Professional Knowledge OAE
A checklist would likely be most useful and appropriate for achieving which of the following assessment goals in an elementary classroom? A. monitoring students' use of various reading skills and strategies as they read orally B. evaluating students' mastery of content covered during an instructional unit C. analyzing steps used by students to solve mathematical problems at various levels of complexity D. documenting students' overall level of academic effort and improvement over time
A
A child in an early childhood class has cerebral palsy. The child is able to maintain stability while standing and walking and can grip with her left hand, but she has difficulty using her hand to lift. Which of the following would be the teacher's best modification of a movement activity in which the whole class will wave a parachute up and down? a. positioning the child between classmates in a way that allows her to hold on while they control the up and down motion b. introducing a related activity in which the child and a classmate duck under the parachute as it is being lifted by the other children c. redesigning the activity to have the class hold the parachute in their left hands and rotate it by walking around in a circle d. appointing the child to act as the class raises and lowers the parachute
A
A new elementary teacher is planning a lesson to introduce a new science concept to a class that includes ELLs with varying levels of EL proficiency. The teacher can best help ensure that the lesson will be responsive to the needs of the ELLs by including which of the following steps in the planning process? A. identifying ways for students to use various hands-on materials and activities to reinforce and apply the targeted concept B. developing several written practice exercises that reinforce the targeted concept for the ELLs to complete for homework C. reviewing content covered in fourth and fifth grade science textbooks that is relevant to the targeted concept D. asking the ELLs to identify strategies they believe will be most effective in helping them learning the targeted concept
A
A student with multiple disabilities will be enrolling in a middle school. In regard to educating this student, school staff should be aware of their legal responsibility to: A. deliver instruction and services to the student in the least restrictive environment appropriate for meeting his or her needs B. incorporate into the student's school day ongoing opportunities to interact with similarly disabled peers or adults C. revise the student's IEP each grading period in response to his or her classroom performance D. provide the student with instruction that enables him or her to perform at grade level in the basic skill areas of reading and math
A
A teacher can best promote students' intrinsic motivation to master content and skills by using evaluation practices that: A. acknowledge each student's improvement and progress in learning B. reinforce strong student performance through the provision of concrete rewards C. take into account each student's performance relative to that of peers in the classroom D. define individualized criteria for mastery based on students' prior performance
A
A teacher is planning a long-term project that will require each student to research and report on a topic related to an upcoming unit of study. The teacher would like to use the project to enhance students' organizational and time-management skills. Which of the following teacher strategies would best help promote achievement of this goal? A. having students track their own progress on a teacher-developed chart that lists the tasks required for the project and indicates when each task should be complete B. giving students a clearly defined project deadline and being available to assist any students who need help in meeting the deadline as their work proceeds C. assigning pairs of students with different strengths and needs to monitor each other's work on the project and provide each other with regular feedback D. providing students with the rubric that will be used to evaluate their projects and prompting them to use the rubric to assess their work in progress on an ongoing basis
A
A teacher is planning to present a new concept to a class of elementary students. which of the following is the most important reason for the teacher to question the students periodically throughout the presentation? A. to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction B. to help students stay focused on the presentation C. to highlight the main points of the lesson D. to provide students with positive reinforcement for learning
A
A teacher regularly utilizes peer tutoring in math. The teacher pairs students according to skill level and makes sure that each of the students has a turn in the role of tutor. Which of the following is likely to be the most important benefit of incorporating this type of peer support into instruction? A. increasing students' motivation to learn math content B. prompting students to evaluate their math performance in relation to that of their classmates C. helping students develop efficient and effective study skills in math D. accelerating the pace at which students are able to master math content
A
According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the elementary years are a critical period for individuals to develop a sense of: A. competence B. autonomy C. identity D. trust
A
An elementary classroom includes students with diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. the teacher can best provide a positive learning environment that promotes all students' ability to achieve to their potential by emphasizing which of the following approaches? A. taking into account students' particular strengths, needs, and interests when planning and delivering instruction B. using strategies, such as posting grades or offering rewards for excellence, that facilitate students' ability to compare performance among individuals and groups C. giving students frequent opportunities to work in groups whose membership is based on common background factors D. emphasizing the use of student self-assessment and peer assessment over teacher assessment for evaluating student learning and academic progress
A
An elementary teacher is considering alternative strategies for grouping students for an upcoming instructional activity. In deciding which of the grouping strategies to use, the teacher should place the greatest emphasis on determining which one is likely to be most effective in: A. providing appropriate challenge and support for all students B. allowing all students to complete the activity within the allotted time C. facilitating use of any supplemental resources that are available for the activity D. ensuring that students will be able to work with peers with whom they are most familiar and comfortable.
