions indicates that a teacher is applying cognitive learning theory into classroom practice? A. Asking students questions that require them to draw conclusions B. Using tools that help students see the interrelatedness of information C. Modeling desired behaviors to promote appropriate student behavior D. Having students work in small groups to understand and solve realistic problems
B. Using tools that help students see the interrelatedness of information Option (B) is correct. Cognitive theory focuses on the interrelatedness of information. Using tools such as concept maps reflects cognitive theory and helps students see the relationships between concepts.
The primary purpose for which national and state agencies establish learning standards is to A. inform school districts of the skills and content tested on standardized achievement tests B. define the skills and content to be taught and the level of expected performance C. express skills and content covered in a number of different subject areas in an equivalent format D. shift the emphasis of instruction from facts and procedures toward conceptual understanding
B. define the skills and content to be taught and the level of expected performance Option (B) is correct. This question asks for the purpose for setting learning standards. National and state learning standards set uniform expectations for all students and provide a foundation for defining the knowledge and skills students need in a given subject area.
A teacher wants to develop an assessment based on the work of Benjamin Bloom. To best meet the goal, the assessment should include: A. scaffolding tasks for the knowledge and skills that will be assessed B. test questions that assess varying levels of understanding C. items that correspond with students' primary learning styles D. opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in writing
B. test questions that assess varying levels of understanding Bloom's work involved different levels of complexity of learning objectives that can relate to assessment of those objectives.
Which of the following teacher statements is an example of appropriate and effective positive feedback? A. "It's clear that you worked harder on this project than anyone else in the class." B. "This photograph is exactly what the contest judges are looking for." C. "This was a tough problem, but you worked hard until you solved it." D. "Nice job on this essay. Why can't you write like this every time?"
C. "This was a tough problem, but you worked hard until you solved it." Option (C) is correct. The question is designed to assess knowledge of a variety of strategies for helping to motivate students using appropriate feedback. The statement in option (C) provides feedback that gives the student an internal locus of control.
In which of the following situations might a student's culture or family structure affect his or her ability to learn? A. A student living with an extended family is asked to interview family members to construct a family tree. B. A student whose family observes an ethnic holiday is asked to share information about the celebrations with the class. C. A student from a large family whose members own and work in a family business is asked to work quietly and independently. D. A student from a family where English is not spoken at home is assigned to work in a cooperative group.
C. A student from a large family whose members own and work in a family business is asked to work quietly and independently. Option (C) is correct. It describes a scenario markedly different from the student's accustomed environment. A student who is comfortable working with others may have difficulty working quietly and independently.
Student: I can't find any information on my topic.Teacher: Are you having trouble finding good resources for information?Student: Yes, and I'm never going to. I want to change my topic.Teacher: You sound frustrated. Where have you looked so far? Which of the following best describes the teacher's strategy in the dialogue above? A. Reciprocal teaching B. Coaching C. Active listening D. Debriefing
C. Active listening Option (C) is correct. One primary component of active listening is to restate what the other person has said.
A teacher wants students to effectively use peer assessment to improve their writing. Which of the following is the best first step when guiding students in how to do so? A. Introducing a checklist for evaluating a peer's writing B. Evaluating sample writing pieces as a class C. Establishing criteria for good writing D. Following the procedures for effective writing
C. Establishing criteria for good writing Option (C) is correct. The best first step when using peer assessment in the classroom is to establish criteria. As a group, students determine what should be assessed and how criteria for successful completion of the communication task should be defined to provide the most helpful feedback to their peers.
A teacher uses exit tickets during the last five minutes of math to assess the effectiveness of the lesson and plan for future instruction. Which of the following types of assessment does this best represent? A. Summative B. Diagnostic C. Formative D. Interim
C. Formative Option (C) is correct. Formative assessment provides the teacher with feedback and information during the course of the instructional process that are not necessarily graded. Exit tickets are effective when used as a formative assessment to help the teacher plan instruction for future lessons.
