Question 1

During Writing Workshop, it is most appropriate for students to work on projects:

Accepted Answer

Allowing students to choose their own projects during Writing Workshop can increase their engagement and investment in the writing process. It also helps meet individual student needs and interests, leading to more personalized learning and growth opportunities.

Question 2

Of the following, the most individualized instructional approach is the:

Accepted Answer

A reading workshop allows for the most flexibility and individualization of instruction, as students can choose their own reading materials and work at their own pace. The other options may have some choice in reading materials, but they are typically more structured and less individualized than a reading workshop.

Question 3

Of the following, the instructional method that relies most heavily upon teacher direction is the:

Accepted Answer

Basal reading programs are designed to be teacher-directed, with predetermined texts and lessons for each day. The teacher follows a strict instruction manual and leads all aspects of the lesson, including reading aloud, questioning, and follow-up activities. The other options listed provide more opportunities for student choice and participation in the learning process.

Question 4

Basal readers usually:

Accepted Answer

Basal readers are designed to support the development of reading skills and are structured around a specific sequence of skills and concepts. Therefore, they contain a strong skills component. While basal readers may include some authentic literature, the primary focus is on the development of reading abilities. Student and teacher choice may be limited within a basal reader curriculum.

Question 5

A fifth grade teacher began an author study by introducing several books written by Lois Lowry. Of the following, the primary reason for implementing author studies with elementary students is to:

Accepted Answer

The primary reason for implementing author studies with elementary students is to provide role models to inspire their writing. This helps students to see how successful writers approach the writing process and hopefully motivate them to improve their own writing skills. It also allows students to explore different genres and styles, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the author's life and motivations. While monitoring student reading and demonstrating writer difficulties may be important aspects of teaching writing, they are not the primary reasons for implementing author studies.

Question 6

During writing workshop, students:

Accepted Answer

Writing workshop typically involves a mix of independent work time and sharing work in small groups or with a partner. This allows students to receive feedback and learn from each other's writing, while still pursuing their own interests and goals.

Question 7

When students are participating in a literature focus unit they should:

Accepted Answer

When participating in a literature focus unit, students should have the opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively with their peers. This allows them to develop important skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork. While completing assignments at home may be necessary, it is important for students to engage with the text and each other in the classroom setting as well. Building a balance between independent work and group work can also help accommodate varying learning styles and personalities among students.

Question 8

The school librarian has correctly advised a fourth grade teacher that his classroom library should contain:

Accepted Answer

It is beneficial for a classroom library to contain books written at a range of reading levels so that all students can find something that is the right fit for their individual abilities and interests. This allows students to challenge themselves while also providing support for those who may be struggling.

Question 9

When sixth grade teacher Donna Collingdale collected her students' reading logs, a veteran teacher correctly advised her that reading the logs would:

Accepted Answer

Reading logs can provide useful information on the reading strategies that students use, such as making connections or predicting. This can help the teacher understand how to support individual students' reading comprehension.

Question 10

When comparing Sustained Silent Reading and Reading Workshop, a new teacher correctly stated:

Accepted Answer

Sustained Silent Reading does not include an instructional component. This means that the main purpose of Sustained Silent Reading is for students to read silently for an extended period of time without any specific instruction or guidance. In contrast, Reading Workshop is designed to provide a more structured approach to reading instruction, with a focus on using authentic literature and active engagement with the text. This may involve teaching specific reading strategies, analyzing literary elements, and guided discussions with peers.

Question 11

When discussing reading and writing workshop, the principal correctly advised that reading and writing workshop:

Accepted Answer

The principal correctly advised that reading and writing workshop could be used as the primary instructional approach in a classroom or as a complement to other instructional approaches. This reflects the flexibility of workshop models and their ability to adapt to different educational contexts and goals.

