Deck 16: School Effectiveness and Reform in the United States

Question 1

The aim of many of the educational reforms proposed today is to improve this nation's

A)critical-thinking abilities.
B)international economic competitiveness.
C)mathematical and scientific skills.
D)understanding of multicultural differences.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Many of the research studies on effective schools have examined

A)high-achievement schools.
B)high-poverty schools.
C)rural schools.
D)suburban schools.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Teacher-directed instruction that proceeds in small steps resulting in high student achievement is called

A)explicit teaching.
B)higher-order teaching.
C)rote learning.
D)time-on-task.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Educational reform reports have stressed that educational opportunities should be more equitable for students who are

A)of average ability.
B)economically disadvantaged.
C)gifted and talented.
D)disabled.

Question 5

As a whole, strategies for bringing about "effective classrooms" call for

A)the thoughtful application of research-based approaches to classroom teaching and instruction.
B)decreased and less direct teacher involvement.
C)increased autonomy and decision making for students in classrooms.
D)substantial changes in the way school days are organized so that school time can be used more efficiently.

Question 6

You teach math to disadvantaged middle-school students. You have found that it helps to divide problem solving into as many component parts as possible, teach each part in sequence, and help students practice each part before moving on to the next. Which of the following methods is least relevant to your approach?

A)direct instruction
B)time-on-task teaching
C)explicit comprehension instruction
D)active teaching

Question 7

To help future workers cope with the needs of the job market, today's curriculum should include content on

A)business administration.
B)foreign languages.
C)social and political sciences.
D)the use of technology.

Question 8

Promising approaches to assisting low-achieving students must overcome

A)the existing focus on cognitive enhancement strategies.
B)teachers' low expectations for low achievers.
C)the existing emphasis on explicit comprehensive instruction.
D)new approaches to delivering cognitive instruction.

Question 9

Many school districts are basing their school improvement efforts on the research on effective schools, but there are concerns about the way in which some of the studies were conducted and about our ability to apply conclusions drawn from them to other districts. What are the concerns about the research studies on effective schools, and how would you caution districts that consider using this information?

Question 10

Direct instruction has been criticized for not emphasizing

A)knowledge of principles.
B)reasoning and critical thinking.
C)recall of the facts.
D)reporting about the information.

Question 11

The term time-on-task refers to

A)the time assigned for a particular activity.
B)the time the student is engaged in relevant learning activities.
C)the time the teacher needs to explain the activity.
D)the total time spent in the classroom.

Question 12

When the curriculum is aligned, teachers are less likely to

A)target specific groups of students.
B)prepare their own instructional materials.
C)rely solely on textbooks.
D)teach with specific skills.

Question 13

As the educational system is challenged to improve student achievement, discuss several strategies the educational system can use.

Question 14

Teachers seeking to produce higher student achievement through the use of questions should

A)ask students to mentally manipulate ideas.
B)focus on recall of facts.
C)require students to write answers on paper for repetition.
D)immediately require a student to answer the question as soon as it is asked.

Question 15

Increasing the length of wait time typically results in more

A)student participation.
B)lower-level answers.
C)student confusion about what the teacher wants.
D)student misbehavior.

Question 16

Research on effective teaching might suggest that reform projects include a focus on

A)organization of content.
B)parental support.
C)classroom management.
D)standardized achievement test scores.

Question 17

Instruction in schools with concentrations of low-achieving students typically has been directed toward

A)low-level skills.
B)evaluation skills.
C)metacognition.
D)reasoning skills.

Question 18

When direct instruction focuses on developing higher-order thinking, it is called

A)explicit comprehension instruction.
B)explicit teaching.
C)independent practice.
D)time-on-task.

Question 19

One technique of explicit comprehension instruction involves

A)students using prior knowledge to make predictions about the text.
B)student drill and practice.
C)teacher planning for small bits of information.
D)teacher questions concerning facts.

Question 20

"Schools-within-a-school" for low achievers

A)help students develop physical skills.
B)help students prepare for college entrance exams.
C)provide vocational training.
D)provide students with help in basic skills.

Question 21

Organizational decisions regarding the implementation of innovations are most successful when

A)dictated by the central office.
B)devised by a small group of teachers
C)focused on the individual school where problems occur.
D)systematically made for, and applied to, all schools in the state.

Question 22

A promising innovation designed to meet the needs of rural schools is

A)achievement centers.
B)distance education.
C)magnet schools.
D)strategic teaching.

Question 23

If one were to compare the problems of rural schools to those of other schools, one would find that

A)the problems of rural schools tend to be less focused on socially generated stresses within student populations.
B)rural schools for the most part are rather well funded but rather poorly staffed compared to other schools.
C)the populations of rural schools are dwindling rapidly, creating school consolidation problems.
D)rural schools in many cases suffer from problems similar to those in urban centers, but innovations that work in urban schools may not work in rural communities.

