Question 1

What was Maria Montessori's objective when she created her preschool?

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori's objective was to focus on individual achievement by providing a child-centered approach to learning and allowing each child to progress at their own pace. She emphasized the importance of independence, self-direction, and self-discipline in young children.

Question 2

An evaluation of Head Start found that benefits were apparent for children _____.

Accepted Answer

The evaluation found that Head Start benefits were apparent for children with the lowest family income.

Question 3

Sunnymont Preschool has plenty of opportunities for children to play dress-up, dance, build with blocks, finger-paint, and be creative. Sunnymont is most likely a _____ program.

Accepted Answer

The fact that there are opportunities for dress-up, dancing, building with blocks, finger painting, and being creative suggests that the program is centered around the interests and needs of the children, making it child-centered.

Question 4

Egocentrism is Piaget's term for a particular type of centration, in which the child thinks about the world from his or her own personal perspective.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Egocentrism refers to a child's inability to understand that others may have different perspectives or beliefs than themselves. It is a form of centration because the child is focused solely on their own viewpoint, rather than considering multiple perspectives.

Question 5

Longitudinal studies of the effects of intensive preschool programs has shown that _____.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies have consistently shown that intensive preschool programs have long-lasting benefits for participants, including higher educational achievement and lower rates of criminal activity. The benefits to society far outweigh the cost of the programs.

Question 6

In which area do Head Start students continue to outperform non-Head Start students in elementary school?

Accepted Answer

Head Start students continue to outperform non-Head Start students in elementary school in vocabulary.

Question 7

The goal of most teacher-directed preschools is _____.

Accepted Answer

The goal of most teacher-directed preschools is to make all children "ready to learn" by the time they enter kindergarten. This involves providing a structured curriculum, focusing on pre-academic and social skills, and preparing children for the expectations of a school environment. While individual achievement and social interaction are important components of preschool education, the ultimate goal is to ensure that all children are prepared for their academic futures. Teaching children to read by the end of the year would be a highly specific goal that not all preschools may prioritize, and may not be developmentally appropriate for all children at this age.

Question 8

Most teacher-directed preschool programs stress _____.

Accepted Answer

Most teacher-directed preschool programs emphasize academics, focusing on skills and knowledge that prepare children for formal schooling.

Question 9

Salim is in a teacher-directed preschool. Which activity would his parents expect him to be doing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Salim is in a teacher-directed preschool. Which...

Question 10

Compared to children who did not attend an intensive early-intervention program, longitudinal studies showed that the children who did participate _____.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies have shown that children who participated in intensive early-intervention programs were less likely to need special education services and more likely to pursue higher education, such as attending college.

Question 11

Centration assists in developing logical operations.

Accepted Answer

Centration refers to the tendency of young children to focus on only one aspect of a situation or object at a time, which can limit their ability to think logically and consider multiple perspectives. It does not assist in developing logical operations, but rather hinders it.

Question 12

Learning Circle Preschool emphasizes individual pride and achievement while focusing on teaching young children literacy-related tasks. Learning Circle's approach seems to most closely resemble a(n) _____ program.

Accepted Answer

Learning Circle Preschool's focus on individual pride and achievement, as well as emphasis on teaching literacy-related tasks, align with the Montessori approach which emphasizes learning through self-directed activities and a focus on practical life skills and literacy.

Question 13

Many Head Start graduates begin elementary school with improved literacy and math skills but also with more reported behavioral problems by first grade. Why?

Accepted Answer

Elementary school teachers may sometimes misinterpret the independence and assertiveness developed in Head Start programs as behavioral problems, not recognizing these traits as positive outcomes of the child's early education experience.

Question 14

A preschooler's approach to the world is controlled more by his or her own subjective views of the world than by reality.

Accepted Answer

This is because young children are still developing their cognitive abilities and may struggle with distinguishing between their own thoughts and beliefs and objective reality. They also may not have a full understanding of cause and effect, which can lead to magical thinking and irrational beliefs.

Question 15

In the United States, low-income children are offered a free preschool education through _____.

Accepted Answer

Low-income children in the United States are offered a free preschool education through Head Start. The other options listed (A, B, C) are programs that provide different kinds of support, such as support for families in poverty, public broadcasting, and supplemental nutrition for women, infants, and children.

Question 16

Maria Montessori believed that children needed _____.

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori believed that children needed structured, individualized projects as a way to promote independence, creativity, and freedom within limits. She believed that children should be given the tools and freedom to learn at their own pace and follow their own interests, rather than being forced to conform to a rigid curriculum or set of standards. Montessori schools are designed to provide this type of education, with carefully crafted materials and activities that allow children to explore and discover the world around them in a hands-on, interactive way.

Question 17

The Reggio Emilia early-childhood program focuses on _____.

Accepted Answer

The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education emphasizes children's creativity and artistic talent, encouraging exploration and expression through various mediums.

Question 18

The preoperational child is capable of understanding reversibility.

Accepted Answer

The preoperational child, typically between the ages of 2 and 7 according to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, has not yet mastered the concept of reversibility, which is the understanding that objects can be changed and then returned back to their original form or condition.

Question 19

Preoperational thought involves logic more than magical, self-centered imagination.

Accepted Answer

Preoperational thought is characterized by magical, self-centered reasoning rather than logical reasoning. Children at this stage may believe that their thoughts and actions have a direct impact on the world around them, and they may attribute magical qualities to ordinary objects. Logical reasoning is not fully developed until the concrete operational stage, which follows the preoperational stage.

Question 20

Micah attends a preschool where there is a low child/adult ratio and ample opportunity for creative expression. He is engaged in a long-term art project that he chose, in which he is making dinosaurs out of clay. Which child-centered approach does Micah's preschool most closely resemble?

Accepted Answer

Micah's preschool aligns with the Reggio Emilia approach, which emphasizes child-centered learning, creative expression, and individual interests. The low child/adult ratio and opportunity for long-term projects also support this approach. Montessori and Head Start both have structured learning environments and may not provide as much creative expression or individual choice. Teacher-directed approaches prioritize the teacher's guidance and instruction rather than the child's interests and motivations.

Quiz 9: Early Childhood: Cognitive Development