Early Education Exam 1

Unoccupied behavior

The child moves about the classroom going from one area to another, observing but not getting involved

What is perceived competence?

The child's belief in his or her ability to succeed in a given task

Cooperative play

Typical of older preschoolers, this is the most social form of play and involves children playing together in a shared activity.

How do we define if someone is considered important in a child's life?

Emotional and legal ties to the child

What age is a toddler?

1 to 2 years

What are the six goals of the Child Development Associate program?

1. Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment. 2. Advance physical and intellectual competence. 3. Support social and emotional development and provide guidance. 4. Establish positive and productive relationships with families. 5. Ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs. 6. Maintain a commitment to professionalism.

How many words can a child's vocabulary grow to during the second year?

300

What do individuals who complete the Child Development Associate program receive?

A CDA credential

What are the five most common dispositions shared by early childhood teachers?

Empathy, positive view of others, positive view of self, authenticity, meaningful purpose and vision

How does a smaller group size increase the quality of care in a classroom?

A significant factor in providing quality care has to do with giving children individualized attention, confirming their unique identity and worth as individuals. When an adult is responsible for a large number of children, that adult is less able to provide such attention and is more concerned instead with controlling and managing the group.

What is the definition of an early childhood teacher?

A specifi cally trained professional who works with children from infancy to age eight.

Describe the basis of ecological systems theory

A useful approach to understanding the family as an ever-developing and changing social unit in which members constantly have to accommodate and adapt to each other's demands as well as to demands from outside the family

According to experts, which is the least enriching activity for children in early childhood education?

Accelerating aspects of children's development through didactic activities with high teacher control

Describe team teaching and its various aspects

An approach that involves co-teaching in which status and responsibility are equal rather than having a pyramid structure of authority, with one person in charge and others subordinate.

Considering current trends, why will we need more bilingual teachers in the future?

An increasing number of children from families whose first language is not English will be served by early childhood programs

As of 2013, what percentage of Head Start teachers nationwide are required to have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or an equivalent combination of education and experience?

At least half

What age is an infant?

Birth to 1 year

How can early childhood programs that support families contribute to a child's success?

Careful research has shown that high-quality early childhood programs, particularly those in which family support has been included, have a dramatic effect, not only in terms of children's later school achievement, but also on their families

Why should schools provide more opportunities for play?

Children are being raised in an increasingly pressured style that limits play and focuses more on academics and are being raised in an increasingly isolated environment. School allows an environment for children to play.

How does Arnold Gesell say children develop?

Children go through a predictable sequence of development, alternating between broad stages when they are in balance and ones during which they are in disequilibrium

Understand how and why development experts agree that play is a major way children learn

Children learn about their world through play when they can freely explore, practice adult roles, master their fears, and develop confidence and new competencies. The social benefits of play are highly valuable as children work in groups, negotiate and share with others, learn to resolve conflicts, make decisions, and stand up for themselves. In addition, play promotes development of active and healthy bodies. Play is also a joyful activity that brings great pleasure to children.

Parallel play

Children use similar materials or toys in similar ways but do not interact with each other.

What is the underlying principle concerning enrichment in early childhood education?

Children will benefit from experiences that they may not receive at home

If the values at home and school are the same, how will that help the child's self-concept?

Children's self-concept will be enhanced if the values promoted at home and in their school are the same

What does DAP stand for?

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

How do families react to having a child with special needs?

Each family reacts differently to having a child with disabilities. Responses may well be different, depending on the nature and severity of the child's disability.

What is a core concept of early childhood education?

Ensuring that programs make decisions about what is best for children based on knowledge of children's development and the cultural context within which they are being raised

Which term affects a teacher's ability to deal with the unexpected?

Flexibility

What do the code of ethics establish for the profession of early childhood?

Guidelines for behavior, facilitates decision making, and provides the backing of like-minded professionals when the practitioner takes a "risky but courageous stand in the face of an ethical dilemma"

A teacher who demonstrates perseverance is willing to do what?

Have a strong dedication and willingness to fight for what you believe in and advocate for children's needs as well as for your profession.

What is a main goal of Head Start?

Head Start is the largest publicly supported early childhood program, providing educational, nutritional, health, and parent support to enrolled children and families.

What are toddlers likely to do?

Imitate people while playing

Associative play

Increasingly evident as preschoolers get older, children interact and even share some of their materials, but they are not engaged in a common activity

Which group of children should have the lowest adult-child ratio?

Infants with a suggested ratio of 3:1

What are some different ways you can communicate with families?

