PTK Practice Questions and why

The MOST important benefit of developing rules and discipline policies together with your students is that

it provides students with an opportunity to take ownership of the rules. Answer Explanation : Research indicates that discipline is improved if students help to develop the discipline policy.

In order to improve the classroom conduct of a student who misbehaves, it is MOST effective to be

specific and consistent. Answer Explanation : Disruptive students benefit from clear and consistent expectations. Encouragement and sympathy do not correct bad behavior effectively.

A reliable test

yields consistent results. Answer Explanation : A reliable test must simply produce consistent results. A test must be reliable to be considered valid, but valid tests are not automatically reliable as well.

A young girl being teased by a male classmate responds by cursing at him. Which of the following is an appropriate teacher response to the obscenity?

"In the future, find more appropriate ways to express your anger." Answer Explanation : Effective reprimands should set high expectations for the future and be supportive or neutral. Avoid reprimands that ask questions (choice A), are too vague (choice B), or imply different standards of behavior for boys and girls (choice D).

A teacher has a set of handouts he gives throughout a unit on writing research papers. Which of the following should be the first handout he gives students?

"Research Papers: A Step-by-Step Overview" Answer Explanation : Giving students a preview broken down into steps makes learning a difficult skill seem more manageable. Choice A does involve the first phases of writing a paper, but students should get a preview of the whole process first. Choices B and C would come later in the unit.

Which of the following statements, when used to begin a lesson on the respiratory system, encourages meaningful student participation?

"Take a deep breath and pay attention to how it feels to breathe deeply." Answer Explanation : Beginning a lesson with overt or covert participation is effective in helping students focus and absorb material. Choice B gives students a specific task, focusing their minds on the topic. Choices A and C are passively received by the listener and do not give the student a task to help them participate. Choice D is shallow and if absorbed by the students at all, can be dismissed with a yes or no answer.

During an oral review for a social studies unit, a student correctly but tentatively answers a question about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Which of the following statements should the teacher make to ensure the student actually understands the concept?

"That's right. Can you explain why?" Answer Explanation : The student is hesitant about her knowledge. You want to make sure she has all the information and that her answer is really not a guess. Give her time to explain. If she says no, ask another question that might prompt her knowledge on the topic. However, you do not want to embarrass her by putting her on the spot.

Which of the following prompts will require students to evaluate what they are working on?

"What is the most important?" Answer Explanation : It directs students to make a judgment or form an opinion about something, a clear instance of evaluation. Choice A is a form of synthesis. Choice B requires good comprehension, but doesn't go beyond that. Choice C requires analysis demonstrated through categorizing.

During a class discussion, a teacher asks a student to evaluate President Roosevelt's Public Works Association for its effectiveness as a means to alleviate unemployment while benefiting the community. How long should the teacher wait for a response?

10 seconds Answer Explanation : Ten seconds is an appropriate length of time to wait for an answer to a question that calls for high order thinking such as evaluating.

Suppose a student received a raw score of 41 which corresponded to the 67th percentile. What does this information mean to the teacher?

67% of the students who took this same exam earned a raw score of 41 or less. Answer Explanation : The correct answer is A. A percentile is the value or score on the ordered array of data that indicates the percentage of the scores that fall at or below that value. The third quartile establishes the point where 75% of the score are below it. Therefore, at the 67th percentile, this student did not score above the third quartile.

Assume that a set of test scores is normally distributed. How many test scores would be expected to be within two standard deviations of the mean?

95% Answer Explanation : It is relatively rare for a score to be more than two standard deviations from the mean in a set of normal scores.

Given a normal distribution of student scores, what percentage of the scores will fall within two standard deviations of the mean?

95% Answer Explanation : The correct answer is C. 95% of the data points will fall between two standard deviations of the mean. Choice B, 68%, shows the percentage of data points that will fall within one standard deviation of the mean. Choice A is incorrect because the standard deviation includes the area on both sides of the mean.

Which scenario indicates reliability but not validity?

A fish market scale always underweighs a product by 3.2 pounds. Answer Explanation : A scale that is consistently off is a measure that is reliable but not valid. Choices A, C, and D have to do with testing or measurement issues but do not concern the relationship between validity and assessment.

In preparing for the first day of school, a teacher has already posted a few key rules on the bulletin board, decided how to greet students as they enter the classroom, arranged furniture, and planned a series of activities. Which of the following should definitely be added to these preparations?

A way to immediately begin learning students' names Answer Explanation : Being able to address students by name sends a variety of positive signals to them. And it may be equally important for teachers to show that they are working on it right away. Choices A, C and D are important steps but not crucial to a first day.

Given a data set with a small range, which of the following would be the BEST measure of central tendency?

A. Mean Answer Explanation : The correct answer is A. The mean is considered the best measure of central tendency, unless exaggerated by extreme scores.

If the graph of a data distribution shows that the mean is graphed to the right of the mode, which of the following is most likely true?

A. The results are positively skewed. Answer Explanation : The correct answer is A. In a positively skewed frequency distribution, the mean moves to the right of the mode and the majority of the scores fall below the mean. For a frequency distribution that is negatively skewed, the mean moves to the left of the mode and is shaped so that the majority of its scores fall above its mean. In a positively skewed distribution, the median is generally less than the mean.

Students monitor a United States Geological Survey (USGS) website and collect information about recent volcanoes and earthquakes. Which of the following learning goals is met by this activity?

Accurately observe natural events. Answer Explanation : The activity gathers reliable information about natural events, but does not call for analysis and inference (choices A and B do) or evaluation of devices used to capture data (as choice D does).

Which of the following BEST describes how a consequence for classroom misbehavior should be enforced?

After some warning has been delivered Answer Explanation : A small correction calls a student's attention to behavior that needs to change and gives the student an opportunity to make the change. Usually that ends the immediate problem with minimum disruption to teaching and learning. What other students notice or do not notice is tangential. The immediacy suggested by choice C is important, but immediate attention, not immediate consequences, is key to good classroom discipline.

Students in a tenth-grade English class are finishing a unit on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in which they focused on the themes of fate, love, and intergenerational conflict. Which exercise provides the MOST effective closure to the unit?

Ask students to compare the treatment of the three major themes in Romeo and Juliet to the treatment of those themes in another book, play, movie, or television program they have seen. Answer Explanation : Choice D reinforces the main concepts of the unit, and help students retain the information by encouraging them to connect what they have learned to their own lives and experiences.

Which of the following homework assignments would be BEST after a lesson that introduces the addition of fractions with common denominators?

Assign 10 problems on adding fractions with common denominators. Answer Explanation : Practice problems should be relevant to the new instruction. Choices A and B do not give students enough practice applying the new concept. Choice D is not as effective as practice problems when establishing accuracy.

What is the numeric difference between the mode and the median of the following set of scores? Student Score 25, 25, 45, 60, 60, 75, 75, 75, 80

B. 15 Answer Explanation : The correct answer is B. The mode (most frequently occurring score) is 75 and the median (which divides a distribution exactly in half) is 60. 75 − 60 = 15.

What is the unbiased standard deviation of the following sample? Student Score 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

B. 3.16 Answer Explanation : The correct answer is B. Step 1: The mean is 5. Step 2: Subtracting the mean from each score.(1?5) = ?4(3?5) = ?2(5?5) = 0(7?5) = 2(9?5) = 4 Step 3: Squaring the result for each score.1640416 Step 4: Adding the results (16 + 4 +0 + 4 + 16) = 40 Step 5: Dividing 40 by the number of scores minus 1 = 10 Step 6: The square root of 10 is approximately 3.16.

Which of the following BEST describes a graph of a bimodal distribution?

B. There are two points of high frequency data within the distribution. Answer Explanation : The correct answer is B. "Bimodal" means that there are two modes or peaks within the same distribution of data. The two modes will not necessary reflect two extremes and may be clustered near one another.

Which teaching plan is the BEST way to begin a mathematics class?

Begin a simple activity Answer Explanation : A simple warm-up activity allows the students to transition their thinking to mathematics. It has the added benefits of giving students a review, preview, or extension activity and giving the teacher an opportunity to check in with students and recognize individual difficulties that may appear while students do the warm up.

What would a large standard deviation most likely indicate to a teacher?

C. The scores are widespread. Answer Explanation : The correct answer is C. A large standard deviation means an excessive spread of data well dispersed away from the mean. A small standard deviation indicates a tight cluster of data points near the mean.

A student who usually completes homework consistently has not returned her homework for three consecutive days. When the teacher addresses the situation with the student, she is aloof and will not respond. What action should the teacher take?

Call the student's parents to schedule a conference. Answer Explanation : Since the student is normally responsible, it is important to determine, with the aid of her parents, what has caused the behavioral change. Choices C and D are too punitive under the circumstances. Choice A is likely ineffective, since the student already proved unwilling to talk to the teacher about the problem.

During the beginning of a unit about the Great Depression for a sixth-grade class, which of the following questions would be MOST effective for presenting the new content?

Can anyone tell us when the Great Depression took place? Answer Explanation : It is a relevant question with a verifiable answer. Those qualities are useful at the start of a unit because they start building a store of information that can be used later. Choice A may be used to create interest in the topic. Choice B focuses on sources, not the content. Choice D supposes prior knowledge and would be appropriate later in the unit.

Which assignment will BEST determine if students can analyze what they are learning?

Create a storyboard that explains how religion influenced the development of Latin America. Answer Explanation : The students must explain a concept by creating (or synthesizing) something. In Bloom's taxonomy, synthesis is a higher order than knowledge (A), comprehension (D), and application (C).

What is the BEST way for a teacher to check on students' general progress toward concept mastery during independent work periods?

Circulate around the room and quietly look over students' work. Answer Explanation : Choice B (answer) is the least disruptive and will give the teacher an idea of the general progress of the class. Homework and other graded assignments will give the teacher more specific insight into each student's progress.

What kind of graphic organizer is MOST helpful during a brainstorming session in which students are supposed to come up with topics for a term paper?

Cluster diagram Answer Explanation : A cluster diagram is a nonlinear graphic organizer that allows for and even stimulates creative thinking and free association—both of which make brainstorming more productive. A T-chart is good for weighing two sides of one issue, a flow chart helps clarify complicated processes, and a Venn diagram is useful in doing comparisons.

Which study tactic would be MOST helpful for high school seniors preparing for a world history exam?

Combine key points from the textbook and notes from class to create an outline. Answer Explanation : This outline will give structure to assist with recall. Choice A is not structured enough to guarantee the activity will be worthwhile for all students. Choice B will only distract the students from the material they need to cover. Flashcards are good for remembering discrete pieces of information, but world history calls for broader understanding, so studying an outline is more effective.

Which of the following would be the MOST relevant homework assignment for a lesson on the structure of a rain forest?

Create a cluster diagram in class labeled "Layers of the rain forest" in the center and with the four rainforest layers as main ideas. Ask students to fill in details and examples at home. Answer Explanation : This graphic organizer focuses on the structure of the rain forest and helps students organize the lesson material. Choice B asks for reports on nations that contain rain forest, not on rain forests themselves. Choice C is irrelevant because items from the rain forest tell nothing about its structure. This activity might be useful to engage students' interest when the topic of rain forests in general is first introduced. Choice D is irrelevant because it does not address the structure of the rain forest.