A
In a class that includes students with diverse backgrounds, the teacher gathers evaluative information obtained through written tests and quizzes. The teacher also gathers info informally by observing students during class activities and discussing instructional content with students. Which of the following is the most important benefit of the teacher's approach to evaluating student performance? A. it helps ensure an accurate assessment of students' mastery of instructional content and skills B. it communicates to students that their real-world performance is more important than performance in formal testing situations C. it increases students' sense of accountability for their own school achievement and progress D. it facilitates assessment of students' overall cognitive development as well as their knowledge of specific content
A
Scaffolding is likely to be most effective in promoting student learning when: A. the teacher uses scaffolding techniques that are tailored to each student's specific needs B. students are able to play a role in determining which scaffolding techniques will be used C. the teacher explains to students how particular scaffolding techniques will be used before applying them D. students have had ample prior experience with the scaffolding techniques that will be used
A
The teacher observes that students make errors to provide incorrect answers most frequently during the guided practice portion of the lesson. Which of the following is the most appropriate and effective strategy for the teacher to use in addressing these errors? A. using a related but simpler question or problem to help students discover the correct answer B. showing students where to find the correct answer in their textbook C. writing the correct answer to the question or problem on the board for students to copy D. encouraging students to make an educated guess at the correct answer
A
Which of the following language arts activities would best promote the development of elementary students' higher-order thinking skills? A. examining the persuasive techniques used in advertisements for a popular soft drink B. surveying their peers about the character they most admire in a book the class has recently read C. responding to a set of comprehension questions after reading a magazine article D. following a checklist of steps for developing an oral presentation on a self-selected topic
A
Which of the following steps would be most helpful and appropriate for a teacher to take first in planning differentiated instruction to help the students in a class achieve a particular learning goal? A. diagnosing the students' various levels of readiness and need in relation to the defined learning goal B. identifying a variety of texts and other resources related to the defined learning goal that are available within the school C. conducting an informal survey to determine current student attitudes regarding the defined learning goal D. creating heterogeneous groups of students who will work together on activities related to the defined learning goal
A
Which of the following strategies is likely to be most effective in fostering prosocial behaviors in kindergarten students? A. modeling the desired behaviors for students consistently in the context of everyday classroom situations B. inviting the school counselor to discuss examples of the desires behaviors with students C. issuing frequent verbal reminders to students about using the desired behaviors D. creating a bulletin board or other classroom display illustrating the desired behaviors
A
Which of the following teacher strategies is likely to be most effective in helping maximize time on task for a class of first graders? A. guiding students to learn and use specific behaviors for making transitions between activities B. beginning each school day by reviewing with students the day's learning goals and activities C. sequencing lessons in a way that allows students to alternate between individual and group activities D. establishing a system in which different students are assigned to serve as class monitor each day
A
A 3rd grade teacher plans to have students write book reports throughout the year. The teacher would like to have the students use self-assessment as part of the process of evaluating their book reports. Which of the following teacher actions would best support students in using effective self-assessment skills for their book reports? A. having the students use the teacher's evaluation of their book reports as a means of guiding their own self assessments B. helping the students identify specific criteria for evaluating a book report and apply those criteria in their self-assessments C. giving the students self-assessments written by students in previous years to use as models for their own self-assessments D. providing class time for the students to write their self-assessments as soon as possible after they finish each book report
B
A class includes a student with physical and cognitive disabilities that affect various aspects of the student's functioning. In planning a small-group activity for the class, the teacher should consider which of the following questions first in regard to the student? A. does the student generally exhibit a preference for individual activities over group activities? B. what steps can i take to facilitate the student's fullest possibly participation in the activity? C. which classmates would likely be most willing to include the student in their group during the activity? D. are there alternative activities i can arrange for the student that would address the same instructional goal?
B
A first-grade student with disabilities leaves his general education class frequently to work with specialists in a resource room. The first-grade teacher wants to ensure that the general education classroom represents a positive and secure environment for this student. Which of the following actions by the first-grade teacher would best foster the achievement of this objective? A. asking the specialists in the resource room to emphasize to the student that the general education class is his primary placement B. designing instruction that supports the student's development of friendships and sense of belonging in the classroom community C. encouraging the student's parents to create ongoing opportunities for the student to interact with his classmates outside of school D. providing an explanation to the class about the nature of the student's disability and the services he receives in the resource room
B
A first-grade teacher develops the following math activities to help promote students' understanding of geometry concepts: Feel it box: students select shapes from a box and explore them first with their eyes closed, then with their eyes open. Make a shape: small groups work with elastic cords to form various shapes Build and rebuild a shape: students use a variety of blocks and other items such as straws and clay to build, take apart, and rebuild 2 and 3D shapes. Which of the following describes the greatest strength of this set of activities? A. prompting students to engage in increasingly abstract thinking B. providing each students with opportunities for active engagement with the content C. incorporating a variety of materials into learning tasks D. making connections between the content and students' lives and experiences
B
A first-grade teacher gives each student in a small group a ball of clay of approx. the same size. the teacher observes that after several students split their clay into two pieces, one student is unhappy, stating that 'they have a lot more clay' than he has. the teacher's observation most strongly suggests that this student: A. may be showing signs of a possibly developmental delay in the cognitive domain B. has not yet developed the concept of conservation of mass C. may be showing signs of a possible developmental delay in the social-emotional domain D. has not yet developed the concept of object permanence
B
A preschool teacher observes two three-year-olds playing silently side by side in a sandbox, each building a castle. Which of the following would be the most appropriate conclusion for the teacher to draw in regard to this behavior? A. the children's play is advanced for their age and suggests that they may be gifted learners B. the children's play falls within the developmentally appropriate range for preschoolers C. the children's play seems overly static and in need of intervention to stimulate greater creativity D. the children's play is typical of much younger children and suggests significant developmental delays
B