Informal contact and formal contact (home visits, parent-teacher conference)

Why should young children avoid competitive play?

It fosters resentment and ill-will

What has happened to the Hispanic population in the United States over the past few years?

It has more than doubled in the past few years

What is the single largest factor contributing to high teacher turnover rates?

Low pay

A person who works closely with the head teacher to help implement his or her curriculum on a day-to-day basis is called a(n) ______.

The assistant teacher

What is the function of NAEYC? What services and standards does it provide?

NAEYC works to promote programs for young children and their families that are of a high quality and that contribute positively to children's development

What organization is responsible for the development of DAP?

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Do five-year-olds avoid responsibility?

No , five-year-olds take on considerable responsibility for maintaining and regulating a smoothly functioning program

What are some examples of enriching early childhood environments?

Participating in group activities, playing with a group of age-mates, or learning specific concepts from specially trained teachers

What are the characteristics of a good early childhood teacher?

Passion, perseverance, willingness to take risks, pragmatism, patience, flexibility, respect, creativity, authenticity, love of learning, sense of humor

A six-month old might have newly mastered what skills?

Reaching for and grasping objects, rolling over, and sitting up with support

What is the job description of a director?

Responsible for financial, personnel, policy, and facility decisions; provides community linkages; handles licensing and regulation; and is the ultimate decision maker in the chain of responsibility in all matters that pertain to the program. Also staff selection, training, monitoring, and evaluation.

What changes in society in recent years have made the need for childcare greater?

Rising cost of living, increased number of dual-income families, increase in single-parent families, increased number of teenage parents, greater mobility as families move more readily to different parts of the country, and a decrease in the impact of extended family

What skills would you most likely see in a room full of two-year-olds?

Side-by-side playing, tantrums, stack two boxes on top of each other

Who are infants most likely to recognize?

Significant people, especially parents and caregivers

How does more education and training help your positivity toward children?

Teachers engaged in more interactions with the children, and the children showed greater social and cognitive abilities compared with those whose teachers lacked such training and were rated as more positive and less punitive, employing a less authoritarian style of interaction with the children

When a person completes an academic teacher training program, he or she will most likely be required to pass what test?

The Child Development Associate program

What is true about the impact of changing family demographics?

The growing ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the population increases the chances that children will be cared for by adults whose expectations and practices differ from those of the child's family members

Which staff member is responsible for planning and implementing the daily program to meet the needs of individual children?

The head teacher

What is the difference between a microsystem and macrosystem?

The microsystem is the most immediate system that affects the individual like family or classroom. The macrosystem is the broadest system like cultural and political forces

What are some components of the microsystem in ecological systems theory?

The most immediate system that affects the individual; it includes the family, classroom, or workplace.

How can brain development during infancy be described?

The most rapid brain development in relation to sensory and language development takes place during the first year of life, while cognitive development peaks by age two to three

Give an example of adult-child ratio

The number of children for whom an adult is responsible, calculated by dividing the total number of adults into the total number of children; . teachers in classrooms with lower ratios were more sensitive and responsive to the children than teachers who had more children in their care

How does play affect a child's readiness for school?

The quality of play during the early years and children's readiness for school has strong connections

The foundation of developmentally appropriate practice is based on what?

The research of Arnold Gesell

What is a child's primary environment?

Their home and family

What are young children most likely to mirror?

Their primary environment

How do fundamental changes in the economy and family life affect early childhood education?

They have brought about the need for child care outside the home

Why are the social interactions of four-year-olds increased?

They have improved language skills and understand the reciprocal benefits of cooperation

How do early childhood teachers demonstrate authenticity?

This quality refers to self-awareness, knowing who you are and what you stand for

Who is most susceptible to lasting negative effects from teacher turnover?

Those at the lower end of the pay scale

How can early childhood teachers be sensitive to diverse families?

Through informal interaction that can establish a mutual trust, can convey a feeling of caring and interest to parents, and can heighten family involvement in the program

What is the most significant reason why early childhood centers don't offer higher wages and benefits for teachers?

To keep the cost to families low

What is the primary goal of child care programs?

To provide safe and nurturing care in a developmentally appropriate setting for children.

Do early intervention programs have long-term economic benefits? Explain.

Yes, although early intervention programs are expensive, their cost is more than recovered in subsequent years through greater schooling success, decreased need for special education, lowered delinquency and arrest rates, and decreased welfare dependence

What is an example of the "least restrictive environment?"

children with disabilities be placed in the least restrictive environment; this means they should be placed in programs that are as close as possible to settings designed for children without disabilities, while remaining appropriate for their unique needs.