Which of the following assessments would be MOST likely to produce a normal curve when graphing the results?

D. State-wide achievement exam Answer Explanation : The correct answer is D. The normal curve is most likely to apply to a large, statistically "normal" population.

Which of the following verbs would indicate a behavioral objective?

Describe Answer Explanation : A behavioral objective is a clear, precise statement used to describe what students should be able to do when they have completed their instruction. Objectives must be measurable. The verb describes the behavior produced by the learner.

A middle school student turns in a homework assignment—a worksheet with vocabulary matching and several open-ended questions. When you are grading this student's paper, you notice he has just written the letters in alphabetical order and wrote "I don't know" for his answers to the questions. Which of the following approaches will BEST help the student with his homework?

Determine if the student does not understand the work or simply refuses to complete the assignment and contact his parents to discuss your findings. Answer Explanation : A student who turns in homework with blatant errors is either asking for help or acting out. In either case, parents should be notified, because they can help correct bad behavior and ensure homework is done at home.

A teacher suspects that a fourth grade parent has been assisting a student more than is appropriate on the daily homework assignments. How can the teacher BEST address this issue with the parent?

Discuss with the parent various strategies that the parent can use to help the student benefit from the assignments. Answer Explanation : Many parents need strategies for helping their children in a more constructive manner. Learning how to phrase questions that draw out students' knowledge is a critical skill for parents. Joint projects may be a good idea for families, but it does not deal with the current issue. Telling the parent not to help her child puts the parent in a terrible situation, and it does not help the student complete assignments.

Which of the following techniques BEST promotes student comprehension?

Dividing major objectives into small learning units, each with objectives and assessment Answer Explanation : Identifying and mastering all of the skills and concepts that make up each objective ensures that students truly understand what is taught. Testing, student practice, and extra help are all methods you can use to teach the material, but only once you have first divided it up appropriately.

Which of the following is the BEST example of effective cooperative learning?

Each group member has a specific task and the group has a clearly identified objective. Answer Explanation : Studies indicate that setting individual tasks for group members will lead to effective cooperative learning. Because self-selection seems to weaken a group, the strongest answer in the collection is C.

How should students involved in a group project be graded?

Each group member should be given individual grades based on his or her performance in the group. Answer Explanation : Holding each student accountable for his or her work ensures the highest level of group participation. Assigning the whole group a single grade may unfairly reward or penalize some students. Asking students to rate each other can help uncover participation issues in the group, but it is not a wise grading practice. A detailed written evaluation should accompany a grade, but it is not a substitute for one.

How can a teacher show that he or she has high expectations for students' learning?

Encourage all students to work for improvement. Answer Explanation : High expectations mean that all students should be expected to progress from their current levels, not that all students accomplish exactly the same things. Constant praise may be perceived as less genuine, especially if it is not for something that the student values. Often assigning difficult work to all students may convey "impossible" expectations to some students rather than high expectations.

Which of the following classroom management goals will BEST ensure an orderly classroom?

Establish, explain, and practice classroom procedures; set standards for performance. Answer Explanation : Procedure is the key element in classroom management. Procedures for dealing with negative behavior are an important part of classroom management but only a part. Choice B deals with curriculum and instruction. The emphasis on definition makes choice D too narrow.

After reading Of Mice and Men in a class, a teacher asks students to write a response to the following prompt: "Was George good or bad in the story. Defend your answer." This is an example of which level of Bloom's taxonomy?

Evaluation Answer Explanation : The task asks students to make an evaluative judgment and to justify that decision.

There are times when teachers want students to work in small groups. Which of the following procedures will BEST help students get into their groups and begin work without much delay?

Explain to students how group work is done in your classroom. Assign groups and have desks arranged before students arrive. Answer Explanation : Students may not like assigned seating, but allowing friends to sit together will often result in more socializing and less class work. By assigning groups, you are also in control of setting up groups with a mix of different skills and abilities. If you allow students to move their desks, you are wasting valuable classroom time. In addition, you want the desks to be situated so that you can circulate and visit each group.

A fourth-grade science class completed an experiment in groups. Which method of closing the lesson will BEST clarify students' understanding?

Explicitly teach the concepts the experiment illustrated implicitly. Answer Explanation : Following inquiry-based instruction with direct instruction helps ensure that all students understand what has occurred during the inquiry portion. Direct instruction in the closing can also give teachers a chance to go further into depth on the concept that the students explored. Having students write in their science journals about what they learned is a form of assessment; it does not clarify the students' understanding.

Which of the following conditions will likely result in misleading statistical conclusions?

Extreme scores at one or both ends Answer Explanation : Extremely high or low scores, called outliers, call for special attention especially when the mean is used to describe central tendency and standard deviation is used to further describe the distribution. There are established techniques for representing a median score when it is not an integer. Distributions with two or more modes are not unusual. A small standard deviation goes along with distributions that do not have outliers.

While teaching a unit on ancient Greek architecture, which of the following would be MOST important?

Familiarizing students with relevant architectural terminology. Answer Explanation : A teacher must teach the vocabulary necessary for understanding a particular subject. The other answers are useful, but not completely necessary.

Which of the following techniques is MOST effective when leading whole class discussions?

First present a question, then call on a student. Answer Explanation : Presenting the question before calling on a student helps keep the entire class engaged since many students will not think about the question if they will not be asked to respond. For this reason choices B and D are not effective choices. Habitually repeating or even upgrading a response discourages other students from listening to their peers.

Several students in an elementary class are English Language Learners (ELL) and special education students. What modifications should the teacher make in preparing lessons for these students?

Follow modifications listed on the students' individual education plans (IEP) Answer Explanation : Teachers must make the modifications for special education students that are listed on the students' Individual Education Plans. Making general modifications may not be adequate. Small group instruction may contradict the IEP.

A teacher prepares checklists for students to complete at the end of key lessons. The checklists ask students to identify what part of the lesson was hardest to follow and what gave the most help. Students do not put their names on the checklist. The teacher uses the information to guide future instruction. What is the standard name of this kind of assessment?

Formative Answer Explanation : Formative assessments help form (or they inform) future instruction. They guide improvements and refinements. The other major category of assessments is "summative," tests that sum up what students have learned from a course, unit, or lesson.

In the middle of a lesson on the Legislative Branch, a teacher has students form a mock legislature and debate bills that they have created as a way to assess student learning. What is this an example of?

Formative assessment Answer Explanation : A formative assessment provides feedback that allows the teacher to monitor and adjust the instruction and is an easy way to evaluate individual student learning.

A social studies class has been doing cooperative work groups for two weeks. During this time, students in each group were supposed to research a European country and describe its major land features, form of government, and major imports and exports. Each group's findings will be a chapter in a book. Which of the following is the BEST way for the teacher to monitor each group's progress?

Give each group member a checklist of tasks they should complete every other day. Visit each group daily and ask questions about their research. Answer Explanation : A checklist helps ensure that all students are participating. Visiting groups allows the teacher to see who is working and who needs encouragement. Giving a group leader the responsibility of a teacher is not advisable. Although a teacher may assign each group member with a certain role, group members should not be asked to evaluate one another. Choice D does not give the teacher time to intervene and encourage groups who are falling behind.

Which of the following approaches would be the MOST effective introduction to a lesson on quadrilaterals?

Give students examples and non-examples of a quadrilateral. Answer Explanation : By comparing and contrasting students are able to develop the definition and generalize to new examples, thus truly understanding the term on a conceptual level. None of the other choices is an appropriate introductory exercise.

The four major steps to planning a lesson are: task analysis, determining objectives, determining goals, and identifying necessary prerequisite knowledge. In what order should those steps occur?

Goals, objectives, task analysis, prerequisite knowledge Answer Explanation : The first thing is to determine the overarching goal and then measurable objectives to reach that goal. A task analysis is completed to help guide the lesson plan, including determining the necessary prerequisite knowledge.

Which response demonstrates effective praise?

Good job! You backed up your claims with such convincing evidence! Answer Explanation : Choice D (answer) provides specific positive reinforcement. Choice A is too vague, choice B encourages the student to compare him or herself to other students (which is irrelevant), and choice C attempts to motivate the student externally instead of through the satisfaction inherent in mastering a skill.

An art teacher plans to lead students through a survey of the various schools of American art since the nineteenth century over the course of several weeks. How can she ensure that her students retain the important ideas about each school of art?

Have students compare and contrast each new school of art to the previous ones. Answer Explanation : Students retain information better when they use it, especially in analytical ways. By comparing and contrasting each new school of art to the earlier ones they have studied, the students will access previously taught information and think about the new information they are learning. Choice C, adding the information to a chart, does not force the students to actively think about what they have learned in the past and link it to new information. A weekly assessment tells a teacher what the students have retained, but, by itself, does not help students retain information.

Which of the following activities MOST effectively engages students during an introductory middle school lesson on electrical conductivity?

Have students form a human circuit by linking hands and demonstrate the properties of an open and closed circuit. Answer Explanation : When introducing a new idea, a teacher must engage the entire class as much as possible to peak interest and encourage questions. The whole-class activity ensures that all students are involved. Choice D would be effective after the activity and discussion. Reading from the textbook is not an effective way to engage students; this would be used to investigate questions the activity prompted. A demonstration is also a good way to engage students, but involving them rather than just showing them is preferred.

A third-grade teacher taught addition of two 2-digit numbers with regrouping at the beginning of the week. She used various hands-on methods and paper-and-pencil practice. On Friday, she gave the students a self-checking practice sheet with a dozen problems of 2-digit number addition. If the students answered the problems correctly, they were able to fill in the answer to a riddle on the worksheet. What is the main purpose of this assignment?

Increase students' accuracy in solving 2-digit addition problems. Answer Explanation : A self-checking worksheet gives students quick feedback on whether their answers are correct. Since the students have just learned the concept, they are working on being accurate, not fast.

A physical science class made its own polyvinyl acetate blobs to demonstrate the characteristics of plastic polymers. The science experiment is an example of what type of instruction?

Inquiry learning Answer Explanation : The polymer activity is an example of inquiry or discovery learning. Students use the materials themselves to discover a concept in a structured lesson. In direct instruction the teacher presents the concepts directly to the students. Active teaching is another term used for direct-instruction techniques. Although the students are in groups, the type of instruction is not a discussion group.

Which of the following sets of verbs is best suited to assessment of how well students can evaluate a body of content?

Interpret, justify, support

A fourth-grade class has just finished a unit on reptiles. The teacher will assess students by having them complete a project. They may write a report about reptiles, create a picture book with important facts, write a poem, or even make a videotape. Then, they will "teach" the class with their projects. What is the primary benefit of this type of assessment?

It gives a teacher a wider range of possibilities to determine if students have generalized their new knowledge. Answer Explanation : A project-based assessment allows students to show the concepts they have learned and to articulate those concepts. The lesson objectives are still assessed. In addition, any time students must "teach" a concept, they learn more about it.

Which of the following BEST describes why explaining grading criteria for upcoming assignments to students improves their performance?

