Question 1

After leaving school, Ms. Crandall catches another colleague in the parking lot. She expresses to him that while she can explain any of the concepts focal to teaching fourth-grade science, she is having trouble reaching her students. She just can't get them to see the link between the content matter and real-world application; therefore, she is having trouble keeping them motivated and on-task. In which area is Ms. Crandall experiencing difficulty?

Accepted Answer

While Ms. Crandall clearly has a grasp of her content area, she is unsure about her ability to effectively teach it. This represents a problem with pedagogical content knowledge.

Question 2

Ryan has just received his first teaching position. After a celebratory dinner with his wife, he sits down to plan his first lesson unit. As images of multiple activities, materials, and projects start to run rampant, he tries to focus on the content of the first lesson. As he glances at the topic, only vague principles come to mind, so he looks down his list of lesson units for the school year. He realizes in all his enthusiasm over diverse and effective teaching methods and materials, he has lost sight of the heart of the matter: the scientific content! Which of the following areas is Ryan questioning his abilities in?

Accepted Answer

While Ryan clearly has a grasp of effective teaching methods, he is unsure about his general content knowledge. This represents a problem with expert knowledge.

Question 3

According to recent research (Mayer 2004, 2008), which of the following are the three key cognitive processes a child needs to go through in order to read a printed word?

Accepted Answer

Recent analyses by Rich Mayer (2004, 2008) focused on the cognitive processes a child needs to go through in order to read a printed word. They are: being aware of sound units in words, decoding words, and accessing word meaning.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of how teachers can help students become better readers?

Accepted Answer

Provide a print-rich environment; stress reading for comprehension; read often; read what students are reading; talk about the most interesting parts of books; and be excited and energetic when discussing new and current books in class.

Question 5

In the developmental model of reading, which stage refers to the point individuals begin reading by learning to sound out words, and finalize their learning of letter names and sounds?

Accepted Answer

This description refers to a reader in Stage 1.

Question 6

In the developmental model of reading, which stage refers to the point where individuals are fully competent readers and have developed the ability to understand written material from multiple perspectives?

Accepted Answer

This description refers to a reader in Stage 4.

Question 7

Reading instruction that emphasizes paralleling children's natural learning of language and the use of meaningful reading material refers to which approach to reading?

Accepted Answer

The whole-language approach to reading emphasizes presenting materials in their complete form to readers.

Question 8

Reading instruction that emphasizes strategy instruction, particularly metacognitive strategies, refers to which of the following approaches to reading?

Accepted Answer

The transactional strategy instruction approach, a cognitive approach to reading, emphasizes strategy instruction.

Question 9

Research has concluded that children from welfare homes receive how much language experience in their early years?

Accepted Answer

On average, young children in welfare homes heard about 600 words an hour, whereas young children in professional families heard about 2,100 words an hour (Hart & Risley, 1995).

Question 10

Mary has become good at remembering specific words and basic reading skills. However, she still has not mastered the concept of learning from reading. This is because she must devote all her attention to the mechanical aspect of reading. Which developmental stage of reading would you say Mary is in?

Accepted Answer

This description refers to a reader in Stage 2 where children have begun to read, but are still not learning from what they are reading.

Question 11

Ms. Daniels is discussing Reggie's paper with him after class. Ms. Daniels notices that while Reggie has grasped the plot of Moby Dick, his paper does not meet the criteria of addressing the book's dilemma from the different viewpoints of the main characters. Which developmental stage of reading would you say Reggie is in?

Accepted Answer

This description refers to a reader in Stage 3, characteristic of students in grades 4 through 8.

Question 12

Students have just arrived in class, and the teacher has written the week's reading assignment on the board. Students are to read one section of The Post each day and develop a personal reaction paper to world events. Which approach to reading does this relate to?

Accepted Answer

The whole-language approach emphasizes reading materials that are whole, meaningful, and often connected to real-world events.

Question 13

Ridgebrook Elementary's approach to reading instruction focuses on teaching students reading skills that involve the following: establishing the gist of material before reading, monitoring comprehension, and adjusting the pace of reading to account for the material's difficulty. Which approach to reading does this relate to?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive approach emphasizes developing expert reading strategies.

Question 14

Students get into their groups before receiving their reading assignment. The teacher reminds students of the three rules of group reading in her classroom: help each other, share your opinions, and ask peers or the teacher questions if you don't understand. Which approach to reading does this relate to?

Accepted Answer

The social constructivist approach emphasizes reading in a social context and that meaning is socially negotiated.

Question 15

While faculty members at Southwood Elementary fully endorse effective reading instruction methods, they sincerely believe that the parents of their children should and can be active participants in reading instruction. Therefore, strategies geared at parent literacy are principal components of the school improvement plan. Which approach to reading does this relate to?

Accepted Answer

The social constructivist approach emphasizes reading in a social context and that a child's first language experiences occur in the home.

Question 16

At which age can children usually reproduce letters and copy several short words?

Accepted Answer

At 5 years of age, children can write letters and copy short words.

Question 17

Which approach to writing emphasizes planning, problem solving, revising, and metacognitive strategies?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive approach to writing emphasizes strategy instruction.

Question 18

The belief that writing is culturally embedded and social constructed is emphasized in which approach to writing?

Accepted Answer

The social constructivist approach to writing emphasizes writing in a social context.

Question 19

Which of the following is not an effective strategy to incorporating writing into the curriculum?

Accepted Answer

Formal writing assignments give opportunities for expression, improvement in writing style, and analytical thinking.

Question 20

In order to provide a supportive context for writing, teachers should provide what type of goals?

Accepted Answer

Goals should not be too challenging or too simple.

Quiz 11: Learning and Cognition in the Content Areas

According to recent research (Mayer 2004, 2008) , which of the following are the three key cognitive processes a child needs to go through in order to read a printed word?