PPR Study Questions

Ms. Hanson, an eighth-grade science teacher, notices one of her students has begun to talk frequently to her friends while conducting an experiment and is not fulfilling her responsibilities. In addressing the situation with the student, Ms. Hanson should keep in mind that:

a) students at this age are not capable of working quietly for long periods of time.

b) students at this age are concerned about their peers' perceptions of themselves, and they have an overwhelming desire to conform to their classmates.

c) students' interest levels in instructional activities are a reflection on the preparation by the teacher, and Ms. Hanson is partially responsible for the incident.

d) students have a higher tendency to neglect academic responsibilities if there is confusion in the purpose of the objective of any instructional activity.

b) students at this age are concerned about their peers’ perceptions and have a strong desire to fit in, which can affect their focus and behavior during activities.

Which of the following would be best suited for a class of three- and four-year-olds?

a) a large number line ranging from zero to one hundred

b) one tablet or laptop for each student

c) dress-up clothes such as construction vests, aprons, and doctor’s coats

d) a classroom library of board books with one image per page, such as an apple, ball, or chair

C is correct.

Explanation: Pretend play is a crucial activity for young children to engage in, and these items would encourage pretend play.

Ms. Johnson, a sixth-grade social studies teacher, decides to include more group work in her class assignments. She places students in groups of three for their "Cultures of Europe" projects. The student groups need to research a topic, write a paper, and make a presentation to the class. The presentation must engage the participation of the whole class, include a summary handout, and utilize technology. The groups must also document every member's participation in all parts of the project because each group will receive a single grade. The purpose of this assignment is to:

a) encourage students to teach each other the important concepts for the semester.

b) reduce the amount of graded work for the teacher, to allow additional instructional time with students.

c) use student-centered cooperative learning activities to increase student learning and positive social interactions with peers.

d) minimize discipline problems in the class by having students hold each other accountable.

C is correct.

Explanation: Group projects that result in presentations to the class keep students at the center of learning activities and increase their interactions with peers in a positive manner.

Which of the following would be a developmentally-appropriate activity for typical students?

a) sixth-grade students writing independent research papers over a broad topic

b) first-grade students using manipulatives to understand addition and subtraction

c) second-grade students using manipulatives to learn 2D shapes

d) fifth-grade students raising caterpillars to butterflies, to understand life cycles

B is correct.

Explanation: This is developmentally appropriate and students of various levels can be given questions with more or less difficulty.

Which of the following scenarios might indicate an issue with emotional development?

a) Kyle, a 4th-grader, punches another student who takes food from Kyle's lunchbox and refuses to give it back.

b) Jose, a 2nd-grader, cries and says "I want my mom" when he falls off the slide at recess and breaks his arm.

c) Muhammed, a 6th-grader, cries in a meeting with his teacher during a discussion about a math test he failed after studying the material.

d) Steven, a 6th-grader, often cries at the end of class because he was off-task during work time and will need to complete the in-class assignment as homework.

D is correct.

Explanation: The fact that this is frequent behavior, that Steven is having a big reaction to a reasonably small issue, and that Steven seems unable to attribute the issue to his own behavior and change the behavior are all cause for concern and suggest an issue with emotional regulation.

Which of the following actions by a two-year-old demonstrates the emergence of parallel play?

a) The child sits next to a peer who is stacking blocks and begins building their own separate tower.

b) The child sits next to a peer who is pushing a toy car. The child gets a toy truck and says to the peer, "You have car. I have truck."

c) The child stands near the slide and watches as other students take turns sliding.

d) The child sits with a peer who is pretending to cook and the two children start "making a soup" together.

A is correct.

Explanation: This describes an example of parallel play. The children are playing side-by-side and doing a similar activity, but are not engaging with one another.