It helps the students analyze and improve their work. Answer Explanation : Providing grading criteria allows students to assess their own work and make adjustments to it before turning it in. Explaining grading criteria may motivate students, but motivation alone does not lead to improved performance. Explaining criteria ahead of time does cut down on "grade grubbing," but this will not enhance the students' performance.

Correctly listing all 50 states of the United States of America and their capitals involves which type of thinking skill?

Knowledge Answer Explanation : According to Bloom's taxonomy, learning to list states and capitals involves knowledge, a lower-order thinking skill. All other answers are higher-order thinking skills.

Which type of material is MOST easily memorized?

Knowledge-based Answer Explanation : Knowledge-based material requires recall and frequently includes information that must be memorized. An example would be to state the definition of a planet.

Homework is assigned for many reasons. Which purpose below shows a misuse of homework?

Learn a new or unfinished concept. Answer Explanation : Homework should not be used to teach a new concept. When students become frustrated with homework, they tend not to complete it. Homework should give students a time to practice after they have had an opportunity for guided practice in class. It can be used for assessment, since it covers topics students have already been exposed to in class.

Which of the following instructional methods MOST effectively conveys information to an entire group of students at once?

Lecture Answer Explanation : The most efficient way to impart information that the entire groups needs is through lecture. It also gives the opportunity to teach students to listen attentively and take notes. The Socratic learning seminar can be time-consuming and can diverge from the topic. Discovery learning should only be used when the act of discovery truly helps students learn. Skill-and-drill workbook learning is most useful for building accuracy on a topic already discussed in class.

Which of the following sets of verbs should be used to assess how well students have retained a set of basic facts?

List, label, match Answer Explanation : The verbs in this set call for very basic thinking without much additional processing. According to Bloom's taxonomy, these are the foundation skills. Choice A calls for applying knowledge; choice B for analyzing, and choice D for synthesizing.

Which of the following activities, when used to begin a class period, engages students most effectively?

Listening to the teacher tell a relevant story or case study. Answer Explanation : A relevant story or case study immediately establishes a focal point and direction for the lesson, while providing a context so that students can immediately understand where the material "fits." Reviewing past lessons or skimming ahead does not build context or purpose for the lesson; neither does asking students to guess what they are about to learn.

What is the MOST appropriate procedure for monitoring students' progress during independent work time?

Look over students' shoulders to check their work, assisting where necessary. Answer Explanation : The teacher should monitor all students' progress, not just students who often have trouble. Moving around the room and looking over students' shoulders achieves this goal. Waiting for students to come and ask for help does not ensure that students who need help will get it. Pulling students aside for more instruction may be necessary, but it should not be done when the teacher is trying to monitor the progress of all students. Sending students to peer tutors may help those needing help, but it will take away from the peer's independent work time.

A teacher has decided to use a signal to tell students, "Please pay attention to the work now" and "Please check your behavior now because it needs to be corrected." Which of the following BEST summarizes the qualities this signal should have?

Maintains classroom momentum, nonverbal Answer Explanation : The answer is best clarified through eliminating the other choices. Choices A and D are ruled out because interrupting classroom momentum should be avoided whenever possible. Proximity is not the right choice because a signal should work no matter where the teacher happens to be.

Which of the following practices is an essential component of a good homework policy?

Make expectations known and set clear consequences for missing assignments. Answer Explanation : Expectations must be perfectly clear and the teacher must follow through on the consequences when expectations are not met. Choice B focuses on style, not substance. Choices C and D will give students the impression they can avoid doing exactly what the teacher asks of them.

When commenting on short essays written by students, which of the following would be the BEST strategy?

Make note of both the strengths and weaknesses. Answer Explanation : The general principle in commenting on student writing is to be simultaneously encouraging and instructive. Choice A ignores other important components of good essay writing, while B makes assumptions about what students have difficulty with. Raising questions is a valuable tool, but it should be balanced with other types of feedback. Teachers should be clear in their expectations and evaluate student work in a straightforward manner.

Which of the following measures of central tendency is MOST strongly influenced by extreme scores?

Mean Answer Explanation : The correct answer is A. The mean is most greatly influenced by extreme scores.

What statistical calculations are required when converting from a raw to a standard score?

Mean and standard deviation Answer Explanation : A standard score is calculated using the raw score, the distance from the mean, and the standard deviation of the distribution.

Which activity below would BEST stimulate students' interest in an introductory unit about the metric system and how to measure length, mass, and volume with metric units?

Measure items using non-standard units, like different size paper clips, to see why standard units were developed. Answer Explanation : Choice B would help students understand why standard systems and processes of measurement were developed, since students will probably be frustrated that people measuring the same objects did not get the same answer. Choice A teaches the content of the unit, rather than stimulating interest in it. Choices C and D are also activities that would be more appropriate during the unit, rather than as an introduction.

Given the following scores, which measure is the BEST descriptor of the central tendency of the data? 22, 57, 60, 60, 60, 75, 76, 82, 85, 88, 90, 92, 97

Median Answer Explanation : The very low score of 22 will skew the data. Because the mean is not resistant to extremes, the median is a better test of center. The mode of 60 is not indicative of the center of this data. The standard deviation is never a measure of center.

A student who has struggled is finally catching on to fractions. Which of the following strategies is MOST appropriate to help the student master fractions?

Model fractions using concrete examples.

A fifth-grade science lesson describes how the position and tilt of the earth cause seasons. Which of the following activities would be MOST effective in this lesson?

Model the revolution of the earth around the sun using a flashlight and globe. Answer Explanation : Using concrete objects to illustrate concepts boosts student understanding, especially in the context of a demonstration, rather than in a more passive medium such as video.

Which of the following is MOST likely to promote student learning of a complex process?

Modeling each step and offering practice between the steps. Answer Explanation : When a process is complex, it is helpful for students to absorb new content in small steps.

Which of the following prompts require students to synthesize information?

Organize a plan Answer Explanation : Organizing and planning are related to synthesis. Comparing and contrasting are part of analyzing. Justifying something is akin to evaluating it. Using a manual implies application of knowledge.

What kind of information can be gathered using a formative student assessment?

Patterns of student errors Answer Explanation : A formative assessment is designed to give immediate evidence of student learning and is not used to grade or evaluate students.

After teaching a new, difficult concept, how should a teacher choose students to call on when asking follow-up questions?

Pick students who volunteer. Answer Explanation : The risk is high on new and challenging material and students who volunteer are willing to take the risk. Students who are not volunteering probably need more time to become comfortable with the new material. Once students have had time to practice the new concept, then randomly calling on students can be appropriate. When a pattern is followed to choose respondents, students tend to spend their time thinking about when they will be called on, rather than thinking about the questions.

To help students succeed with projects that require out-of-class work, teachers generally provide students with written directions. Which additional strategy MOST effectively ensures students meet the teacher's expectations?

Provide students with the assessment rubric. Answer Explanation : If students have the assessment rubric for the project, they can see the relative value of each part of the project and check off each component as they complete it. Working in class gives the teacher an opportunity to give feedback to students, but the teacher may not be able to work with all students. Reviewing the directions is important, but repetition doesn't necessarily translate into understanding.

A fifth grade teacher wants to have his students read and critique each other's writing as part of the editing process. What should the teacher do to ensure students evaluate one another consistently?

Read several sample papers as a class and practice giving feedback to a writer. Answer Explanation : All students can learn to be good editors of each other's work if they are taught how to it. Reading stories together and making useful comments as a class, before doing it independently, will show students what is expected. Telling students to give constructive criticism will not be as effective as showing students what types of comments are useful and practicing together. Written comments make the process too onerous; students need to learn how to be tactful with each other, too.

Which of the following student activities would BEST introduce a middle school unit on economics?

Remember and list five times when you traded things with a friend or family member. Pick one of them and write a paragraph describing it. Answer Explanation : Each of the other choices involves higher level processes and/or concepts that are not appropriate subject material for an introductory lesson.

What should a teacher do when a student gives an incorrect response during a question-and-answer group session?

Say, "Let me put it another way," and rephrase the question. Answer Explanation : Strategic rephrasing involves breaking down the question into smaller chunks or laying emphasis on key ideas to help the student think it through for himself. It's also an inoffensive way to tell a student to think some more. Choice B puts both students involved in an awkward position. Choice C is not a productive use of class time during a group activity and choice D does not provide the student with any informative feedback.

A student who is usually well-behaved is consistently interrupting the class routine and annoying nearby students. The teacher has already reminded him that he must obey the classroom behavior standards, but that has not changed the behavior. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate teacher response?

Separate the student from his classmates and have him take a five-minute time-out. Answer Explanation : The behavior is consistent so ignoring it is ineffective. Rules must be enforced consistently, and if the student actively chooses to disobey, a consequence must follow. Referring the student to the school discipline officer is far too severe a response at this early stage, and telling him to explain behavior standards is unlikely to be effective since he has already ignored reminders. The problem is not that he cannot comprehend what the rules are, but instead why he has to follow them.

What is the main goal of establishing rules at the beginning of the school year?

Setting expectations for appropriate behavior from the students. Answer Explanation : At the beginning of the year, students need to know a teacher's expectations for appropriate behavior in the classroom and what the consequences of inappropriate behavior are. Choices A, B, and D may result from establishing rules at the beginning of the year, but they are not the main goal of establishing rules.

A teacher is working on instructional objectives for a science unit, including one that reads, "Students will map the locations of recent earthquakes." Which of the following modifications would BEST improve the objective?

Specifying how students will map the required information Answer Explanation : The teacher needs to indicate how she intends the students to map the earthquakes, not just that she intends it to happen. None of the other choices adds as much instructional value to the objective.

What should a teacher do when a very intelligent student aggressively dominates class discussions?

Start asking questions that have a range of possible answers and call for multiple responses. Answer Explanation : The teacher should shift the focus of the discussion so that multiple responses are welcomed and all answers are considered carefully. The gifted student should not be isolated from the class and "kept busy" so the other students can talk, and the student should not be reprimanded unless her behavior is inappropriate.

A teacher notices that a student often misbehaves after she is given a reading assignment, most likely because the student has poor vocabulary skills and is not a competent reader. What should the teacher do?

Start designing a plan that will help the student build reading and language skills. Answer Explanation : Some educational problems seem to be at the root of the misbehavior and choice B puts attention on finding educational solutions to them. Enlisting parents might be part of the educational plan, but the focus should be more on educational strategies than on discipline. Reading assignments probably should be adapted, but suspending them is an extreme step. Asking for a special education evaluation might be part of the teacher's plan, but a referral for services implies that a good evaluation has already been made.

Portfolios are a widely used alternative assessment tool. Which reason below BEST describes the main purpose for using a portfolio assessment?

Students can document their progress over time to teachers and parents.Answer Explanation : A portfolio is a collection of work created over time, so it allows students the ability to show others how much they have learned and progressed. Self-evaluation is a part of the portfolio process, but not its main purpose. Portfolios are part of the overall assessment plan for teachers, but they generally do not replace all tests.

Which of the following activities, designed for a high school genetics course, contains the highest-level thinking skills?

Students predict genetic traits of offspring based on the genetic characteristics of its parents. Answer Explanation : This activity requires the students to apply knowledge, rather than just collect or organize it.