A second-grade teacher is planning a science activity in which students will work in pairs to perform a simple experiment. The experiment involves multiple steps that must be performed in the correct sequence. The teacher can best communicate these steps to second-grade students by using which of the following strategies? A. having each student copy the steps for the experiment from an overhead transparency B. stating one or two steps of the experiment at a time and then assisting students in completing those steps C. asking the class to read the steps aloud before beginning the experiment D. posting a complete list of steps for the experiment on the board and directing students' attention to them from time to time
B
A social studies teacher and the library media specialist are meeting for the first time to discuss an upcoming unit they will be teacher together. Which of the following should be the primary focus of this initial meeting? A. determining who will be the lead teacher in each lesson B. identifying student learning goals for the unit C. analyzing their individual teaching styles to identify similarities D. generating a list of potential student activities for the unit
B
A teacher is planning an introductory lesson for a new instructional unit. The teacher would like to use the lesson to promote students' interest in and motivation to learn the material in the upcoming unit. The teacher can best achieve this goal by developing an introductory lesson that: A. offers students a preview of key unit concepts and ideas B. arouses students' curiosity about unit content C. communicates high teacher expectations for student learning during the unit D. promises students opportunities for significant challenge as the unit proceeds
B
A third-grade teacher is beginning a math lesson when the parent/guardian of a student who has been struggling in the teacher's class enters the classroom unexpectedly. The parent/guardian is upset and states that she wants to discuss her child's performance. Which of the following would be the teacher's most appropriate response in this situation? A. "perhaps you would like to make arrangements to observe your child's performance in this class. then we can meet to discuss your concerns in more detail." B. "I see that you're very concerned, but I cannot interrupt instruction to discuss this with you now. I will contact you to arrange a conference time that accommodates your schedule." C. "Let me assign students a seat work activity and I will be glad to meet with you. There is a quiet corner at the back of the classroom where we can have our discussion." D. "I'm sorry, but visitors are not allowed in my classroom during instruction without making prior arrangements. Here is my schedule for the month; please call to set up a formal conference time."
B
An early childhood teacher is beginning to create a professional development plan. Which of the following steps should be taken earliest in the planning process? A. determining the documentation methods B. setting short and long term goals C. defining how progress will be measured D. identifying supporting resources
B
An elementary teacher is considering using a within-class ability grouping as part of an overall approach to reading instruction. The teacher can best reduce the potential negative effects of this grouping strategy by taking particular care to: A. establish instructional goals for each group that are aligned with students' past academic performance B. view groups as flexible and regroup students as appropriate to address specific learning needs C. engage groups in a number of noninstructional tasks to promote the development of a group identity D. assign neutral labels to groups and vary the order in which he or she works with groups on a daily basis
B
An elementary teacher is planning a geography lesson to introduce students to the concept that the resources available in a region influence the size and distribution of the region's population. The teacher is likely to be most successful in promoting student understanding of the targeted concept by implementing a lesson than: A. prompts students to explore the specific cognitive skills they will be using in learning the concept. B. relates the concept to familiar situations or to concepts the students have previously learned C. provides concrete reinforcement for students demonstrating significant effort to learn the concept D. allows students to take the lead in determining procedures to be used to learn the concept
B
An elementary teacher observes that some students tend to talk to themselves softly during individual problem-solving activities. The teacher should be aware that this type of self talk: A. suggests that a student is feeling a high level of anxiety about the learning task B. helps guide a student's thinking about the learning task C. plays a key role in developing a student's self-confidence in his or her ability to learn D. indicates that a student may have an undiagnosed learning disability
B
During a lesson in an elementary class, a student asks a question that the teacher does not know how to answer. The teacher responds by saying, "what an interesting question! I'd really like to know that myself. let's see what the computer can tell us." the teacher helps the class research the question on the internet and then leads an animated class discussion about the findings. Which of the following is likely to be the most important benefit of the teacher's actions? A. giving students an opportunity to explore instructional content from varied perspectives B. modeling for students intellectual curiosity and strategies for pursuing new learning C. promoting students' use of divergent thinking in relation to academic content D. prompting students' self-reflection on their own understanding of lesson content
B
When constructing an end-of-unit test for students in an elementary classroom, it is most important for the teacher to ensure that the test questions: A. require students to use varied levels of thinking from recall to analysis in relation to unit content B. are aligned with the unit's defined instructional objectives C. reflect a range of difficulty levels from relatively easy to highly challenging D. prompt students to apply unit content in new ways
B
During social studies units, a third-grade teacher often introduces lessons about a particular US president with a narrative typically include incidents from the president's childhood, examples of obstacles he had to overcome, and some of the successes and failures he experiences in his life. These narratives are likely to be effective in enhancing students' interest in learning about the presidents primarily because this approach: A. projects to students the teacher's enthusiasm for the content B. makes the content more concrete and personal for students C. conveys to students the value of the content to be learned D. directs students' attention to unusual aspects of the content
B
Each day as students enter their classroom, they move their name tags from the main board to the 'buying' or 'bringing' lunch board. As students unpack their belongings, the teacher notes absences indicated by unmoved name tags as well as the lunch count for the day. Which of the following statements provides the best rationale for this procedure? A. giving each student a specific role in the operation of the classroom helps build a sense of community B. the effective use of routines saves a significant amount of time for instruction over the course of the school year C. transition activities can promote students' learning even when they are not receiving formal instruction D. the implementation of standard classroom procedures minimizes unnecessary student questions and confusion
B
Federal law requires that schools honor which of the following requests by parents/guardians? A. to reassess their child's academic performance using a different standardized testing instrument? B. to inspect and review their child's educational records C. to delete reference to disciplinary actions from their child's records upon transfer to another school D. to allow their child to attend a specific school within the district
B
In which of the following situations is a teacher using proximity as an intervention for student misbehavior? A. the teacher issues a warning about personal space to a student who has spread materials across several desks B. while reading an excerpt from the textbook aloud, the teacher walks to the back of the room to stand near two students who are passing notes C. the teacher asks a student who is talking to a peer during independent seat work to move to a different part of the classroom D. during a playground argument between two students, the teacher restrains the students to prevent them from hitting one another