Ms. Rivers is developing a lesson for her seventh-grade history class. A colleague has suggested that she use scaffolding to help her students effectively access the information. Which of the following strategies has the best potential to help her use this approach? A. Having the students role-play important events from the historical period being studied B. Asking students to use reproductions of actual historical documents and artifacts to draw conclusions about causes and effects of certain actions C. Having students use study guides as they read material and listen to class lectures D. Taking students on a field trip to a relevant historical site or museum and then having them write a first-person account of what they experienced
C. Having students use study guides as they read material and listen to class lectures Option (C) is correct. This question tests the ability to apply knowledge of the instructional strategy of scaffolding. Scaffolding instruction is the strategy a teacher uses to help students understand how new information is organized and how different parts of it are related to one another. Typically, scaffolding involves some tangible aids for connecting and organizing information, such as visual organizers, outlines, and/or content guides that clearly and systematically represent the order of new material.
Mr.Young's middle school students are having difficulty with a project that requires them to keep a notebook in which they record careful, systematic scientific observations and then write two possible hypotheses that could be tested on the basis of the observations. Which of the following theories will best help Mr. Young understand why so many of his students are having difficulty with the project? A. Erik Erikson's theory on the stages of psychological development B. Jerome Bruner's theory on how information is processed C. Jean Piaget's theory on the stages of cognitive development D. Lev Vygotsky's theory on social learning
C. Jean Piaget's theory on the stages of cognitive development Option (C) is correct. Piaget's classification of the stages of developmental readiness suggests that the students may not yet be ready to move from concrete observations (the concrete operational stage) to abstract hypotheses (the formal operational stage).
A science teacher wants to build a garden on school property for students to grow plants and study life cycles. The teacher creates an action plan that includes goals for involving the community. Which of the following describes the best first step for the teacher's action plan? A. Assigning tasks to all stakeholders for the project B. Getting students to ask local businesses for donations C. Meeting with administrators to talk about the purpose and scope of the project D. Asking parents to send in monetary donations to support the garden
C. Meeting with administrators to talk about the purpose and scope of the project Option (C) is correct. The administration should be informed before a teacher implements an action plan that includes community involvement.
According to the cognitive theory of learning, the most valid evidence that students have learned a body of information is that they can A. repeat or retell the information on demand B. read the information at their appropriate grade level C. apply what they have learned in a new setting D. function at higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy
C. apply what they have learned in a new setting Option (C) is correct. From a cognitive learning perspective, learning involves the transformation of information in the environment into knowledge that is stored in the mind. Learning occurs when new knowledge is acquired or existing knowledge is modified by experience.
When planning his lessons, Mr. Ruiz decides to base much of his instructional approach on Lev Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development. According to the theory, which of the following strategies will best support learning for a 13-year-old student? A. Having the student work alone in a quiet atmosphere where appropriate grade-level reference materials are readily available B. Giving the student many opportunities for practice so that mastered skills and concepts are reinforced C. Pairing the student with a peer whose level of skill and concept mastery is slightly more advanced D. Providing the student with manipulatives and access to technology
C. Pairing the student with a peer whose level of skill and concept mastery is slightly more advanced Option (C) is correct. This question asks you to apply your knowledge of Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development, which states that instruction is most effective when the level of expectation is slightly ahead of the student's current level of understanding. Vygotsky believed that the zone of proximal development is most effectively used to advance student learning when mentorship from a knowledgeable adult or more advanced peer accompanies the instruction.
Which of the following best identifies the process in which two equally experienced teachers provide each other with feedback, support, and assistance to improve teaching performance? A. Evaluating B. Observing C. Peer coaching D. Mentoring
C. Peer coaching Option (C) is correct. Peer coaching is a confidential process through which two or more professional colleagues work together to reflect on current practices; expand, refine, and build new skills; share ideas; teach each other; conduct classroom research; and/or solve problems in the workplace.
Antonio, an intermediate-level English-language learner (ELL) in the ninth grade, is having difficulty following a class lecture on frogs. He especially has trouble keeping track of all of the characteristics of the animal when trying to take notes. Which of the following actions would be best for the teacher to take to assist Antonio during future lectures on frogs? A. Providing Antonio with a seventh-grade level textbook that features several passages on frogs B. Assigning Antonio a language buddy who can clarify misunderstandings in their shared first language C. Providing Antonio with a word-web graphic organizer that includes a word bank of key vocabulary being used during the lecture D. Assigning Antonio preferential seating at the front of the classroom during lectures
C. Providing Antonio with a word-web graphic organizer that includes a word bank of key vocabulary being used during the lecture Option (C) is correct. A graphic organizer, such as a word web that features key vocabulary, will help Antonio follow the lecture and organize his notes. This is an appropriate accommodation given Antonio's proficiency level.