Lily is a 7-year-old student in a special education classroom diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). During group activities, Lily often prefers to work alone and avoids eye contact with her peers. Recently, her teacher, Ms. Carter, has been encouraging her to participate in group discussions and collaborate on projects with her classmates. Over time, Lily has started to show interest in working with others, though she still struggles with initiating conversations and maintaining eye contact. Ms. Carter has noticed that when she provides positive reinforcement and prompts, Lily is more likely to engage with her classmates and is gradually becoming more comfortable with social interactions. Which aspect of social development is most likely being targeted in Lily's experience?

a) mastering fine motor skills for tasks like writing and drawing

b) developing self-awareness and emotional regulation

c) improving cognitive processing and problem-solving abilities

d) building social skills, including communication and peer interaction

D is correct.

Explanation: Lily is being encouraged to engage with her classmates, initiate conversations, and collaborate on tasks.

A third-grade teacher plans to integrate writing, speaking, and the arts with reading instruction. Students select a favorite character from a book or story, write a few lines of dialogue that demonstrate what the character is like, design or bring a simple prop, and present their character to their classmates. What is the best reason for this instructional design?

a) It provides evidence that the teacher is supportive of cross-curriculum instruction.

b) It provides an assessment of students' knowledge retention.

c) It provides reinforcement that reading can be an enjoyable experience.

d) It provides integrated, active learning and play that support development.

D is correct.

Explanation: While all four choices are good reasons to engage third-grade students in this manner, validating their own lives and interests in an active, meaningful, integrated "play" experience is the best answer.

A teacher has an eighth-grade science class with a wide range of student abilities. With this in mind, which of the following is the best way to present physics concepts?

a) use the book as a resource for the assignment; eighth-grade students should be able to understand the book

b) test student understanding and begin the lesson with a baseline topic that the lowest-achieving student is able to perform

c) explain abstract concepts using mathematical equations and include a physical demonstration

d) use a physical example; these students cannot comprehend abstract concepts

C is correct.

Explanation: Most students in an eighth-grade science class will be able to understand the abstract concepts of physics. (Abstract thought occurs in the formal operations development.) However, it is best to reinforce concepts with physical demonstrations, to ensure that students who might not be as developmentally mature can grasp the concepts.

An elementary teacher observes that some students use their fingers to count, add, and subtract after showing mastery of these skills on a test. The teacher should be aware that this act:

a) may be an indicator of a learning disability in math computation.

b) helps students guide their own thinking.

c) suggests anxiety about math.

d) indicates they may have not mastered the skills and possibly cheated on the test.

B is correct.

Explanation: Students will use private speech, talking to themselves, and finger counting as ways to ensure that their thinking is on the right track. They generally outgrow this behavior by the end of elementary.

Of the following, which would be most beneficial to students using the Internet for research purposes?

a) Allow students to print the homepage to each page they find important on their research topic.

b) Demonstrate the most efficient ways to search for topics, identifying the best words to use and how punctuation can influence search results.

c) Explain that the first ten to twenty search engine results are the only websites a student needs to review.

d) Have each student write ten search topics before beginning research on the Internet.

B is correct.

Explanation: Students need to be taught the best way to identify and search keywords on a research topic, as this will yield more effective search results in a shorter amount of time.

An English Language Arts teacher is planning a unit on literary genres. During a lesson on prose and poetry, the teacher guides students to complete a Venn diagram. This diagram enhances student learning by:

a) providing immediate feedback on understanding.

b) allowing students to self-assess their learning.

c) clarifying complex ideas.

d) activating prior knowledge.

C is correct.

Explanation: Visual aids like Venn diagrams can help students identify relationships and previously unknown patterns that clarify complex ideas.

A first-grade teacher is planning a lesson on story elements. As part of the lesson, the teacher plans to read a story that takes place on a farm. Which of the following questions should the teacher consider to increase the likelihood of an effective lesson?

a) "Is this book available in the school library?"

b) "Have all of my students shown an interest in farms?"

c) "What background knowledge do my students have about farms?"

d) "How can I connect this lesson to a future science lesson?"

C is correct.

Explanation: It is important that teachers consider the background knowledge of their students when planning a lesson or unit.