B
In which of the following situations is the teacher's strategy most likely to promote students' ability to regulate their own learning? A. a teacher shows third-grade students how to use a log to record each book they read for recreation during a grading period B. a teacher helps each fourth-grade students identify weekly goals that target the student's specific academic needs C. a fifth-grade teacher uses the results of regularly administered interest inventories to select reading materials for the classroom library D. a sixth-grade teacher offers after-school review sessions before tests, but allows students to decide for themselves whether they participate
B
Students in a 3rd grade class are studying habitats. the class has briefly discussed some of the issues related to the shrinking of rain forests around the world, and the teacher would like to help students gain a deeper understanding of these issues. one strategy the teacher plans to use is to have students read and respond to recent magazine articles on these issues. in selecting articles for this activity, the teacher's primary goal should be to select articles that: A. present information using various types of tables and graphs B. can be read and understood by students with different knowledge and skill levels C. are free from content that could be considered controversial D. include bibliographies of materials for students who wish to study the topic independently
B
Which of the following types of peer relationships is most characteristic of second-grade students? A. a single, exclusive friendship B. small, same-gender groups C. popularity-based cliques D. fluid, heterogeneous gangs
B
Which of the following would be a third-grade teacher's best strategy for ensuring that transitions in the classroom are accomplished with a minimum of disruption and wasted time? A. offering rewards to the first few students to be seated at their desks and prepared for a new activity B. teaching students a sequence of steps to follow when it is time to move from one activity to the next C. imposing a consequence on the class if not everyone is ready for a new activity after a given period of time D. choosing a few responsible students to circulate during transitions and offer assistance as necessary
B
Which of the following would be the most effective method to use for monitoring the progress of second-grade students in math? A. administering a norm-reference assessment midway through the school year B. conducting frequent curriculum-based assessments C. administering a dynamic skills assessment at the beginning of each instructional unit D. conducting a portfolio assessment at the end of the school year
B
While meeting with small reading groups in one corner of the classroom, a 2nd grade teacher sits against the wall in order to keep an eye on those students who are working together in centers or independently at their desks. The teacher visually scans the classroom from time to time and redirects students as needed. The most important benefit of this approach is that it: A. promotes students' recognition of their own responsibility for maintaining the overall momentum of instruction B. facilitates the teacher's ability to maintain students' on-task behavior in a complex learning environment C. promotes students' reflection on and evaluation of their own behavior and learning on an ongoing basis D. helps the teacher communicate to students that the classroom is a safe and secure environment in which to learn
B
While presenting a language arts lesson to the whole class, a third-grade teacher notices a number of students whose attention seems to be drifting away from the lesson. some are staring out the window and a few are drawing on the lesson handouts. Which of the following strategies is likely to be the teacher's best initial response to this situation? A. allowing students to take a brief break to chat with one another before continuing with the lesson B. varying the instructional approach by incorporating a partner or small-group activity into the lesson C. giving a short quiz addressing content that has been covered in the lesson so far D. assigning students an independent written activity related to the lesson topic
B
one of the goals in an elementary school is to ensure educational equity for all students. Teachers in he school can best help evaluate their own performance in this area by asking themselves whether they are: A. giving all students opportunities to provide input into curricular and instructional decision making C. using nontraditional assessments and flexible criteria to judge all students' performance and progress D. using similar instructional methods and materials with all students
B
A 3rd grade teacher is planning a language arts lesson to introduce students to fables. in an appropriately sequenced lesson, the teacher should begin with which of the following activities? A. providing students with a graphic organizer and helping them fill in information from selected fables B. having students work in pairs to rewrite the moral of several familiar fables C. reading students several fables aloud and pointing out the key features that define a fable D. assigning students to work in small groups to answer comprehension questions about selected fables
C
A first-grade teacher distributes a form, available in students' home languages, to parents/guardians at the beginning of the school year. Part of the form is shown below: help wanted our class is looking for individuals who would like to... listen to students read aloud, help students with math skills, assist students with an art project, attend a field trip, cut materials at home... which of the following is likely to be the greatest benefit of this approach? A. promoting ongoing communication with parents/guardians about expectations and activities in the teacher's classroom B. establishing a relationship of trust between the teacher and students' parents/guardians C. communicating a welcoming attitude to parents/guardians regarding their involvement in the life of the classroom D. fostering parents'/guardians' sense of mutual responsibility for their children's school achievement
C
A first-grade teacher notices that even though all students in the class know their letters and numbers, a few students routinely reverse certain letters and numbers when writing them. In this situation, the teacher's most appropriate initial course of action would be to: A. gather a sample of the students' work and meet with the SPED teacher to determine whether the students should be formally evaluated B. provide the students with a variety of homework activities to help them learn how to orient letters and numbers correctly C. recognize this tendency as part of the normal range of development and continue to observe the students' work for potential learning problems D. require the students to redo class activities and homework with the letters and numbers correctly oriented
C
A kindergarten teacher holds regularly class meetings with students. The meetings follow the agenda shown below. -express compliments and appreciation -follow up on solutions to earlier issues -discuss new issues and consider possible solutions -plan for upcoming class activities This approach is likely to be most effective in achieving which of the following goals? A. providing a classroom environment that is responsive to students' individual needs and preferences B. encouraging students to think objectively about classroom problems and concerns C. promoting in students a sense of belonging to a caring and cooperative classroom community D. reinforcing for students the value of adhering to classroom norms for individual and group behavior
C
A kindergarten teacher observes that during many of the free play activities, two students with disabilities are often excluded and left to play by themselves. The teacher wants to help all students interact more inclusively. which of the following strategies would be most effective for achieving this goal? A. assigning partners each day with the direction that they participate together in all activities B. videotaping a typical day and then showing it to the class to discuss their exclusionary practices C. organizing a whole-group game or activity during the beginning of each free play time D. providing opportunities for small-group activities with a set goal such as finishing a puzzle
C