Question 12

When students participate in literature focus units, the books they read are usually selected by:

Accepted Answer

The teacher usually selects the books for literature focus units based on the class's grade level and interests, and the learning objectives for the unit. The teacher has the expertise to choose books that are appropriate for the level of the students and can challenge them to think critically and develop their reading skills. While input from students or the school librarian may influence the selection process, the teacher ultimately makes the final decision. Parent committees may be involved in selecting books for school-wide reading initiatives or book clubs but are less likely to be involved in selecting books for literature focus units.

Question 13

Mrs. Lewis went to a thrift store and bought a bag of children's books for her eight-year-old daughter, Alexis. When Alexis sorted the books into the categories of "too easy," "too hard," and "just right," she was using the:

Accepted Answer

Alexis was using the Goldilocks Strategy, which involves sorting books into categories based on whether they are too easy, too hard, or just right. The other options are not relevant to this scenario: Miscue Analysis involves analyzing errors in reading, Elkonin Box Strategy involves using visual aids to segment words during phonics instruction, and Matthew Effect refers to the phenomenon where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer in terms of reading ability.

Question 14

Guided reading groups should consist of students:

Accepted Answer

Guided reading groups should consist of students who read on approximately the same level so that the teacher can provide targeted instruction and support for the group's reading needs. Mixing students of varying ability may result in some students being unable to keep up, while others may not be challenged enough. Similarly, grouping students based on cultural background or age is not a reliable indicator of reading level and may not provide the classroom with the same level of instruction on various reading skills.

Question 15

All of the students in Al Gallo's class are reading the novel, Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli. They have grand conversations about each chapter, respond in reading logs, and add important words from the chapters to the class word wall. These students are participating in a:

Accepted Answer

The activities described suggest that this is a literature focus unit, as the students are engaging deeply with a single novel through discussions, personal responses, and word acquisition. This is different from a basal reading unit, which typically involves reading shorter texts at a predetermined pace, or a content area unit, which would focus specifically on a content area (e.g. science, social studies) rather than a literary work. A reading workshop could be used to support any of these types of units but is not itself a unit of study.

Question 16

When participating in literature circles, effective teachers encourage students to read:

Accepted Answer

Encouraging students to read both stories and informational books provides a variety of genres and subjects that can spark discussion and engagement during literature circles. This allows students to build diverse reading skills and connects different aspects of their learning in a meaningful way.

Question 17

When third grade teacher Nick Yule made the transition from teaching with a basal reading program to implementing reading workshop, the principal correctly advised him that minilessons are:

Accepted Answer

Minilessons are appropriate in reading workshop classrooms. They are used to teach specific skills and strategies to the whole class or a small group of students. They are an important component of reading workshop and help to create a community of learners who are able to share their thinking about texts.

Question 18

Students are most likely to engage in authentic writing activities when they participate in:

Accepted Answer

Writing workshop provides opportunities for students to engage in authentic writing activities where they have a choice of topics and a meaningful audience. This allows them to develop their writing skills in real-world situations, which is not typically provided in basal reading programs or workbook activities. Response to intervention, while important for addressing individual student needs, does not necessarily promote authentic writing activities.

Question 19

Because teacher Marie Nercoff wanted to share her love of science fiction, she developed a unit using science fiction texts written by Jules Verne, Madeleine L'Engle, and other authors. This teacher developed a (n):

Accepted Answer

The teacher focused on science fiction texts written by various authors, indicating that the unit was centered around the genre of science fiction. A genre unit is a type of instructional unit that focuses on one specific genre of literature.

Question 20

When third grade teacher Anne Shirley developed a poetry unit, experienced teachers correctly advised that she should monitor and document her students' work by using a(n):

Accepted Answer

An assignment checklist would be the best choice for monitoring and documenting students' work in a poetry unit. It allows the teacher to keep track of which students have completed each assignment, and helps ensure that all necessary elements are included in their work. Graphic organizers, anticipation guides, and Elkonin boxes may be useful tools for teaching poetry, but they are not specifically designed for monitoring and documenting student work.

Quiz 10: Organizing for Instruction