Question 24

Which of the following is essential to the success of school improvement and reform?

A)an inflow of extra resources to make sure that improvements and reforms do not break the backs of already overextended public-school budgets
B)a critical mass of new teachers who have some education in many of the organizational and instructional changes that have been developed over the last decade
C)a student body that is already at an achievement level that makes them capable of absorbing the amount of change that comes through school improvement and reform
D)the understanding that any changes must take into consideration the unique contexts of the schools and the people in them, as well as an appreciation for the impact that that unique character will have on the opportunity for success

Question 25

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)argued that _________ should "guarantee" educational programs, so everyone can graduate from high school.

A)state law
B)national law
C)local government
D)school districts

Question 26

Magnet schools attract students through the use of

A)full-range athletic programs.
B)promotions by the Parent Teacher Association.
C)restructured boundaries for the school attendance center.
D)special instructional programs.

Question 27

Partnership or adopt-a-school programs enable schools to

A)conduct considerable staff development.
B)expand class enrollments.
C)receive additional state funding.
D)receive assistance from other institutions.

Question 28

Learning opportunities different from those offered in the average public school are available in

A)achievement centers.
B)alternative schools.
C)distance education.
D)traditional schools.

Question 29

Which of the following illustrates an "adaptive problem-solving" approach to school reform?

A)a cognitive enhancement plan to improve students' critical-thinking skills in all subjects
B)a "trouble-shooting" committee formed to identify and address difficulties that teachers encounter in implementing a schoolwide change in curriculum
C)new teaching strategies designed to help students adapt to changing societal conditions
D)an interdisciplinary plan for student projects that require students to cooperate in solving complex problems

Question 30

Most criticisms leveled at studies on the effectiveness of nonpublic schools have centered on

A)the research methods employed.
B)the courses in the curriculum.
C)the instructional skills of the teachers.
D)parental support.

Question 31

Studies don't often concentrate on the achievements and effectiveness at a high school level because

A)the diversity of high-school goals and programs makes it difficult to reach conclusions.
B)independent study opportunities do not allow for the data.
C)individualized education programs are not specific.
D)vocational education cannot meet the needs of research.

Question 32

"The future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens." Who gave this candid quote about the educational system?

A)Bill Clinton
B)Jean Piaget
C)Maria Montessori
D)Barack Obama

Question 33

The instructional approach that improves achievement through enhanced social and psychological services for students, emphasizes parent involvement, and encourages and supports active learning is

A)Comer's School Development Program.
B)Success for All.
C)the HOTS program.
D)the Degrees of Reading Power (DRP).

Question 34

___________ stimulate(s)student engagement in learning and allow(s)students a more active role in their own learning.

A)Exams
B)Questioning
C)Written seat work
D)Oral presentations

Question 35

Rosemary, a high-school principal, argues that so-called effective schools are difficult to achieve. She uses the following reasons to support her argument. Which is least defensible?

A)There is little agreement on a definition of school effectiveness.
B)No two schools have exactly the same improvement needs.
C)There are few examples of successful school effectiveness projects that can provide lessons for others.
D)Schools are complex organizations that are difficult to change.

Question 36

Critics feel direct instruction does not provide enough of which style of learning?

A)high-order learning
B)rote memorization
C)group reflection
D)all of the above

Question 37

The instructional approach advocated for education of the gifted emphasizes

A)accelerated study only.
B)only enrichment provided through independent study.
C)individualized education programs only.
D)all of the above

Question 38

Huge philanthropic gifts of more than $100 million have been given to improve educational programs in many of America's largest cities by:

A)Bill and Melinda Gates
B)The late Steve and Laurene Jobs
C)Warren Buffet
D)Mark Zuckerberg

Question 39

Which of the following demonstrates an effective classroom management technique?

A)making sure students know what the teacher expects
B)rewards to enforce rules
C)designing tasks that draw on students' previous knowledge
D)all of the above

Question 40

Which of the following is a characteristic of true school reform?

A)adaptive problem solving
B)leadership and shared agreements
C)staff training
D)all of the above

Question 41

What is the AVID program, and what evidence exists of its success?

Question 42

What are three reasons for opposing school choice plans?

Question 43

What lessons can new teachers learn about classroom management techniques from effective teachers?

Question 44

What is the difference between direct instruction and explicit comprehension instruction?

Question 45

The ____________ test was designed to help at several urban schools by assessing how well a student actually can comprehend written prose.

A)Dibbles
B)Degrees of Reading Power
C)Binet
D)KIPP

Question 46

Why is the need for education so important to maintain international competitiveness?

Question 47

Provide the key framework for the development of direct instruction in a classroom.

Question 48

What are the obstacles to improving higher-order skills among low achievers?

Question 49

According to research studies, what are the characteristics of effective elementary schools?

Question 50

Who developed the Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)Program?

A)Stanley Pogrow
B)the No Child left Behind framework
C)Mark Duffy
D)a Kentucky school board