In order to help her students attain fluency in reading grade-level materials aloud, the teacher assesses students frequently and tailors her instruction accordingly. Which type of assessment, performed at least twice per month, would BEST monitor students' reading fluency?

Students read a selected passage while the teacher keeps a running record of errors. Answer Explanation : In order to best monitor the students' reading fluency, a teacher must track errors and speed over time. A running record allows a teacher to be more consistent in monitoring students because all errors are noted. Patterns of mistakes and improvements over time can easily be seen. Listening to students read pleasure books is important, but a more formal process can help teachers better tailor their instruction. Since the objective in this case was fluency, not comprehension, choice B is an inappropriate assessment.

An elementary school teacher wants to give students a cognitive strategy for correctly spelling the words its and it's. Which of the following is the BEST example of a cognitive strategy?

Substitute it is in the sentence; if it is fits, use an apostrophe; if not, use no apostrophe. Answer Explanation : Choice B (the answer) is a specific routine that gets results. Choice A is highly abstract and only looks like a rule. Choice C is practice without a context or strategy. A choral response is of no value when dealing with words that sound alike but are spelled differently.

The goal of a science lesson is to identify birds using a taxonomic key, which classifies the birds based on their distinguishing features. To provide practice, the teacher plans to use video tapes showing different birds in natural habitats. How should the teacher help students learn to use the taxonomic key?

Summarize the process, work through the first several steps to identify a particular bird as an example, and then let the students use the key themselves. Answer Explanation : Learning a skill that includes several steps or parts is best approached through mastering a few steps at a time. Choice A does not offer the students an example. Choice B fails to explain the key. Choice D asks students to articulate their own perceptions, which might be fitting if the teacher wants to have students build a strategy themselves, but is less relevant for learning an established process.

What accommodation is commonly listed for students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?

Take tests in a setting with fewer distractions. Answer Explanation : This accommodation is common for students with ADD because they have difficulty staying focused. Taking tests in an environment with fewer distractions, including other students, can increase their scores. The remaining answer choices may be common accommodations for students with an IEP, but not specifically with students who have ADD.

A social studies teacher wants students to consider the role of geography in population patterns. She asks her class, "What role did geography play in the growth of Chicago as a major U.S. city?" What should she do next?

Tell students not to call out responses but to raise their hand when they think of an answer and wait to be called on. Students need various amounts of time to think through an answer to a question, particularly for complicated questions. Allowing students to answer right away can stop the thinking process for the other students. Calling on a student allows the rest of the class to stop thinking about the problem, too, and puts the student in an embarrassing position. Choice D may be an option if the discussion gets stalled, but students should be given plenty of time to come up with their own ideas before the teacher starts prompting them.

What would be the BEST response when a student repeatedly interrupts a question-answer exercise with inappropriate jokes that distract from the exercise?

Tell the student not to speak unless giving an appropriate response and set a consequence for further misbehavior. Answer Explanation : Setting a consequence for further bad behavior is the best way to deal with students who otherwise would continue to misbehave. The other answers either reinforce the bad behavior, or do not provide enough of a consequence for continued bad behavior.

Which of the following is an example of an inductive sequence?

The class studies several totalitarian regimes and develops a list of general rules that apply to all dictatorships. Answer Explanation : Inductive reasoning involves deriving a rule based on examples. Choice D is the opposite, deductive reasoning, in which a specific rule is applied to an example. There is nothing necessarily deductive or inductive about B and C.

Which of the following is an accurate definition of a "Standard Error of Measurement"?

The difference between the actual score that a student achieves on an exam and her hypothetical score. Answer Explanation : This measurement is used to determine the accuracy of a test in gauging student knowledge.

A rule relationship is an excellent method for organizing knowledge. Which of the following is an example of a rule relationship?

The fact that all reptiles are vertebrates Answer Explanation : Rule relationships are the backbone of organizing new materials. The other choices (A, B, and D) are not rule relationships because they do not form rules to organize and categorize individual units of knowledge.

If every test score in a set is increased by five points, what is the result?

The mean will increase by five points, and the standard deviation will stay the same. Answer Explanation : The mean is an average, and if every score is five points higher, that will be reflected in the mean. The standard deviation is a measure of spread from the mean. The numbers will be spread in the same way; each will just be five points larger than before.

Under what circumstance might it be appropriate to ignore a classroom behavior that violates the rules?

The student acknowledges and changes the behavior. Answer Explanation : Classroom rules are working well when students recognize violations and change their behavior on their own. You must consistently and fairly enforce the rules of your class, so choices A, B, and D must be wrong.

In which of the following situations are students MOST likely to require additional guidance and support from the teacher?

The students have little choice or control over their level of participation. Answer Explanation : Some degree of personal choice or control almost always makes learning easier; in its absence, extra guidance and support may help learning. All other choices are situations that build independence in students.

Which statement below is the BEST example of a behavioral objective?

The students will contrast immigration patterns in the late 1800s with current immigration patterns in the United States. Answer Explanation : A behavioral objective should contain an action verb that can be measured to determine if students have accomplished the objective. The verbs in the other answer choices are difficult, if not impossible, to measure.

Which of the following strategies is useful when a student is in the acquisition stage of learning?

The teacher demonstrates the target skill. Answer Explanation : Demonstrating the skill is a way of introducing it. Choice B should occur in the fluency stage, choice C in the generalization stage, and choice D in the adaptation stage.

What must a teacher ascertain before designing a unit on the relationships between decimals, fractions, and percentages?

What students already know about decimals, fractions, and percentages Answer Explanation : Prior learning always influences new learning. Student interest is important, but an awareness of student interest is not a prerequisite to effective teaching.

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of criterion-referenced tests?

They measure learning of a specified set of skills or information. Answer Explanation : Criterion-referenced tests measure the amount or the percentage of content students know or can perform. It is possible for all students in a group to perform equally well on a criterion-referenced test; differentiation is not necessarily a goal.

An elementary school teacher tells his students he will give them stickers each time they master a new part of the multiplication table (1s, 2s, 3s and so forth). What sort of motivational system is he employing?

Token economy Answer Explanation : The students are given a reward—a "token" such as stickers, stars, chips, or privileges—for achieving a goal. Negative reinforcement involves attaching an undesirable consequence to undesirable behavior (like missing recess for calling someone a bad name). Partial reinforcement is a term psychologists use to describe a sort of operant conditioning in which a certain behavior is only sometimes reinforced. Many students are motivated by competition, but in the example above, they are not competing with each other.

On the first day of class, a teacher spends time teaching students procedures for routine activities such as passing in papers and moving into cooperative groups.

This is a good idea because it will save time later. Answer Explanation : Developing procedures and teaching them will save time. It does not mean that students will understand why they are expected to do what the teacher asks, but it is not necessary that students understand the rationale behind every classroom procedure.

Before having students read a critical article about a novel they have studied in class, the teacher says, "While you read, notice the difference between statements of opinion and statements of fact. Pay attention to how the author supports his opinions." What is her primary purpose for saying this?

To establish a purpose for reading. Answer Explanation : Research shows that establishing a purpose for reading—to be entertained, to evaluate, to discover—helps students focus on the material. Establishing a purpose may increase a student's interest in the text, but that is not the teacher's primary objective. The statement does not provide a context for the reading, nor does it encourage students to look for errors.

During the first week of class, the teacher asks her students to write a nongraded, one-page paper about the event that has most impacted their lives. What is the primary purpose for this activity?

To gauge the students' current writing abilities Answer Explanation : The aim of the exercise is to motivate the class with a nongraded assignment that allows the teacher to assess each student's composition skills and to get to know each student better. Choice A would best be determined by a mental health professional. Choice B should have already been determined. Choice C could not be determined by a nongraded, one-page paper.

A middle school class is working on recognizing numerical patterns. One of the examples the teacher has selected is Fibonacci numbers, shown below 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 ....Which of the following statements would be MOST likely to help students induce the rule relationship that generates this list?

To generate numbers in the list, you have to use two other numbers in the list, rather than just one. Answer Explanation : Choice A (the answer) is correct because students may assume (like most patterns) that each number is based solely upon the number preceding it. Choice B is less effective because it does not make the rule any easier to see. Going online does not engage students in inducing the rule relationship, although it probably would yield explanations of the rule. Choice D is true but not relevant to the task at hand.

You have finished your high school lesson faster than anticipated. There are ten minutes left before the bell rings. Which of the following activities shows the BEST use of classroom time and management?

Use a set of 5- to 10-minute activities that were prepared ahead of time and that apply to the class material. Answer Explanation : Although allowing students time to talk may seem harmless, they may begin to expect this, leading to unwanted discipline problems. The last-minute questions might seem acceptable, but the best option is to always plan ahead.

In teaching a unit on Germany in the 1930s, a teacher wants students to recognize and understand that multiple social, economic, and political factors contributed to the rise of National Socialism. After starting the unit, what types of questions should be asked next?

What and Where Answer Explanation : "What" and "where" questions elicit information that adds to a base or scaffold. Asking "how" usually involves more complex thinking, as does asking "why." Those are questions that will come up later in a unit.

Which of the following questions BEST promotes discussion?

Why do we still struggle to end racism? Answer Explanation : This question allows for a large number of answers and a wide-ranging discussion. The discussion is likely to be interesting because it can include so many points of view. Choices A, B, and C involve recall of specific information.

The following exchange between a teacher and a student occurs during a middle school science lesson: Teacher: "Identify one problem in wetlands ecology." Student: "Non-native plants?" Which of the following is the MOST appropriate teacher response?

Why would non-native plants be a problem? Answer Explanation : When a student is correct but uncertain, it is helpful to follow their answer with a clarifying question to lead the student to a more developed level of understanding. Choices B, C, and D move on to additional concepts without reinforcing the student understanding.

In order to gain your students' respect, which of the following would you MOST want to establish about yourself from the beginning?

Your subject matter knowledge and your expectation that students can learn from you. Answer Explanation : Competence in the subject matter and having high expectations for students are highly respected teacher qualities. Students are unlikely to respect a teacher simply because he or she is well educated or claims to have been well liked in the past. Choice D is incorrect because, while enthusiasm is appreciated, it matters less than competence.

A teacher is explaining the parts of a basic five-paragraph essay to students. Which of the following would BEST complete the analogy? "The introduction, the three middle paragraphs, and the conclusion are like...

a Neapolitan ice cream sandwich." Answer Explanation : A Neapolitan ice cream sandwich has three flavors of ice cream inside representing the three paragraphs. The flavors touch each other, showing the transitions between paragraphs. The two cookie parts represent the introduction and conclusion. The roller-coaster ride would be a better analogy for the writing of a fiction story than an essay. The other two choices do not lend themselves to essay analogies.

A teacher is conducting a lesson on the Industrial Revolution and the significant changes in methods of transportation and travel during that time. After being called on, a student asks why steam engines are not used in cars today. The teacher should

acknowledge the question as interesting, yet ask the student to wait until later for the class to travel that thread of thinking. Answer Explanation : It is important to maintain continuity and not digress from the teaching objective, yet the student's question is germane to the big picture of industrial progress so it should be honored as good thinking. Asking the student to go to the library could be misinterpreted by the students as punishment for asking a question. The entire class or the teacher should be involved in the task rather than assigning an extra task for an interested student.

