Question 1

Which language approach stresses that reading instruction should parallel a child's natural language learning?

Accepted Answer

The whole-language approach stresses that reading instruction should parallel a child's natural language learning, emphasizing the use of meaning and context to determine the pronunciation and comprehension of written language.

Question 2

In social situations, 4- to 5-year-olds will typically

Accepted Answer

4- to 5-year-olds tend to adjust their language to the age and language abilities of their conversation partner. When speaking to a 2-year-old, they may use shorter sentences and simpler vocabulary to ensure that they can be understood.

Question 3

The fact that letters represent sounds in language refers to

Accepted Answer

The fact that letters represent sounds in language is known as the alphabetic principle. This principle is the foundation for learning to read and write. A) Whole-language approach is a teaching strategy that focuses on reading comprehension rather than phonics. C) Fast mapping is the process by which children quickly learn new words after only hearing them a few times. D) Overextension refers to when a child uses a word too broadly (e.g. calling all four-legged animals "dog").

Question 4

Which of the following would have the LEAST positive influence on a young child's vocabulary development?

Accepted Answer

While talkativeness may seem like a positive attribute for language development, it is not a guarantee that the mother is using diverse vocabulary or proper grammar. The other choices (A, C, and D) directly relate to the mother's ability to use a variety of words and communicate effectively, which would have a more positive influence on a child's vocabulary development.

Question 5

Cecilia begins teaching children to read by having them learn to make sounds that go with each letter of the alphabet. Which language approach is Cecilia taking?

Accepted Answer

Cecilia is taking a phonics approach, which focuses on teaching children the sounds associated with each letter so they can decode words.

Question 6

Marquessa is teaching her son to read by sounding out each letter in a word before allowing him to read storybooks. What approach is she using?

Accepted Answer

Marquessa is using a phonics approach by sounding out each letter in a word before allowing her son to read storybooks. Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing that focuses on the sounds of letters and letter combinations.

Question 7

José's basic academic subjects are taught in his native language of Spanish in his first year. Six months later, English starts to be used in the instruction, while Spanish is still used but with decreasing proportions. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of the dual-language approach, where both the native language and the language being learned are used in instruction with the goal of bilingualism and biliteracy. This is in contrast to subtractive bilingualism, where the learning of a second language results in a loss of the first language, or an English-only approach, which would involve only using English in instruction. The scenario does not relate to the whole-language approach, which is a method of teaching reading and writing that focuses on comprehension and meaning rather than individual skills.

Question 8

In which of the following countries would the rates of dyslexia be expected to be highest?

Accepted Answer

English-speaking countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have higher rates of dyslexia compared to countries where the alphabet script is more phonetically pronounced. This is because the English language has irregular spelling patterns that make it difficult for individuals with dyslexia to decode and read words accurately. Dyslexia rates may also be higher in countries where multiple languages are used daily, but this cannot be determined for certain based on the information given. Likewise, GDP is not linked to dyslexia incidence.

Question 9

Which of the following is true of writing in the early elementary years?

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are correct. Some letter reversals are common and do not necessarily indicate a literacy problem, writing requires practice to improve, and young children often invent spellings based on how they hear words pronounced.

Question 10

Metalinguistic awareness improves considerably in the elementary school years and allows children to

Accepted Answer

Metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to think about and reflect on the nature of language itself. This includes understanding what words are, being able to define them, and thinking about language in a more abstract way. As children grow, especially during the elementary school years, their metalinguistic awareness improves, allowing them to engage in all these activities more effectively.

Question 11

Chad's parents live on the poverty line. Research has shown consistently that all of the following are important home experiences for Chad's language development EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chad's parents live on the poverty line....

Question 12

Studies show which of the following about the quality of students' writing?

Accepted Answer

Teachers often report feeling inadequately prepared by their college education programs to teach writing, indicating a gap in teacher training for this essential skill.

Question 13

When Juan moved to the United States from Mexico, he spoke only Spanish. After some time, he spoke Spanish and English. Now he only speaks English. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Subtractive bilingualism occurs when a person loses proficiency in their first language as they learn a second language. In this example, Juan initially spoke only Spanish, but after learning English, he stopped speaking Spanish altogether, indicating a loss of proficiency in his first language. None of the other options address this phenomenon specifically.

Question 14

According to Hart and Risley, which group of parents talked less to their young children, talked less about past events, and provided less elaboration?

Accepted Answer

Hart and Risley's research found that welfare parents talked less to their young children, talked less about past events, and provided less elaboration compared to middle-class and professional parents.

Question 15

Mrs. Nakayama's students have above-average writing skills. Which of the following statements most likely describes this teacher's classroom environment?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are common strategies used in classrooms with above-average writing skills. Peer assistance can help students receive feedback and support from their peers. Teaching planning, drafting, and revising skills can improve the quality of student writing. Setting writing goals can help students stay focused and motivated. Therefore, Mrs. Nakayama's classroom environment likely includes all of these strategies.

Question 16

All of the following are among the six key principles in young children's vocabulary development (as detailed by Harris, Golinkoff, & Hirsh-Pasek) EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The other three principles are indeed among the six key principles in young children's vocabulary development, as detailed by Harris, Golinkoff, & Hirsh-Pasek. Children do learn words for things and events that interest them (A), they best learn the words they hear most often (B), and they learn words best in contexts that are meaningful (C). However, the fourth principle is not that children learn words best when grammar is not practiced along with vocabulary (D), but rather that children learn words best when they hear them used in connected speech and in situations where the meaning of the words can be inferred from the context.

Question 17

By 7 years of age, children start responding to the stimulus word "dog" with other words like "cat" or "sheep," or responding to the stimulus word "talk" with "run" or "jump." This is evidence that children at this age have begun to

Accepted Answer

This behavior indicates that children are categorizing their vocabulary based on parts of speech, such as nouns (dog, cat, sheep) or verbs (talk, run, jump), rather than by sound or without any organization. This shows an understanding of the grammatical roles of words.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of the dual-language approach in a U.S. school?

Accepted Answer

The dual-language approach involves teaching content in both languages so that students can become proficient in both languages. In option B, Maria has a teacher who speaks in both Spanish and English during different classes, allowing her to learn content in both languages.

Question 19

An elementary school class reads a magazine article on insects and sings "The Ugly Bug Ball" with a word chart poster. Later, the students cut out words from a newspaper that might describe bugs and use them to write a poem. Among the methods used to teach reading, this is an example of

Accepted Answer

The use of a word chart poster, singing a song, and writing a poem with words cut out from a newspaper all suggest a whole-language approach to teaching reading, which emphasizes the integration of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in meaningful contexts. This approach often uses a variety of materials, such as songs, poems, and real-world texts, to engage students and build their comprehension and decoding skills.

Question 20

Research comparing the approaches of whole-language and phonics has shown that

Accepted Answer

Research has found that a balanced approach, incorporating both whole-language and phonics instruction, is most effective in teaching children to read. While whole-language instruction can help develop a child's reading comprehension and understanding of context, phonics instruction is necessary for developing fundamental decoding skills. However, it is important to note that the exact balance between these approaches may vary depending on the individual child's needs and learning style.

Quiz 9: Language Development