A physical education teacher decides to teach students how to execute the jump shot by showing them videos of great basketball players performing the action. Students then practice the shot based on the video. Which of the following educational theories is the teacher's technique most based on? A. Connectivism B. Behaviorism C. Social learning D. Cognitivism
C. Social learning According to social learning theory, learning occurs when people imitate or model the behaviors of others. The students are modeling the performance of skilled basketball players when learning the jump shot in their physical education class.
Which of the following is the best example of the diagnostic component of formative assessment? A. Students write a brief response to summarize the main points of a lecture. B. Students create a Venn diagram to organize ideas for an essay. C. Students complete the K and W parts of a KWL chart about the Great Depression. D. Students create a multimedia presentation about a novel they have just completed reading.
C. Students complete the K and W parts of a KWL chart about the Great Depression. Option (C) is correct. This question is designed to assess your understanding of the distinctions among different types of classroom assessment practices. Formative assessments are designed to provide feedback during the instructional process to allow the teacher to adjust instruction to address students' needs.
Which of the following best identifies an observable and measurable instructional objective for a unit of study on Hispanic cultures? A. Students will recognize the influence of Hispanic cultures on American society. B. Students will learn the significance of a mother's surname to an individual's full name in Hispanic cultures. C. Students will compare and contrast holidays celebrated in Hispanic cultures with holidays celebrated in other cultures. D. Students will understand the influence of Hispanic cuisine on American foods.
C. Students will compare and contrast holidays celebrated in Hispanic cultures with holidays celebrated in other cultures. Option (C) is correct. The learning objective is observable and measurable as it focuses directly on what the student should know and be able to do by the time the lesson is completed.
Which of the following describes an informal assessment that a teacher might use to best check individual students' understanding of a lesson or unit in progress? A. The teacher has students work in groups of three to solve a problem they have not seen before and asks them to keep careful record of their reasoning. B. The teacher has students work in groups of four to solve a problem and has one representative of each group come to the board to write out the group's solution. C. The teacher asks each student to write two sentences that answer a question on a topic the teacher puts on the board midway through the class. D. The teacher facilitates a brief whole-class discussion, eliciting questions from students about a topic.
C. The teacher asks each student to write two sentences that answer a question on a topic the teacher puts on the board midway through the class. Asking each student to write briefly during class serves as an informal assessment, which allows the teacher to check individual understanding.
Mr. Rose wants to improve the quality of responses and the level of participation by students during class discussions. Which of the following techniques has the greatest potential for improving the thoughtfulness of students' responses and stimulating wider participation? A. Making a seating chart on which he keeps a record of each student's participation B. Using peer tutoring in which more-able students work with less-able students C. Waiting longer between posing a question and calling on students to respond D. Giving verbal and visual clues to the kind of response he is seeking
C. Waiting longer between posing a question and calling on students to respond Option (C) is correct. Providing more time for reflection and using higher-level questioning stimulates students to think at a more complex cognitive level and to provide longer, often unsolicited, more speculative responses. To encourage such responses, teachers must pose questions and then wait for students to think before they respond.
An eighth-grade class is using a computer software program to learn French. The students enjoy using the program, but they become frustrated when it frequently loops back to vocabulary they were shown earlier. The students most likely do not understand that A. the computer is limited in the number of vocabulary words it can teach B. the computer cannot pace learning the way a human teacher can C. repeated exposure will help them place the vocabulary words in a schema D. their frustration is keeping them engaged in the lessons
C. repeated exposure will help them place the vocabulary words in a schema Option (C) is correct. Students learning a new language are like a small child acquiring language. It takes many repetitions of a word before it finds a place in a schema and is usable.
For each row, select whether the assessment described is norm-referenced or criterion-referenced. A multiple-choice test that evaluates basic mathematics skills for the purpose of determining a student's need for academic support A mathematics test provided by the district twice each year that determines student mastery of state performance standards A pretest and posttest that evaluate teaching effectiveness and students' learning progress in mathematics
Correct Answer: 1,4,6 Assessment 1 is norm referenced. A prime example of a norm-referenced test is one that is used to determine a need for academic support. A norm-referenced test helps ascertain whether a student has acquired the skills needed to function successfully at his or her grade level. Assessment 2 is criterion referenced. Criterion-referenced tests are often used to determine whether a student has obtained the expected knowledge and skills in a certain area and whether there are any gaps in learning. Assessment 3 is criterion referenced. Criterion-referenced tests are also used to evaluate the effectiveness of a course of study.