If a student repeats a question already answered during a class period, the teacher should

answer the question using different language and examples. Answer Explanation : A teacher should encourage class participation by answering all relevant questions, even questions that are asked more than once. Choice A does not take into account that the student may be asking the question because she did not understand the explanation the first time. Choice C would only embarrass the student and make her less likely to ask questions in the future. Choice D puts both students in an awkward position.

The most effective group discussion questions

are open-ended to allow for students to explore a range of possible correct answers. Answer Explanation : Questions with correct answers do not promote student achievement and expansion. Addressing cognitive levels does not relate to thinking styles.

Which statement BEST completes the following behavioral objective? The student will demonstrate the ability to

compare communication methods in the American Civil War. Answer Explanation : Behavioral objectives must be measurable and include action verbs.

Statements that are meant to address or halt inappropriate classroom behavior should always be

delivered promptly. Answer Explanation : To be effective, a reprimand must immediately follow the bad behavior that needs correcting. Some discussions of behavior can be handled privately, but they need not always be. Asking a question should be avoided since it seems to invite a discussion, not a change in the offending behavior. A reprimand does not need to be written to be effective.

The interquartile range of a data set

describes how spread out the middle of the data is. Answer Explanation : By definition, the interquartile range is the first quartile subtracted from the third quartile (the medians of the "top" and "bottom" halves of a set of data that is, itself, divided at the median).

A state's annual report on statewide student performance on mandated standardized tests includes a section in which the data is broken down by socioeconomic status. This data is

disaggregated. Answer Explanation : "Disaggregated" means separated into parts. Breaking a set of data down into parts does not make it biased or invalid.

Norm-referenced tests

discriminate between high achievers and low achievers. Answer Explanation : Norm-referenced tests compare performance to a defined group of other test takers. All the other choices check performance on predefined criteria and would be called criterion-referenced.

Teachers write rubrics for student projects in order to identify

expectations and grading criteria. Answer Explanation : Writing and then sharing rubrics when a project is assigned allows students to understand how the project will be graded. It also has the advantage of helping the teacher to focus the assignment clearly.

A teacher should use metaphors during a lesson in order to

explain new concepts by identifying the similarities they share with known concepts. Answer Explanation : Metaphor can build understanding of new ideas by building on the foundations of previously taught concepts.

While in science lab, a student who is repeatedly off task and disruptive is pretending to make pancake batter by mixing chemicals together. The appropriate response is to

get the student out of the room and under the supervision of another adult. Answer Explanation : Mixing chemicals is risky behavior. Because the student is repeatedly off task and disruptive, an immediate consequence is in order. A science lab class offers many distractions, and the teacher cannot ignore the rest of the students in order to control one child.

On a standardized history achievement test, a student scored at +2 standard deviations. From this, the teacher can determine that the student

has learned a great deal of history. Answer Explanation : At +2 standard deviations, a student is at approximately the 95th percentile, which would mean that the student has achieved well in history. It does not indicate the student's intelligence, only his achievement level.

A set of data with a low standard deviation

is tightly grouped around the mean. Answer Explanation : Standard deviation describes the average distance a number in the data set is from the mean of the set. In other words, it describes the spread of the data. The lower the standard deviation, the more tightly the data is grouped around the mean of the data set. It has nothing to do with the value of the numbers in the set itself.

The number occurring MOST frequently in a data set is called the

mode. Answer Explanation : The mode of any data set is the value that appears most frequently

During a lesson, a teacher notices a student quietly folding a paper airplane rather than paying attention or participating. The MOST appropriate action to regain the student's attention would be

moving to stand near the student. Answer Explanation : The student is not yet disrupting class or disturbing other students. Unless the problem escalates, proximity should properly indicate that you have noticed the misbehavior, and cause it to cease. Disrupting the lesson by using choices B, C, or D is not yet necessary.

A teaching unit should be designed so that key skills are

practiced frequently until students retain them. Frequent practice distributed across the available time period helps students develop fluency. In most cases, smaller chunks work better than big ones.

Mnemonic devices help students to

remember a specific set of ordered information. Answer Explanation : Mnemonic devices are helpful in teaching a specific ordered set of information, such as the order of the planets from the sun or order of notes on a musical line. Mnemonic devices do not help students analyze events or information. A mnemonic device may help a student remember the steps of a procedure, but only practice will help students learn to perform a procedure.

Which of the following BEST describes what a Pearson coefficient of zero between scores on two tests would indicate to a teacher? The scores on the two tests are ...

unrelated Answer Explanation : The correct answer is B. A Pearson coefficient of zero indicates that the scores on the two tests are not related in a reliable or predictable way.

Which of the following statements would BEST help students to understand the distributive property of multiplication over addition?

Show students that 3(a + b) = (a + b) + (a + b) + (a + b). Answer Explanation : Showing students how and why this rule works will help them to develop a concrete understanding of the property.

Before elementary students start reading a new book about baby dinosaurs, which of the following activities would BEST assess prior knowledge and stimulate student interest?

Show the class drawings of different kinds of dinosaurs and ask them to name and discuss them, if they can. Discuss the answers as a group and ask the question, "What would you do if you found a baby dinosaur?" Answer Explanation : The teacher is able to assess what students know about dinosaurs and can correct any misinformation. In addition, the question is open-ended and is an attention grabber. Choices B and C are too passive and the teacher cannot assess prior knowledge. Choice D may seem like a good activity, but again, the teacher cannot assess prior knowledge.

More than half of a teacher's students perform poorly on a quiz. What should be the teacher's response?

Tell the students the quiz will not count, re-teach the objectives and give students a different quiz. Answer Explanation : The best way to ensure that students master concepts is to give them appropriate instruction. If students do not master a skill, they cannot move on to more advanced material. Ignoring the fact that more than half of the students failed a quiz is not acceptable. Curving student scores may be the only option on a final exam when it is impossible to give students another test or re-teach the material, but in this case the teacher's best option is to try to teach and test the material again. The quiz may have flaws, so giving students the same quiz will not help either.

Which of the following is a stem for questions or directions that will lead students to apply what they have learned?

"How is _____ related to _____?" Answer Explanation : Application typically requires the ability to transfer learning into a new situation. In turn, the act of transferring requires operating with the relationships between situations. Choice B invokes a type of elaboration or synthesis. Choices C and D aim at evaluation.

A struggling student comes to pick up a paper at your desk during class time. You have determined that this student needs extra help. Which of the following would be BEST to say to the student?

"I'd like to talk to you about this paper in a little more detail. Let's set up a time when we can talk in private." It is important to protect student privacy and avoid embarrassment. The vital issue is not to share lack of success with the rest of the students.

Which of the following statements will require students to analyze what they are working on?

"What are the main features of ..." Answer Explanation : Choice B requires students to divide something into its constituents, the heart of analysis. Choice A calls for basic knowledge. Choice C invites a kind of evaluation plus generating options. Choice D requires comprehension.

Which of the following statements BEST illustrates a proven technique for encouraging student effort?

"You're exactly right here and here. Now check this." Choice C gives a student specific feedback about successful learning or performance and also points ahead to even better performance. Choice A tries to be encouraging, but it's not specific and hints at a lack of effort. Choice B sounds exaggerated. Choice D does not encourage effort directly.

A teacher asked his student to find the area of a triangle. The student's response was correct but was given in an unsure and timid manner. What could the teacher say to encourage the student's understanding of finding the area of triangles?

"You're right. How did you figure that out?" Answer Explanation : Since the student was unsure of his answer, it is helpful for the teacher to confirm his answer first, before challenging him to explain how he figured out the answer. Giving his own explanation will help him understand how to find the area of any triangle. Trying another problem does not help increase understanding if the concept behind the practice is not explained.

Given the following set of scores on a standardized test, which choice most closely approximates the difference between the mean and median of the set- 89, 65, 77, 93, 80, 87, 79

1 The mean of the data is 81.43 and the median is 80. The difference between them is 1.43, which is closer to 1. Choice C is the range of scores and D is the median.

A high school English teacher is teaching Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Which of the following handouts would help students to compile the reasons why Brutus participated in Caesar's assassination?

A chart that lists and paraphrases the arguments Brutus presents in his soliloquy. Answer Explanation : In his soliloquy, Brutus explains why he feels he must join the conspirators. Students have a difficult time interpreting Shakespeare, and a chart that paraphrases will help students interpret a character's actions. The other choices are organizers that will not help interpret this Brutus's actions.

A teacher is planning a lesson for a unit on the portion of the Seven Years War fought in North America between England and France, known to Americans as the French and Indian War. The lesson's main goal is to show the relative strengths and weaknesses of English and French forces in North America. Which of the following aids would be MOST useful for reaching that goal?

A comparison/contrast chart for students to fill in as they work through the unit A chart of this type helps students focus on similarities and differences as they study. Maps, timelines, and facsimiles of primary materials are all standard materials for teaching history, but they do not directly support the comparison and contract processes.

Consider the following question asked by a first grade teacher: "What do the three stories we have read by Tomie de Paola have in common?" What is the main instructional value of asking a question like this?

Analysis of the separate stories and comparison between them This question utilizes comparisons, which is part of the fourth level of Bloom's Taxonomy, analysis. The teacher is looking to see which students are able to think of all three stories at the same time and make comparisons between them. Choice C also covers analysis, but it limits the analysis to a single subject, themes. The teacher is not looking specifically for factual recall in this higher-order thinking question, although recall may also occur.

Students are often wary of literature because they do not feel it plays a role in their everyday lives, or that it is something too high-brow for them to appreciate. Which of the following is a teaching technique that will bring students' previous experience into the lesson?

Ask students to talk about their favorite stories, songs, and movies. Answer Explanation : You can safely assume that most students, perhaps all, have experience with stories told by family members and friends, rhymes, songs, movies, television programs, and more. You probably cannot expect all students to have read from a given set, as choice A assumes, nor to know about the writers, as in choice C. Choice B can be a valuable step, but it may not necessarily relate to students' previous experience.

What activity would BEST help students in a middle school social studies class understand why different Native American tribes had different trading practices?

Assign a tribe to each group of students and give each group handouts that identify needs and oversupply for a particular tribe. Then stage trading activities among groups and have students identify important aspects. Students engaged in active participation are more likely to learn and understand complex interconnections. Choices A and D are generally passive for students. Choice C is off-topic.

Which of the methods below will BEST hold students accountable for their full participation in cooperative learning groups?

Assign each student in the group a specific role in accomplishing the objectives of the activity. If each student has a role in meeting the objectives and the activity is well structured, then all students will be drawn into participating because they all have something to do. Grading students' work individually can be appropriate during cooperative learning activities, but if group process is not also evaluated, then some students will decline to participate with their group. Evaluating each other can become awkward and unfair for numerous reasons, so it should be generally avoided.

Which activity below would give second-grade students the best practice discriminating between mammals and non-mammals?

Bring cut-out pictures of mammals and non-mammals to class, and have students sort them into "mammal" and "non-mammal" piles one at a time. Answer Explanation : Since the objective is for the students to practice discriminating between mammals and non-mammals, they need to look at many animals and decide in which they category they belong. Choice A is the only activity that provides exposure to a large number of "practice problems." Choice C may be a useful activity for the students to learn more about mammals and non-mammals, but it does not offer as much practice opportunity as A. Choice B does allow for some comparison, but it limits the environment and the animals to be compared, thereby hindering its overall effectiveness.