A new elementary teacher has a goal of maintaining effective communication with parents/guardians about their children's learning. Which of the following is an important first step in achieving this goal? A. adopting a standard format for home-school communications B. arranging a visit to each student's home to meet family members C. determining each family's preferred mode of communication and times of availability D. creating a conference schedule to send home with each student early in the school year
C
A new teacher and the teacher's assigned mentor have decided that they will meet every other week. The new teacher can best help ensure that the meetings will be as productive as possible by using which of the following approaches? A. permitting the mentor to take the lead in identifying the topic(s) to be addressed in each meeting B. taking careful notes during each meeting and reviewing the notes when the meeting is over C. arriving at each meeting prepared to ask about specific issues or concerns that have arisen in the classroom D. reviewing current research and ideas in a particular aspect of education before each meeting occurs
C
A primary grade teacher uses the approach shown below when presenting new content to students through direct instruction. -review related prior lessons -present new material -provide guided practice with feedback -assign independent practice The most important benefit of beginning direct instruction with a review of prior lessons is that this strategy: A. minimizes the amount of practice or reinforcement students will require to learn new material B. enhances students' ability to monitor their own learning progress C. provides students with a sense of continuity and logical extensions in their learning D. reduces the need for informal assessment of student learning
C
A second-grade class includes two students who have language delays and who tend to speak to peers and adults only when necessary. Which of the following teacher strategies would be most effective for increasing the students' use of oral language in the classroom? A. posting a chart for each of the two students that tallies the number of times each of them communicates with others during the day B. scheduling a daily morning meeting that includes time for students to voluntarily share personal experiences with one another C. setting up small-group activities on a regularly basis that require students to talk to one another in order to complete assignments D. meeting with the two students individually at the end of the day to ask them questions related to the day's lesson and activities
C
A second-grade social studies teacher has students read several articles on recycling and the use of recycled materials. After reading the articles, students work in small groups to fill in a t-chart listing the pros and cons of recycling. this follow-up activity is likely to be particularly effective in helping students: A. recall important information included in the articles B. improve their ability to comprehend technical content included in the articles C. analyze the information presented in the articles D. evaluate strategies used in the articles to convey a specific point of view
C
A small number of students in an elementary class have been identified as academically gifted. Which of the following instructional adaptations would be most appropriate for the teacher to make to meet the needs of these students? A. establishing more rigorous criteria for grading the students on work assigned to the class B. using the students' self-assessment of their work as the primary basis for evaluating their performance C. assisting the students in designing their own independent projects related to current unit topics D. giving the students additional assignments to complete when they finish work assigned to the class
C
A teacher has scheduled individual conferences with students to discuss their performance on a recent writing assignment. During each conference, the teacher will comment on positive aspects of the student's writing and also point out particular errors or faulty strategies that the student used. Which of the following additional steps taken by the teacher during each conference would best promote students' learning and progress in writing? A. prompting the student to assess his or her own level of effort and motivation for the assignment B. having the student review and discuss an exemplary paper written by a classmate or other peer on a similar topic C. providing the student with specific suggestions for improving his or her work on the assignment D. offering the student an opportunity to agree with or refute particular aspects of the teacher's evaluation of his or her assignment
C
A teacher is planning a science unit on living things. During a lesson on differences between plants and animals, the teacher will draw the following diagram on the board and then have students help fill in the diagram as the lesson proceeds. (pictured: a venn diagram comparing characteristics unique to animals, characteristics unique to plans, and characteristics common to plants and animals) Use of this diagram can be expected to enhance student learning primarily by: A. facilitating students' recall of relevant prior knowledge B. encouraging the use of divergent thinking in relation to lesson content C. clarifying complex ideas and relationships D. promoting students' self-monitoring of their own learning throughout the lesson
C
A teacher who is planning instruction for a primary elementary class should assume, that, in general, male and female students are likely to differ most in regard to: A. the learning styles and modalities with which they are most comfortable B. the importance they place on connecting what they are learning to their own lives and needs C. their interest in and perceptions about the relevance of particular topics D. their overall level of cognitive development and ability to apply cognitive skills
C
An elementary teacher intends to involve students in a project that will require them to use information obtained from their own family members to write a family history. The goals of the project include helping students understanding societal change over time and improving students' writing skills. While planning a project, the teacher realizes some of the students in the class will have difficulty with the project because they do not live with their family or would have difficulty obtaining the required information for other reasons. The teacher can best show responsiveness to this type of student diversity by taking which of the following actions? A. making the project an optional, extra-credit activity for any students in the class who are interested in participating B. encouraging students who have no available family members to work with classmates who do so that all students can complete the project C. designing a different project for the class that achieves the same learning objectives while giving all students an equal opportunity to participate D. giving students who are unable to complete a family-based project the option of using library research for their projects instead
C
An elementary teacher makes a practice of regularly displaying students' work in the classroom. The teacher displays work that represents progress as well as work that represents exemplary performance in one or more aspects of an assignment. Which of the following is likely to be the primary benefit of this practice> A. establishing a learning environment that is visually and cognitively stimulating to students B. providing students with a frame of reference for evaluating their own performance C. creating an inviting environment in which students feel a sense of ownership and pride D. communicating to students the teacher's expectations for their learning and achievement
C
At the beginning of the school year, a third-grade teacher tells students that they will be assigned a research project in the spring. Which of the following teacher comments about this assignment best communicates high expectations for student performance? A. "This project is a big research task, so you'll need to be sure to pay close attention in class and ask questions if you don't understand something." B. "to prepare yourselves for this research task, you must develop strong organizational and time-management skills." C. "this project may seem like a lot now, but over the next few months we will work on the skills you will need for this research task, so you will be prepared and confident." D. "I know that this may be the first time many of you have had to complete such an extensive research task, so let me know right away if you begin to fall behind."