For each learning goal, indicate the domain with which it is associated. For each row, select all that apply. Some rows may be empty. Students will create an original piece of art using their favorite colors and share it with the class. Students will label the States and their capitals on a map of the United States. Students will be able to solve classroom conflicts through discussions and role play.
Correct Answer: 2,3,4,8,9 The first learning goal is associated with the affective and psychomotor domains because it describes creating something, which is in the psychomotor domain, and using favorite colors is in the affective domain. The second learning goal is associated with the cognitive domain because it includes recalling and matching data through cognitive skills. The third learning goal is associated with the affective and psychomotor domains because solving conflict through active discussion is an affective domain activity, and acting out solutions in role-play situations is a psychomotor activity.
A teacher wants to use copyrighted materials in class. For each row, select whether the action is allowed or prohibited under copyright laws. A teacher makes 25 copies of a compilation of songs. Students practice the songs in class and perform them in the auditorium for parents. A teacher makes 25 copies of a short story from a book to be distributed to each student in the class. A teacher copies a poem to be displayed in class. Students discuss the poem in small groups.
Correct Answer: 2,3,5 The action described in the first statement is prohibited because under copyright laws, teachers may not make copies of music to be performed outside the classroom by students. The action described in the second statement is allowed because under copyright laws, teachers may make a reasonable amount of copies from a book for the purpose of teaching within the classroom environment only. The action described in the third statement is allowed because under copyright laws, teachers may display copyrighted material in distance learning as long as the material is relevant to the course of study, would typically have been displayed by the teacher, and is used only by those in the classroom.
According to B. F. Skinner, which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement? A. A reward is given; a desirable behavior increases B. A reward is given; an undesirable behavior increases C. A sanction is imposed; an undesirable behavior is eliminated D. A sanction is removed; a desirable behavior increases
D. A sanction is removed; a desirable behavior increases Option (D) is correct. According to B.F. Skinner, negative reinforcement occurs when a particular behavior is caused by the withdrawal of a stimulus.
Which of the following is most representative of a portfolio assessment? A. A teacher's anecdotal records about students' reading behaviors B. A student's laboratory report on a science experiment C. A teacher's observations during independent math work D. A student's collection of original poems at the end of a poetry unit
D. A student's collection of original poems at the end of a poetry unit A typical portfolio assessment consists of a collection of student work accumulated over a period of instruction such as a unit or course.
Which of the following contributes most to the development of an inviting and inclusive environment for middle school students? A. Integrating units of study in core academic areas that connect to adolescent issues B. Promoting parent involvement in school and extracurricular activities C. Varying instructional techniques to promote student engagement in learning D. Assigning an adult advocate to monitor each student's academic and social development
D. Assigning an adult advocate to monitor each student's academic and social development Option (D) is correct. An inviting and inclusive school environment for young adolescents promotes in-depth learning and enhances students' physical and emotional well-being. Every student is guided by an adult advocate who monitors and supports the student's academic and personal development.
Which of the following terms best describes a cognitive process that involves combining information to develop new understanding, concepts, or ideas? A. Lateral thinking B. Stream of consciousness C. Conjecture D. Creative thinking
D. Creative thinking This question asks you to demonstrate your knowledge of the cognitive processes associated with learning. Creative thinking involves combining information to develop new understanding, concepts, or ideas.
A student who exhibits a pattern of inappropriate interpersonal relationships frequently enough to interfere with the learning process may be eligible for special education services under which of the following areas of exceptionality? A. Other health impairment B. Developmental delay C. Speech/language impairment D. Emotional/behavioral disability
D. Emotional/behavioral disability Option (D) is correct. The question is designed to assess knowledge of areas of exceptionality. The information provided does not indicate that the student has a developmental delay, a speech/language impairment, or another type of health problem.
Which of the following federal mandates protects the confidentiality of educational records for parents and students? A. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 B. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 C. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 D. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
D. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that provides protection and rights for the family in regard to educational records.