How should a teacher generally begin almost every class?

By telling students what they will be covering that day. Telling students what they will be covering helps focus students' attention. A teacher should remind students to pay attention if she notices that their attention is wandering, but she need not start every class with this reminder. Reviewing skills is helpful on occasion, but not in every class. Casual conversation with students builds rapport but should be reserved for before or after class.

Which of the following tasks requires knowledge of a concept?

Categorizing numbers as rational numbers, integers, or whole numbers Answer Explanation : Students must have an understanding of each set of numbers in order to categorize new numbers. There is no step-by-step process, or strategy, to determine the set of a number. The other three answer choices use cognitive strategies to accomplish the task.

A student has struggled with math for as long as he can remember. Now, as an eighth grader, he resents having to do math, which often shows in his attitude towards the teacher and class. However, he still wants to understand the material and pass the class. He turns in his homework regularly, but does not always do very well on it. What strategy should the teacher employ to help him be more successful in math?

Check in with the student during in-class work time and answer his questions patiently. Answer Explanation : Middle school students tend to respond best to a quiet check-in to be sure that they are on track. At that time or another private time, they can ask questions that they know the teacher will answer respectfully. Eighth-grade students are old enough to recognize when they are being falsely complimented and graded with different standards than their peers, so choices A and C are more likely to fail. Drawing attention to a student's difficulties by calling on him more often will only increase his resentment.

Two students work together to prepare visual aids that illustrate the major waves of immigration to the United States. The activity satisfies which of the following learning objectives?

Communicating in suitable ways. Preparing visual aids necessarily engages students in thinking about what's suitable for the content, purpose, and audience. Their content may or may not require analyzing for cause and effect, for making claims, or making inferences.

A social studies teacher completes a lesson about the executive branch of government. Which activity would BEST serve as an appropriate homework assignment?

Complete a worksheet that includes vocabulary and short answer responses. Answer Explanation : Homework should be a review of the concepts covered in class. The assignment should not take students hours to complete. Although the game is a great activity, it is not an appropriate homework assignment. It might be an activity to begin in the classroom and continue at home. Writing a report is fine, but if a teacher wants quality work, the report should be given more time. It is not a one-night activity. The chart is about all the branches of government, not the executive branch.

Which type of educational test BEST measures students' performance on specific skill objectives as compared to a performance standard of those skills?

Criterion-referenced Answer Explanation : Unlike a norm-referenced test, a criterion-referenced test does not compare students against a sample group of students who took the test, only whether they have mastered specific skills. Choice A is incorrect because a multiple choice test can be norm-referenced or criterion-referenced.

Which of the following would provide the BEST introduction for a lesson on writing bibliographic references?

Demonstrate to students the specific procedure and order expected. Writing bibliographic references is a procedure, and procedures are best taught through demonstration. There are a variety of formats for citations, but students need to be consistent in their format, so the teacher needs to specify the important elements.

How could a teacher effectively model the use of key concepts involved in everyday economic decisions?

Describe an actual or plausible economic decision he or she has made. Answer Explanation : The key here is the nature of modeling, which is a careful version of "This is how I do it." It is best accomplished with a personal account similar to a case study. None of the other choices use that process.

Which of the following is the BEST way for teachers to ensure that students know how to use graphic organizers?

Describe the proper use of various graphic organizers. Answer Explanation : Students are more likely to understand the value of graphic organizers if they were taught how to use them. The other answer choices are only possible if students have first been taught how to use the graphic organizers.

Which of the following first-day techniques is MOST clearly directed toward building a sense of community in the classroom?

Describing a problem and solving it as a class Answer Explanation : Working together builds community effectively. Working on a specific problem is preferable to an open-ended conversation, particularly on the first day. Choice A focuses on the teacher, not so much the classroom community. While choice B may help students learn each other's names, it does not establish a sense of community. As for choice C, you may want to tell students this, but the expectation will develop over time.

Which of the following should be a teacher's first step in planning a lesson?

Determine the objective of the lesson. Answer Explanation : Before materials are collected, activities are determined, or the explanation of the content is planned, the teacher must know what he or she plans to accomplish during the lesson. The objective, not the activity, drives the lesson.

A science class has just completed a unit of study on ecology, including vegetative regions and biomes. Which of the following student activities demonstrates the highest level of content mastery?

Discuss the effects of weather patterns on the ecology of other countries. Answer Explanation : Intelligently discussing how a concept applies to other scenarios exhibits mastery of higher level thinking. Listing similarities and differences, as in choice A, labeling using new terms and definitions, as in choice C, and identifying examples based on information already learned, as in choice D, are among the first stages of content mastery.

A teacher is planning how to explain classroom assessment practices to a group of parents. Which of the following could be used as an example of formative assessment?

Evaluating whether teaching practices need to be changed based on student self-evaluation. Formative assessments are those that give indications of what needs to be adjusted, corrected, or otherwise improved based on feedback. They guide instruction that is taking place. Choices A and B are examples of another category of assessments: summative. They sum up instruction that has been completed.

In order to use an inductive sequence for teaching about World War II, which of the following would be the BEST way for a class to work?

Examine events leading up to the war and develop a general model of world war in the process. Induction is the process of building a general model. Choice C is deduction. Choices A and D are interesting and potentially valuable—either might fit into a general model—but neither one is inductive or deductive.

Suppose you want students to learn to distinguish between the words imply and infer. Which of the following sequences would be MOST effective?

Explain the distinction, then have students apply the terms to their own examples. The first three choices are all out of sequence in one way or another. For instance, B is incorrect because students cannot work independently until a skill is retained.

A teacher wants to teach the scientific method by asking students to set up an experiment to learn what natural resources seeds need in order to germinate. What should be the first step in this process?

Explain the scientific method giving several examples of research questions, hypotheses, and experiment designs. Answer Explanation : The teacher's goal is to teach the scientific method. Before students can design their own experiments or begin to think about seed germination as a research question, they must understand the requirements of the scientific method. Choices A and C would be useful activities after the basic guidelines are established. Choice D is also useful, but should come after students have enough information about both germination and experimentation to design a workable experiment.

Of the following verbs or verb phrases, which one is most fitting for an objective concerned with students' ability to generalize?

Find and explain additional cases of... Answer Explanation : Generalizing is the process of extending what has been learned. In its most precise sense, it calls for finding identical cases or uses of what has being learned. At the very least, it calls for finding very similar cases or uses. Choices A and B do not call for generalization. Instead, they operate with what students can recall or are given. Choice D clearly calls for an evaluation of some kind.

A seventh grade class has read a textbook chapter on recycling as homework. Which graphic organizer would be MOST appropriate to work with in class the next day to help students fully understand the recycling process?

Flow chart Answer Explanation : A flow chart is the best way for students to visualize a process with multiple steps and options. A Venn diagram is the most useful type of graphic organizer for comparing and contrasting information. An outline is useful for organizing a linear discussion or argument. T-charts are helpful when students need to examine two side of the same topic (pros and cons, for example).

A fifth-grade student has just finished a three-week unit on the American Revolution in social studies. Which strategy would be BEST to use to culminate the unit?

Give a free-response test on the "big ideas" of the unit and have students choose a project from a list of eight projects. In order to know whether the learning objectives of the unit have been met, the objectives must be measured. A test on the major concepts of the American Revolution achieves that goal. The project, from a limited number of choices that relate to the objectives, gives students another way to show what they have learned. Choice B is too free-form, and students may not show that they have met the learning objectives for the unit. Choice D is an excellent way to tie the subjects together, but it is not a culminating activity that shows what students have learned.

What is the BEST method for reinforcing the proper use of the pronoun "me "?

Give students a structured worksheet that has sentences with a blank to be filled in by me or I. Answer Explanation : To reinforce newly learned material, students are most successful when practicing in a highly structured way. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The sentences can force the students to practice using the pronoun in a variety of sentence situations, which may not happen in any of the other three practice scenarios. Also, the worksheet only practices the concept learned.

A student is returning to school after being hospitalized for three months. Which accommodations should a teacher consider?

Giving additional time to complete assigned work. Answer Explanation : Time to complete work is typically the most important accommodation needed after a long absence. Most students who have been absent realize they will have adjustments to make and their classmates realize this as well. Lowering expectations for in-class behavior or performance does not help the student progress. Assigning another student to help only slows the student's recovery, and is unnecessary if extra time is granted for completion of assignments.

A ninth-grade teacher plans to teach his students how to use latitude and longitude to locate places on a map. He wants to build upon students' prior knowledge, so which of the following would be MOST logical to link with lessons on latitude and longitude?

Graphing ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. Answer Explanation : Finding a specific location using its latitude and longitude is the same concept as plotting points using ordered pairs in math. By ninth grade, students have generally mastered this skill, so it is convenient and pertinent prior knowledge. Choice D would be pertinent, but is less likely to be common prior knowledge. The other two answer choices are not useful for prior knowledge links specifically to latitude and longitude.

Which of the following strategies BEST maximizes students' learning time?

Have an assignment on the board for students to complete in the first five minutes of class while answering questions and taking attendance. Answer Explanation : To maximize students' learning time, a teacher should ensure they are engaged in a productive activity. A short assignment to be done at the beginning of class can be part of the normal classroom routine, allowing the teacher to take care of necessary tasks while the students are working. While a quiet classroom may help a teacher move more quickly to the lesson, the students still will be waiting instead of working.

A nine-year-old student with diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is in a regular education classroom. He has average ability in math. Which strategy below will MOST effectively help him memorize his multiplication facts?

Have him spend 15 minutes per day using a computer program that practices multiplication facts. A multiplication fact program on the computer will probably hold his interest for more time than any of the other strategies, which means he will practice more. Working with another student may be a chance to goof off, rather than focus on practicing.

A high school English teacher has assigned a novel for students to complete for a six-week unit. The teacher gives students a reading schedule. Each day the teacher gives students a pop quiz over the assigned chapters. The teacher then discusses the chapters and has students take notes. What other type of assessment tools can the teacher use to make sure students are keeping up with the reading and learning the content?

Have students complete weekly worksheets, give students a test every other week, and assign a composition about one of the learning objectives. Answer Explanation : Worksheets that make students show that they are grasping the concepts of the novel will help the teacher know if he or she needs to review, re-teach, or slow the pace. Giving tests that carry more weight will also help motivate students to keep up with the reading. The writing assignment allows students to show that they can interpret the novel. Choice B does not provide enough feedback for the teacher or the student. Creating a movie poster is a good closure activity but does not encourage the students to keep up with the reading. Having students take turns leading the discussion may cause some students to stop reading after they have had their turn leading the discussion.

The faculty adviser to a student website is training students to use photo processing software. What should the adviser plan to do after students have successfully tried the basic skills of importing an image file and saving it in an appropriate format for use on the web?

Have students practice the skills until they meet a predetermined standard of quickness and accuracy. Answer Explanation : The students have acquired a skill, and the next steps should be to build fluency. Fluency is a combination of speed and accuracy. Choices B and D have to do with introducing new skills that can be acquired after the first is mastered. Choice C is incorrect because the adviser should find out what the students' current skills are before beginning training, not after

Which of the following is MOST likely to promote effective transfer of knowledge to students?