C
Giving 3 year olds access to water or sand tables and a variety of containers would most effectively promote their early exploration of which of the following physical science concepts? A. conservation of mass B. forces and motions C. properties of materials D. energy transfer
C
In selecting materials to be used for career development activities with elementary school students, it is most important to ensure that the materials: A. reflect the students' interests and abilities B. cover a variety of emerging professions C. are free from gender bias and stereotyping D. emphasize the importance of higher education
C
Ms. Ingram teaches her four-and five-year-old students games such as checkers and chess. According to Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, students who are most comfortable with these types of activities are likely to demonstrate particular strength in which of the following areas or intelligence? A. intrapersonal B. verbal-linguistic C. visual-spatial D. interpersonal
C
Several children who have IEPs will attend a kindergarten class in the upcoming year. To help implement the IEPs, several specialists will provide services in the classroom environment. The most effective first step for the kindergarten teacher to take in building a collaborative relationship with the specialists would be to: A. suggest using a single method of problem solving B. propose that intervention ideas be reached by consensus C. arrange a regular time for sharing info D. assume primary responsibility for decision making
C
Students in a 3rd grade class are studying volcanoes. The teacher wants to use technology to support students' understanding of the nature of volcanic activity. Which of the following strategies represents the most appropriate and effective use of technology for this purpose? A. arranging for students to use an online database of scientific journals to look for articles that describe a volcanic activity B. demonstrating for students the types of results they are likely to get when using different internet search terms related to volcanoes C. bookmarking for students on classroom computers a few internet sites with streaming video of actual volcanic activity D. having individual students summarize for the class selected articles about volcanoes from an online science encyclopedia
C
Students in a kindergarten class are telling their teacher about a recent class field trip. As the students share their experiences, the teacher writes their thoughts on chart paper. The teacher then reads aloud what the students have dictated. Which of the following describes the best rationale for incorporating this type of activity into instruction? a. To foster students' social skills by involving them in a cooperative learning activity b. To assess students' abilities to pay attention and recall events accurately c. To foster students' literacy skills by building upon their oral language skills d. To assess students' abilities to comprehend material presented during field trips
C
The curriculum in an early childhood program encourages young children to become engaged in challenging activities that involve both planning and problem solving. This aspect of the curriculum is most likely to promote the children's ability to: A. adjust easily to unexpected changes in the daily schedule B. perform in the highest percentile on mandated tests C. approach new learning experiences with confidence D. maintain focus and concentration during academic instruction
C
The increasing diversity in family structures, roles, and responsibilities is a societal trend that early childhood educators need to be aware of primarily in order to: A. establish effective classroom management strategies B. identify students in need of special education services C. work effectively with members of the school community D. apply for federal and state grants for supplemental curriculum materials
C
Which of the following describes the most effective use of community resources to enhance student learning? A. a local restaurant owner provides refreshments for a special evening event featuring student projects B. college students help supervise a class during a field trip to a local museum C. a local veterinarian makes a presentation about pet care and answers students' questions D. students make decorations and perform seasonal songs for residents of a local senior center
C
Which of the following teaching strategies would be most effective and efficient in determining elementary students' preferred learning styles? A. having students fill out interest inventories and incorporating their areas of interest into instruction B. trying out different instructional approaches and formally evaluating students' learning after using each apporach C. giving students meaningful choices in learning tasks and observing the selections they make D. engaging students in a variety of small-group activities and changing the composition of the groups frequently
C
A kindergarten teacher can best apply the concept of developmentally appropriate practice by making which of the following a priority? A. minimizing the amount of structure and routine in students' learning environment B. providing students with frequent opportunities to participate in cooperative learning activities C. focusing instruction on students' social skills rather than on their academic skills D. designing a learning environment that supports the essential role of play in students' learning
D
A new elementary teacher wants to be sure that the instructional units presented to the class will be organized in a logical, coherent way. Which of the following practices would best help the teacher achieve this goal? A. defining a single primary learning goal for each unit B. using student feedback to modify each unit on an ongoing basis C. linking content taught during each unit to state or national stnadards D. planning each unit in its entirety before starting instruction on it
D
A first-grade teacher develops the following math activities to help promote students' understanding of geometry concepts: Feel it box: students select shapes from a box and explore them first with their eyes closed, then with their eyes open. Make a shape: small groups work with elastic cords to form various shapes Build and rebuild a shape: students use a variety of blocks and other items such as straws and clay to build, take apart, and rebuild 2 and 3D shapes. The teacher decides to follow the feel-it box activity by having students describe each of the geometric shapes and match them to other similar shapes. This activity is likely to be most effective in promoting students' development of which of the following cognitive abilities? A. hypothetical thinking B. seriation C. cause and effect reasoning D. classification
D