Which of the following best describes Piaget's cognitive stage in which children are able to debate social matters and other abstract ideas? A. Sensorimotor B. Preoperational C. Concrete operational D. Formal operational
D. Formal operational According to Piaget, while children tend to think very concretely and specifically in earlier stages, the ability to think about abstract concepts and debate social matters emerges during the formal operational stage of cognitive development.
Which of the following activities is specifically associated with reflection about teaching practices? A. Technology workshop B. Curriculum alignment C. Independent research D. Peer observation
D. Peer observation Option (D) is correct. Peer observation encourages reflection on teaching practices. Peer observation allows teachers to observe and offer feedback to benefit from each other's experience and expertise while promoting teaching excellence.
Which type of memory stores information for approximately 20 seconds while the mind determines whether the information needs to be retained? A. Procedural B. Long-term C. Implicit D. Short-term
D. Short-term Option (D) is correct. Short-term memory involves the ability to recall information for a relatively short time.
Which of the following is the best example of a statement that is negatively intrinsic? A. Teacher: If you complete this assignment, you will get a good grade. B. Student: I really want to complete this assignment. C. Teacher: If you do not complete this assignment, I will give you detention. D. Student: I really do not want to work on this assignment.
D. Student: I really do not want to work on this assignment. Option (D) is correct. The statement is negative and intrinsic because the student wants to avoid working on the assignment. Intrinsic motivation occurs when someone wants to do something, usually to benefit themselves in some way. Negative motivation is directed away from something that someone wants to avoid.
Which of the following is most likely to be effective as a summative assessment? A. Students write a brief response to summarize the main points of a lecture. B. Students create a Venn diagram to organize ideas for an essay. C. Students discuss with a partner a question posed by the teacher. D. Students create a multimedia presentation about a novel they have just finished reading.
D. Students create a multimedia presentation about a novel they have just finished reading. Option (D) is correct. A multimedia presentation about a novel that the students have just finished reading is a summative assessment; it is designed to evaluate students' understanding at the end of the unit, or in this case, at the completion of a novel.
Which of the following best describes a cognitive characteristic of intellectually gifted students? A. They have a heightened sense of self-awareness. B. They are idealistic and have a strong sense of justice. C. They possess high expectations of themselves and others. D. They have the ability to generate original ideas.
D. They have the ability to generate original ideas. Gifted students often possess an intense desire to learn about their own interests. Their cognitive ability to think at abstract levels earlier than same-aged peers and form their own ways of thinking about problems and ideas indicates that intellectually gifted students need advanced content and choice in learning activities.
According to Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs, people cannot achieve self-actualization without first A. accepting that their lower-order needs may never be met B. recognizing that their lower-order needs are unimportant C. satisfying the needs of others D. satisfying their lower-level needs
D. satisfying their lower-level needs Option (D) is correct. Before achieving the highest level in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, one must achieve the previous needs--physiological, safety, love, and esteem.
Place the behavioral theorist's name next to the classroom practice that best implements his theory. Order as 1:Students are given assignments on the basis of their ability levels and provided with frequent opportunities for success. Order as 2:Students are encouraged to eat if hungry, provided with a safe environment, and made to feel accepted in the classroom. Order as 3:Students are given a reward for positive behavior and academic success and a consequence for negative behavior and lack of academic progress. Order as 4:Students are assessed and encouraged to work at their own pace as they are introduced to new information one step at a time. A. Watson B. Maslow C. Thorndike D. Erikson
The correct order is Erikson, Maslow, Watson, and Thorndike because each behaviorist has his own unique theories which are applied to the classroom in different ways. Erikson's stages place elementary age students in the industry versus inferiority stage, which says that to encourage industry, students need to feel successful and work at their level. Maslow's hierarchy of needs starts with basic physiological needs—food and shelter, then safety, followed by a feeling of belonging. Watson's theories center around reward and punishment (positive and negative reinforcement). Thorndike's theories center on the law of effect, which says that "when a connection between a stimulus and a response is positively rewarded it will be strengthened, and that the more the stimulus-response bond is practiced, the stronger it becomes. By teaching new information in small steps and providing quick and timely assessments for students, the teacher is using the "Law of Effect" to increase student success and understanding.