Having students work on their own with specific information related to a topic before giving an organizing lecture. Studies indicate that topics need to be organized and connected in order to promote transfer of knowledge, but that a large number of topics covered quickly will hinder student transfer because students have too little time to connect and organize the information. Introducing organizational structure early makes student learning difficult in that they first need specific information about the topic before the organizational structure can make sense and be remembered. Choice C is not likely to be instructive, as students need to have some knowledge about a topic before participating productively in a discussion.

Consider the following two questions a teacher might ask a high school social studies class. I: According to our textbook, what does the public welfare system do to solve the problems of poverty? II: What are some ways our country might solve the problems of poverty? Which of the following best describes the differences between these questions?

II invites more divergent thinking than I. This question is a matter of relative convergence and divergence. Question I converges on the textbook; that is, good answers will stick to what the textbook says. Question II allows for answers that may draw on sources other than the textbook. Both questions are open-ended.

Which of the following language arts activities requires the highest order of thinking skills?

Imagining and writing a new ending to a novel. Imagining and writing a new ending to a story is an example of the synthesis level of thinking on Bloom's Taxonomy. The six levels of thinking skills that Bloom identifies are (1) knowledge, as in choice D; (2) comprehension, as in choice A; (3) application; (4) analysis, as in choice B; (5) synthesis; and (6) evaluation.

A science teacher wants to introduce the concept of parasitism among animal species. She begins by describing several parasitic relationships between animal species. She then asks students to identify what is similar and different about these pairs, with the goal of determining the essential attributes of the relationships. What kind of instructional approach is she using?

Inductive Answer Explanation : She is asking students to generalize based on specifics. A teacher using a deductive approach would first give students a definition or rule, and then ask them to apply it to specifics. Synectics is a teaching model that encourages students to see old ideas in new ways. The Socratic approach involves asking students a series of questions designed to guide them toward understanding a concept.

A third grade student struggles spelling even basic words. Her parents have come to the autumn parent-teacher conference and discussed the student's previous school experiences and their concerns about her lack of progress in spelling. How should her teacher respond?

Inform them that she will consult the Special Education teacher to see if the student's difficulties may warrant testing for learning disabilities. Answer Explanation : A primary-level teacher should know where spelling difficulties often originate, and he or she should feel comfortable consulting the Special Education staff about a student whose parents are concerned. Although the student could outgrow her spelling difficulties, poor spelling is an indicator of other learning disabilities, so it should not be ignored. Creating an impromptu plan for "fixing" the student's spelling difficulties may not address underlying problems.

While observing an experienced teacher you notice that every time a student answers a question correctly, the teacher asks the entire class a new question, frequently related to the previous one, but sometimes pushing the students in a different direction. Which of the following is the MOST compelling reason a teacher might do this?

Maintaining momentum is an important key to facilitating group attention. Answer Explanation : Pacing and momentum are very important when teaching groups. The teacher wants to make sure that all students are engaged while also making sure to cover the necessary content.

On Monday morning, a third-grade teacher announces to students that she will be giving a spelling and vocabulary test at the end of the week. What study method would be MOST effective to help them review for the test?

Make flashcards for the vocabulary words and their definitions. Answer Explanation : Flash cards are simple enough for young students to make and use, and they are very effective for reinforcing new vocabulary words. Developing mnemonic devices is also an effective way to learn vocabulary, but developing them on their own is a technique that is too sophisticated for third-graders. Making a review sheet is not as effective as flash cards for studying vocabulary. Writing sentences with new vocabulary words in context is an excellent way to learn new vocabulary, but flash cards are more effective for review.

A student, usually well-behaved, is being disruptive at the moment. Which of the following techniques is an effective first intervention?

Move closer to the student. Moving closer is a good nonverbal cue that the teacher has recognized something that needs attention, yet it gives the student a chance to correct things on the spot.

If a school wanted to compare how its students were doing with respect to students in other schools, what kind of assessment would be MOST appropriate?

Norm-referenced test A norm-referenced test is designed to give a percentile score that places each student on a continuum of 1 to 99+. The other assessments are difficult to use to compare large groups of students.

After grading a test, a teacher notices that the scores are significantly below the students' usual scores. The teacher decides that he did not communicate the material effectively. Rather than discard the test scores or unfairly penalize the students, the teacher decides to grade on a curve. Which of the following distributions will BEST describe the data once it has been adjusted?

Normal distribution Answer Explanation : Grading on a curve fits the set of test scores along a bell curve, or normal distribution, in which the majority of students score near the mean—few students score significantly higher or lower than the mean.

A student comes to you and says, "I just can't do math. My dad can't either. I don't have that kind of brain. I just don't get it." Which of the following is the BEST response to this situation?

Offer additional help and explain that you will pinpoint the areas that are causing problems and work through them. All students should be accountable. It insults students when the teacher assumes they cannot learn and gives them an excuse to avoid a challenge.

Which of the following assessment methods BEST assesses a student's ability to write in several different literary styles?

Portfolio Answer Explanation : A portfolio can contain the student's work in each genre. A multiple-choice test does not test writing effectively. A quiz after each genre is taught could test students' understanding of the characteristics of the genre, but not their ability to write in it. An essay can only test one type of writing at a time.

When planning how students will practice correct spelling of the words "there," "their," and "they're," which of the following is the BEST pattern?

Practice frequently at first, spread out practice after that. Frequent initial practice helps people to acquire a skill and develop frequency with it. Further practice aids retention. Choices B and D risk not getting the skill established and having students practice mistakes later on.

After teaching the concept of simile, a teacher asks students to identify similes in a literary excerpt and asks students to write similes. The next lesson is on metaphor. Which of the following should the teacher do to foster closure?

Preview metaphor at the lesson's end by demonstrating its relationship to simile.

Which of the following knowledge units is a rule relationship?

Prime numbers are only divisible by themselves and one. Answer Explanation : Choice A (the answer) is a rule that all prime numbers must follow in order to be classified as prime. Choices B and C are concepts. Choice D is a behavioral rule, not a knowledge rule.

A teacher thinks a student is under a great deal of stress, perhaps because of a bad relationship with a parent and step-parent. Among the following choices, which is the first thing that the teacher should do?

Refer the student to a professional help provider. Answer Explanation : In such a case, the first order of business is getting the best available help for the student. The teacher may be valuable during or after another professional is engaged. A conference with the parent and step-parent is premature. As for Answer C, it is better for a teacher to stick to educational rather than therapeutic goals. Another professional might advise the teacher on what behaviors to look for as time goes along.

One of your students is habitually late to class. He arrives without his books and seldom has his homework. In class, he answers without raising his hand and his comments are typically sarcastic. You have already assigned him to detention, but you are not getting the results you want. Which of the following actions should be taken next?

Set up a parent conference and include the student. Ask an administrator to sit in. Create a list of changes you expect, addressing especially his verbal misconduct. Answer Explanation : If you continue to comment on this student's outbursts, you are actually reinforcing his negative behavior. A parent conference with the student and another administrator will make the student realize that his actions are detrimental. The consequences should be clearly defined. By having a parent and administrator present, everyone knows what the consequences will be if the student does not correct his actions. Choice D seems reasonable. Chances are the student may fail your class, but the best action is to involve the parents and the administrator.

A group of students wants to produce an electronic magazine that publishes original student writing and art. Their adviser is planning a unit to train them how to use a word-processing application to create pages that include features such as images, multi-column layouts, sidebars, headers, footers, links, and page backgrounds. Which of the following would be the BEST culminating activity for this portion of the training?

Small teams producing a document under proctored conditions, using specified features, and within a time limit The purpose of the training is to prepare students to apply what they learn. The team and time limit conditions make the performance more realistic; the whole activity promotes retaining and transferring what has been learned. Written tests are not ideal for gauging student mastery of a process. Since students will be working in groups to produce the magazine, testing their solo performance is also unhelpful.

When teachers share standardized test results with parents, there is a large amount of information in the score report to be discussed. Which information will be of MOST use to the typical parent?

Specific areas of academic strength and weakness Parents will generally benefit most from specific information about how to help their child succeed. When parents know their child's weaknesses, they can emphasize working to improve them. Parents may want to know how their child has done in comparison to other students, locally and nationally, but the information does not help their child improve.

How should a teacher reinforce the "Be prepared and ready to work on time" rule in class?

Stand outside the classroom with the door open for the students. A few seconds before the second bell rings, rush into class with a backpack and make a big show of being late. Afterwards, talk with the students about the rule for being ready on time. Answer Explanation : By showing the students how disruptive their tardy behavior is, and following the example with a discussion of why the rule is important, a teacher is most likely to change their behavior. Journal writing (choice D) may be effective if it is combined with a discussion about the problem, but it must be linked to the behavior that the teacher wants to change. The other two choices are consequences, not methods of re-teaching the "Be prepared and ready to work on time" rule.

At the start of a new unit a teacher uses a one-page handout containing a 25-item checklist designed to get information about what students know and do not know about the unit's subject matter. No names appear on the handout. The teacher sorts the information into categories including: (a) what most students seem to know already, (b) what most students do not know, and (c) what misconceptions seem widespread. How should the teacher proceed from this point?

Start with what students know and move from there to new material. Answer Explanation : By starting with what students know, a teacher can help students create connections between their prior knowledge and new concepts.

During an exam, a teacher notices one of her students attempting to look at a classmate's test. Which tactic is the MOST appropriate response before she considers more serious disciplinary actions?

State that it is expected that everyone do his or her own work. Answer Explanation : Making a statement of an expectation is a simple way to handle situations like this. All of the students are made aware that the teacher is watching to make sure that everyone is on task. All of the other choices may cause unnecessary anxiety and disruption.

Suppose your objective for a lesson is "The student will demonstrate an ability to differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks." Which of the following is the BEST activity for introducing students to the attributes of each type of rock?

Students examine rocks belonging to each group and identify the similarities and differences. The activity is followed by a group discussion in which the teacher brings out the important characteristics of each type. Students learn best when they are actively involved. Choice B is too passive; the teacher will be more involved than the students. Choice C is better for a follow-up or assessment activity after an introduction. Choice D is missing an important piece of the lesson—actual rocks.

Ms. Brown has just taught a lesson on the major battles of the Civil War. Which of the following student activities would demonstrate mastery of the material?

Students make a detailed timeline of the war. Answer Explanation : A timeline would name the battles and arrange them in chronological order, which would provide a graphic organizer to frame students' knowledge. They would then demonstrate more mastery by filling in the details. Choice A would demonstrate knowledge only of the events in the life of one general. Choice B could be fulfilled with little knowledge of actual battles, instead using imagination to create a picture of a young soldier's experiences. Choice C would demonstrate knowledge only of one battle.

Students are about to take a paper and pencil test. If there is time for only one of the following activities, which would BEST prepare the students for the test?

Students should make a chart of the important topics with notes on subtopics below each. Organizational structures help students to connect and remember. Choice A leaves students to their own devices to develop structure, which would work only with the most advanced students. Choices C and D, although they could be helpful, would not give as much support as an organizational structure.