A kindergarten class includes a number of students who have little or no prior experience with books. The teacher uses various strategies to promote the students' understanding and appreciation of reading, including reading them stories aloud on a regular basis. in selecting stories to read aloud to these students, the teacher should place the greatest emphasis identifying stories that: A. teacher the students about letters, numbers, and other elements of the kindergarten curriculum B. will expose the students to new ideas and points of view C. include characters and plots likely to be familiar to the students from their experiences outside of school D. will be engaging and enjoyable for the students
D
A preschool teacher is beginning a new unit on insects and would like to plan an activity that will promote students' high-order thinking skills. Which of the following activities would be most effective for this purpose? A. placing a variety of stuffed insect toys and puppets in the dramatic play area B. writing a class play about insects and having the students act it out for family and friends C. cutting out geometric shapes and having students create their own insects D. providing a variety of realistic toy insects and having students sort them by similarities and differences
D
A primary grade teacher uses the approach shown below when presenting new content to students through direct instruction. -review related prior lessons -present new material -provide guided practice with feedback -assign independent practice The teacher's approach to direct instruction is most likely to have which of the following outcomes for student learning? A. accelerating the pace at which students are able to achieve stated learning objectives B. promoting students' ability to apply previously learning content in new contexts C. enhancing students' ability to use a variety of learning strategies effectively D. helping students master fundamental content that is essential to subsequent learning
D
A second-grade teacher is sending a note to the parents/guardians of a usually well-behaved student who has cried and refused to comply with the teacher's requests three times in the last week. In composing this note, the teacher would be best advised to: A. provide a detailed description of each incident that has occurred and the teacher's actions in response B. request information about any family issues that may be causing the observed problems in class C. ask the parent/guardians to discuss the incidents with the student and then inform the teacher of the outcome D. explain the situation briefly and invite the parents/guardians to meet to explore the problem and plan a solution
D
A second-grade teacher often discusses upcoming unit topics and planned lesson activities with the school's art and music teachers and considers ways to integrate fine arts and content-area instruction. Which of the following is likely to be the most important positive outcome of this approach? A. helping ensure consistency in the instructional approaches used across subject areas B. enhancing the overall quality of the school work environment C. minimizing the potential for redundancy in curriculum goals and objectives D. promoting a climate of professional collaboration and mutual support
D
A second-grade teacher will be planning a lesson to introduce students to a science concept included in the state curriculum for 2nd graders. the teacher can best help ensure an effective lesson by considering which of the following questions during the planning process? A. is the targeted science concept more or lesson complex than other science content the class has studied? B. to what extent do the science tests available to the class match the state science curriculum? C. what has been the students' overall level of interest in science instruction during previous lessons? D. what is the extent of the students' prior knowledge related to the targeted science concept?
D
A significant benefit of discovery learning is that it: A. enables students to receive immediate feedback regarding their own efforts and performance B. minimizes the significance of student differences in cognitive development and level of academic achievement. C. allows students to simultaneously purse social-emotional and academic competencies D. prompts students to construct their own knowledge through direct interaction with objects and environments
D
An elementary teacher plans to give students a test that includes both multiple-choice questions and essay questions. The class includes a student with a learning disability that makes written expression very difficult for the student. the teacher can most appropriately adapt the unit test to meet the student's needs by using which of the following approaches? A. applying more lenient criteria to evaluate the student's performance on the essay portion of the test B. having the student answer additional multiple-choice questions as an alternative to the essay questions C. giving the student as much time as required to complete the essay portion of the test D. allowing the student to provide oral responses to the essay questions that appear on the test
D
An elementary teacher who wishes to create an inclusive learning environment should place the highest priority on addressing which of the following patterns observed in the classroom? A. male and female students often choose to participate in different kinds of activities and games B. students often show impatience with a classmate who fails to comply with established class rules C. some students consistently learn more quickly and perform better on assignments than others in the class D. students tend to interact mainly with classmates from their own cultural or language background
D
An upper elementary teacher regularly incorporates self-directed learning projects into instruction. Which of the following is likely to be the most important benefit of this approach? A. prompting students to develop strategies for monitoring their own learning progress B. promoting students' acquisition of behaviors that are required in the world of work C. extending the amount of time students are able to focus their attention on a learning task D. enhancing students' ability to construct their own understanding of content
D
At the beginning of the school year, a third-grade teacher tells students that they will be keeping literature logs in which they will write about the books they read. Which of the following directions by the teacher would best help ensure that the logs foster students' thoughtful response to literature? A. "include a brief summary of the plot to convey a sense of the tone and genre of the work." B. "after you have made an entry about a book, as a classmate to read what you have written" C. "try to vary the form of style of your writing so that your log entries don't all start sounding alike." D. "focus on what you think or feel about a book and give reasons for your reactions."
