Human Development Chapter 7 Terms

childhood obesity

A medical condition in middle childhood (ages 6 to 11) characterized by having excess body fat that negatively affects health, defined clinically as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.

asthma

A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that makes breathing difficult due to narrowed, swollen, and mucus-filled air passages.

concrete operational thought

Piaget's term for the third stage of cognitive development (occurring approximately from ages 7 to 11), characterized by the ability to reason logically about direct, tangible experiences and concrete perceptions.

classification

Piaget's term for the logical principle that things can be organized into groups, categories, or classes according to shared characteristics.

seriation

Piaget's term for the ability to arrange items in a quantitative series, such as by size, weight, or number.

working memory

The conscious mental activity where current information is actively processed, manipulated, and temporarily held (improves significantly during middle childhood).

knowledge base

A broad body of knowledge in a particular area or subject that makes it easier to learn, organize, and remember new, related information.

English Language

Learners (ELLs)

Students who are learning English as an additional language and require targeted instructional support to achieve proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English in an academic setting.

immersion

An educational strategy for language learning in which all school subjects (like math, science, and history) are taught entirely in the target/majority language, rather than in the student's native language.

bilingual education

An educational approach in which school subjects (like math, science, and social studies) are taught in two languages—the student's native language and a second (majority) language.

ESL (English as a Second Language)

An educational program or instructional approach designed to teach English language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) to non-native speakers within an English-speaking country.

hidden curriculum

The unofficial, unstated, or implicit lessons, values, and cultural expectations that students learn in school, which are not part of the formal, written curriculum.

comorbid

Describing two or more distinct medical, psychological, or developmental conditions occurring simultaneously in the same person.

neurodiversity

The concept that neurological differences (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, or learning disabilities) are natural variations in human brain function and processing, rather than deficits or disorders that need to be cured.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD

A persistent developmental disorder characterized by a pattern of inattention, impulsivity, and/or excessive motor activity (hyperactivity) that interferes with functioning or development, with symptoms starting before age 12.

specific learning disorder

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent difficulty learning and using academic skills (such as reading, writing, or math) that is significantly below expectations for the child's age, intelligence, and grade level.

dyslexia

A specific learning disorder characterized by neurobiological difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, poor decoding skills, and weak spelling abilities.

dyscalculia

A specific learning disorder involving persistent difficulty in understanding numbers, learning math facts, calculating, and grasping basic numerical concepts.

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent challenges in social communication/interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

least restrictive environment (LRE)

A legal principle under special education law mandating that children with special needs must be educated in the most general educational setting possible, alongside non-disabled peers, to the maximum extent appropriate.

response to intervention (RTI)

An educational strategy that uses targeted, school-wide research-based instruction and progress monitoring to identify and support students who show learning or behavioral difficulties before they are formally diagnosed with a disability.

individual education plan (IEP)

A legally binding document created for a public school child with a diagnosed disability, outlining their specific educational goals, accommodations, specialized instruction, and support services.