What would be the MOST expedient way for a teacher to find out whether students know specific facts about whales?

Students take a multiple-choice pretest about whales. Answer Explanation : If a teacher needs to know whether students know certain facts, a multiple-choice is a fast way to find out. Making webs in small groups would allow students the time to share everything they know about whales and build on each others' knowledge, and may give the teacher an idea of what they know, but it will not give her all the answers she needs quickly. The class brainstorm would generate similar information as the webs made by the small groups, but fewer students would participate and their participation would be limited to a few comments, making this even less effective for the teacher.

Which of the following is a measurable learning objective?

Students will create a graph using rainfall data they collected over six weeks. Answer Explanation : Students will learn from each activity but the only measurable objective has students collecting data and creating a graph. Listening, visiting and studying do not have a product upon which to judge a student's learning.

High school seniors at your school are required to pass a comprehensive, standardized, multiple-choice exam in order to graduate. What sort of assessment is this?

Summative Answer Explanation : Summative tests, in effect, "sum up" what has been learned. Choice B is incorrect, because a formative assessment involves feedback that might change teaching practices.

Which of the following learning objectives uses a higher order thinking skill?

The student will create a metaphor to describe an emotion. Bloom's Taxonomy identifies thinking skills in increasing order of sophistication as knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Answer D requires synthesis in order to complete the task.

Which of the following is the MOST effective method for closing a lesson?

The students identify the important topics and conclusions in group discussions. The students identify the important topics and conclusions in group discussions. Answer Explanation : Closure is best done by students so that the teacher can assess the effect of the lesson. It needs to be done as a group so that the teacher can monitor and adjust before students work individually. Choice B is not correct because students are merely reiterating the lesson and not stating the issues and results in their own words.

The teacher has written the following objective for her fifth grade students: "The students will correctly locate 45 of the 50 United States on a blank map of the United States." Which of the following is the BEST way to assess whether students have met the objective?

The students take a test where they are given a blank map and a list of all 50 states. The students write in the name of each state in its correct location on the map. Answer Explanation : The students are not asked to memorize the names of all 50 states, only to locate the states on a blank map, so a list of the states is appropriate for them to work from as they fill in the map. They should not use an atlas during the assessment of the objective. Grouping the states into regions (choice C) may be a useful way to teach the location of the 50 states and to check the students' understanding as the unit progresses, but it does not assess whether they know 45 of the 50 states on a blank map.

A middle school English teacher wants her students to improve their grammar skills when they write. Which of the following would BEST help the teacher quickly determine how much time to spend on individual grammar components?

The teacher gives students an open-ended pretest that tests specific grammar skills. Answer Explanation : The short sentences will provide the teacher with a quick tool to determine what skills need the most attention. The multiple-choice test does not show how students apply the skills in their writing. Giving students several writing assignments is too time consuming in light of the teacher's goal.

An English teacher has two objectives for a lesson: identify figures of speech and discuss how figurative language enriches literature. Which activity would BEST introduce students to the concept of figurative language?

The teacher introduces three types of figurative language and provides examples of each. This activity is followed by reading poems and having students locate examples. Answer Explanation : The concept is being introduced so the teacher must provide instruction. In addition, the students are actively involved, which aids in retention. Choice A is an advanced activity in which students must interpret what they read independently. Choice C is a good activity to use after the concept is introduced. Choice D is not a good activity for introducing a new concept; students cannot brainstorm examples of a concept to which they have not yet been introduced.

Which scenario demonstrates the BEST teaching strategy when posing higher order questions?

The teacher poses a question, pauses for three to five seconds, and then asks for a student response. Answer Explanation : Typically a question is asked, followed by a brief pause to allow students to formulate an answer, and then a volunteer or nonvolunteer is asked to answer. Asking multiple questions, as in choice B, can be confusing, leaving the students unsure of the point of questioning. Calling on a student before asking the question, as in choice C, gives no time for a student to formulate an answer, and it is likely to negatively impact the student's participation. Providing the question and the answer, as in choice D, does nothing to stimulate students to think about the new material. Student interest cannot be maintained if students know the teacher will provide all of the information required.

Students are learning to measure the length of objects in inches, including fractional parts of inches. What error below shows that students are lacking critical prior knowledge for this task?

The words "quarter" and "half" are not understood. Answer Explanation : Students need to understand and be able to count in fractional amounts in order to measure objects in inches using a typical ruler. Without knowledge of fractions to the 16ths, measuring in inches is nearly impossible. The other answer choices are errors that should be addressed within the context of this lesson on measurement, not errors due to a lack of prior knowledge.

Why should a teacher always spend time explaining classroom rules during the first few days of class?

To establish clear expectations for performance and behavior. Students benefit from clear, firm guidelines from the outset. The rules should be changed only when necessary, not casually or according to student demands, as implied in choices A and C.

Which of the following is the MOST effective way to focus students' attention?

Use a visual aid that portrays main points. Answer Explanation : A good visual aid portraying more than one point can be a focal point for a presentation that goes on for an extended time, say 10 to 15 minutes. It encourages everyone to pay attention to the same thing at the same time. A list, as in choice A, might be useful but is less effective in concentrating attention. Choice B is incorrect because students are less likely to pay attention to a quiz that they know does not count. Forming study groups may be counterproductive, as students are likely to forms groups with friends and be inclined to socialize.

Which of the following presentations is the MOST promising way to communicate how supply and demand affect each other to a whole class of middle school students?

Use an analogy to a water system's supply lines, control valves, and faucets. Answer Explanation : Choice C is a mental picture that will allow the teacher to state (or induce from students) a series of interconnected points. Choice A may or may not add anything to what students have already worked on. Actual examples of choice B are likely to be hard to find. Choice D gives no direction to students apart from urging them to be imaginative.

Curriculum planning is a major aspect of a teacher's job. Which teaching practice listed below will BEST help students to achieve grade-level outcomes?

Using the state curriculum at the beginning of the school year to determine the learning objectives for the year, which are then incorporated into units of study. A teacher should have a plan for the school year before the year begins, so that he or she is sure to teach the required learning objectives. The units of study can then be constructed around the objectives, rather than the reverse, which is suggested in choice B. The textbooks and materials will most likely cover the grade-level objectives and more; they are rarely designed specifically enough to meet a teacher's exact needs.

A seventh grade class has just finished reading two novels. Which graphic organizer would be most appropriate to compare and contrast the two novels in an essay?

Venn diagram Answer Explanation : A Venn diagram is the most useful graphic organizer for comparing and contrasting information. When students work in small groups, deciding where to put information in the Venn diagram stimulates discussion. It gives them a visual representation of what is in common and what is not, which is very useful to students as they organize their thoughts for a writing assignment. Making an outline would be a useful follow-up to the Venn diagram, but it does not help most students sort the information into categories.

Which of the following organizers would BEST help elementary students to understand the differences and similarities of forests and deserts?

Venn diagram Answer Explanation : A Venn diagram is used to compare and contrast two objects. Choices A and C should be used for showing the details of one topic. Choice B is appropriate to use when showing relationships between events.

Which of the following routines would BEST foster learning in an intermediate or middle-school class?

Warm-up activity, review yesterday's homework, introduce new material, guided practice of new material, assign new homework. Answer Explanation : Students should have a task to complete as soon as they enter the room to maximize their learning time. Homework is most useful if students see what they have done correctly and incorrectly before new material is introduced. Then, students should have time to practice what they have learned, followed by a new homework assignment where appropriate.

A fourth grade class has been having a great deal of trouble settling down during transitions between activities, as well as after recess and lunch. The teacher has decided to speak to the class again about what behavior he expects and offers them a reward for exhibiting the acceptable behaviors during transition times. Which type of incentive is MOST appropriate in this situation?

When individual students behave appropriately, they earn points toward a group reward that the class has chosen. Answer Explanation : The more students who behave appropriately, the faster the students will reach their reward goal. This also encourages modeling of appropriate behavior, so that there is some peer pressure to help earn more points. It eliminates the punishing aspects of having a few students who cannot or will not behave appropriately, which is the problem with having the whole class behave appropriately in order to earn points. Since the behavior problems involve whole-class management, the incentive should be for the whole class, not the individuals.

Which question below is MOST likely to generate the widest range of answers and discussions among students?

Why would the author have ended the book this way? This question allows for both a wide range of answers and discussion of those answers. The discussion is likely to be interesting because there are so many possible answers to the question. The remaining answer choices have a limited range of answers. Discussion may peter out more quickly because many students may share the same answer and reasoning. "Why" questions tend to be the most open-ended.

Which strategy should a teacher impart to students to help them reduce their test-taking anxiety?

Work through easier problems before tackling harder problems. Answer Explanation : Students who are anxious can build confidence on tests by completing easier problems first, then working on harder problems. Studying and completing review assignments helps students be prepared, but many anxious students do not find that preparation alleviates their anxiety. Positive visualization is not powerful enough to overcome many students' anxiety.

In teaching a lesson, it is helpful to share the objectives with the students because doing so

helps students strive for the same learning goals. Answer Explanation : Objectives help to focus the students on the major goal of the day.

In order to implement small, cooperative groups MOST effectively, a teacher should

hold individuals accountable for the learning objectives. Answer Explanation : Choice D (the answer) recognizes that a group is useful for instruction, but each individual must meet the objectives. It is usually more effective to group students heterogeneously or homogeneously by ability rather than by social connection. Choices B and D may or may not be useful depending upon the purpose of the group activity.

Which of the following phrases BEST completes the following sentence? "Vocabulary should be taught...

in every subject area in order for students to master the subject matter." The English department cannot possibly teach all of the vocabulary intrinsic to a particular subject. Rather than expecting students to memorize vocabulary, it is more effective to help "hook" the words to vocabulary words students already know and to use those words in context both in class and in homework. Choice C implies that more focused attention would lead to better student vocabularies, but vocabulary study without context is rarely retained.

When students cannot transfer a concept from the classroom to other settings the most common reason is

insufficient practice with transferring it. Answer Explanation : According to researchers, most people do not transfer what they learn unless they are encouraged or required to do so.

The current lesson objective in a fourth grade class is for students to remember each prefix used in metric distances. The teacher has explained the different prefixes that the metric system uses and written each one on the board from largest to smallest: kilometer, hectometer, decameter, meter, decimeter, centimeter, and millimeter. To help students meet the objective, the teacher should

share the common mnemonic device "King Henry Doesn't Mind Drinking Chocolate Milk" for remembering the order of the prefixes. Answer Explanation : Young students find mnemonic devices such as this very useful and memorable. Copying the information down does nothing to ensure that the students have met the objective. Flashcards are a good study tool, but do not help cement a new concept.

The reports that schools and parents receive when their students take norm-referenced standardized tests include the student's percentile ranking for each skill or subject areas tested. A percentile rank is the percent of

students from the sample group who scored less than or equal to the student. Answer Explanation : A percentile rank compares a given student to the sample group by showing how many people in the sample group scored worse than or equal to the student. Scoring in the 70th percentile means that a student scored higher than 70% of the students in the sample group. The 50th percentile is considered "average" on a norm-referenced test. The percentile rank is not the same as the percent of questions answered correctly on the test.