D
At the beginning of the school year, an elementary teacher learns that the class includes two students who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Which of the following teacher actions would be most effective in addressing the academic needs of these students? A. providing the two students with regular opportunities to engage in learning tasks likely to present them with minimal challenge B. organizing instruction in ways that keep students in the class focused on only one or two subject areas during each school day C. encouraging the two students to work together and support each other during paired and group learning activities D. creating spaces in the classroom where individual students can go and work with minimal distraction as needed
D
During a six week mathematics unit, a teacher gives the class a quiz each Friday to assess students' understanding of the content that was covered that week. The students perform well on the Friday quiz for weeks 1 and 2, but then they score very poorly on the quiz for week 3. The teacher can best respond to the students' poor performance by using which of the following approaches? A. creating a unit test that places greater weight on week 3 content than on other unit content B. reviewing week 3 content at the end of the unit when students have a stronger knowledge base C. agreeing to ignore results for the week 3 quiz if student performance improves on later unit quizzes D. reteaching week 3 content before moving on to the content planned for week 4 of the unit
D
In an open house meeting with parents/guardians early in the school year, it would be most helpful and appropriate for an elementary teacher to include information about the: A. students' current reading and math levels B. teacher's previous professional experience C. demographics of the students in the class D. email or phone number for contacting the teacher
D
In general, children of preschool age feel most secure in educational settings that: A. combine a large number of activity choices with frequent changes of activity. B. stress whole-class activities in which students perform specific tasks under close teacher direction C. emphasize student-directed learning and a minimum of external structure D. offer a balance of calm and active learning experiences in a predictable and orderly environment
D
In which of the following situations would it be most appropriate for an elementary teacher to accelerate content-area instruction for a small group of students? A. the students exhibit similar levels of task commitment and independence in their learning B. observations of class discussions and activities reveal that the students have extensive background knowledge in the content area C. the students consistently exhibit a high level of motivation for learning D. results of formal and informal assessments show that the students have achieved most of the grade-level standards in the content area
D
Mr. Adams, a third-grade teacher, has organized his class into four groups of six students to begin researching four different children's book authors. Each member of a group will be responsible for researching certain periods of their author's life, such as childhood. When each student is finished with his or her individual research, the group reconvenes and each member teacher the group what he or she has learned. Which of the following is the primary advantage of this instructional strategy? A. it fosters and encourages respect among classmates B. it saves time because a lot of information can be researched in a relatively short period C. it takes advantage of limited school resources D. it requires the input an participation of each group member which enables students to learn from each other
D
The 2nd grade teachers in a school are planning their first cross-curricular unit. The teachers have reviewed relevant content standards and identified cooperation and sharing as the unifying theme for the unit. Which of the following would be the most appropriate and effective step for the teachers to take next in the planning process? A. preparing an annotated list of instructional resources related to the theme of the unit that individual teachers can use to plan lessons B. assigning each teacher a specific responsibility for planning activities and assignments that support the theme of the unit C. creating a standard format for written lesson plans that reflects the targeted standards as well as the theme of the unit D. developing a planning web on which to note connections among specific ideas in each content area and the theme of the unit
D
Which of the following activities would best help new elementary teachers would expand their knowledge of instructional strategies and how to implement them effectively? A. creating a professional portfolio with evidence of their teaching successes B. reviewing relevant sections of high-quality pedagogy textbooks on an as-needed basis C. asking students for feedback on selected units, lessons, or instructional activities D. observing instruction in the classrooms of highly qualified and experiences colleagues
D
Which of the following assessment adaptations would be the most appropriate to use with a first-grade ELL? A. using a standardized test with multiple subtests B. presenting material nonverbally C. beginning the test at a lower age level D. using culturally relevant materials
D
Which of the following behaviors by an elementary teacher would be considered unethical? A. talking to the principal about the poor quality of a colleague's teaching without first talking to the colleague B. forming homogeneous groups based on student achievement for some reading and math activities C. using lesson plans found on educational websites without acknowledging or requesting permission from the authors D. discussing a student's home life and academic problems with other teachers in the faculty lounge
D
Which of the following factors is likely to have the greatest influence on the academic performance of a third-grade student? A. the degree to which the student's teacher allows him or her to have choices in regard to learning goals and objectives B. the age at which the student was first enrolled in a preschool program and the nature of the program he or she attended C. the extent to which the student has access to computers and other technological tools in the home and school environments D. the attitudes and expectations expressed by significant adults in the student's like in regard to his or her school achievement
D
Which of the following situations best illustrates the use of metacognitive skills to facilitate learning? A. a student uses teacher feedback on the first draft of book reports and other written work to improve the quality of the final version B. a student who has strong interpersonal skills and enjoys working with peers often chooses to engage in collaborative activities C. a student who has difficulty in math often seeks assistance from higher-achieving classmates to complete challenging math assignments D. a student considers which of several reading strategies is most appropriate to use for each assigned reading task
D
With regard to children's education, parents/guardians are required by law to: A. monitor the accuracy of their child's educational records B. share relevant info about their child's health and development with appropriate school staff C. participate in decisions related to their child's educational program D. ensure that their child meets the state's minimum requirement for school attendance
D