Which of the following activities for studying cell organelles would best serve a kinesthetic learner?

a) watching a narrated video about cell organelles

b) making a list of cell organelles, their structures, and their functions

c) assigning each student an organelle and acting out a play about them

d) drawing a picture of a cell and labelling the organelles

C is correct.

Explanation: Acting in a play would best serve a kinesthetic learner, who learns by doing. Assigning each organelle as a character would help the student draw connections between organelles and show how they work together.

Which of the following examples would best help students to improve their skills of metacognition?

a) Give students the ability to choose their own assessments.

b) Teach learning strategies and have students pinpoint which work best with new assignments.

c) Create lessons that relate to different learning styles.

d) Have students create original creative writing pieces.

B is correct.

Explanation: In order to improve students' metacognition, or an awareness of how they learn and what they know, teachers should model different learning strategies (annotating text, graphic organizers, etc.) and discuss which methods work with certain content and lessons. In this way, students will begin to understand how to organize material for their own consumption.

A teacher has noticed that an ELL student in his class is always using her pen to do something, whether doodling, making a list, or taking notes. From this information, the student may benefit from

a) auditory learning modes.

b) visual learning modes

c) kinesthetic learning modes.

d) writing learning modes.

D is correct.

Explanation: Writing learning modes include note-taking and journaling, just like the student's habits.

Which of the following scenarios describes an example of a teacher activating students' background knowledge?

a) A first-grade teacher guides students as they complete the "K" column on a KWL chart.

b) A kindergarten teacher has students sing a song to help remember the days of the week.

c) A third-grade teacher asks students to summarize the main events of a story during a "think-pair-share" discussion.

d) As an extension activity, a second-grade teacher asks students to research an endangered animal of their choice.

A is correct.

Explanation: KWL (Know, Want to know, Learned) charts are an effective way to activate background knowledge as they ask students to list what they already know about a topic before a lesson begins.

A third-grade teacher receives a new program for project-based learning on classroom devices that enables students to illustrate or add text to a graphic. An example of a developmentally appropriate activity that best demonstrates the use of this technology through multimodal teaching for all learners in the classroom would be to

a) have students draw the cover of the chapter book they are reading.

b) give the students free time to explore the program for future use in-class projects.

c) have groups of students complete a representation of the chapter book they are reading in their preferred format (illustration, graphic image, report, etc.).

d) have the students complete a walk-through tutorial of the program from a video.

C is correct.

Explanation: By allowing the students to utilize the program via their unique learning methodology, the teacher is increasing engagement and access to the concept being taught.

A high school history teacher has noticed that her students are showing a lack of interest in the subject. They enjoy debating why historical things take place, but the students seem to believe that the past has little bearing on their current lives. What could the teacher incorporate to increase student interest?

a) Share an inspirational quote from a person involved in the historical issue they are studying.

b) Assign a historical fiction book from the same time period they are studying to increase understanding.

c) Have students research their family tree to see who they are related to from the time periods.

d) Include a current events question at the beginning of class that can be tied into the material.

D is correct.

Explanation: This helps students see the significance of the material they are studying.

A kindergarten teacher has just begun a new school year and wants the students to develop a greater knowledge of self-concept. Which of the following discussion topics would be most appropriate for the students?

a) the students' religions

b) things found in parks and recreational areas

c) families

d) colors of the rainbow

C is correct.

Explanation: This is the best answer as all students will have a family, regardless of prior knowledge or socioeconomic background.

Mr. Jolly wants to create a positive climate for his classroom. Which of the following actions would best promote a positive classroom climate?

a) allowing his students to choose the instructional activity for the day

b) greeting each student as they enter the classroom

c) creating lessons that are easy for his students to complete

d) applying the same academic goals for all of his students

B is correct.

Explanation: This is the best answer option, as it allows Mr. Jolly to make one-on-one contact with his students.

Which of the following would be the most effective way to organize a classroom to help a first-grade student with a hearing impairment participate in daily classroom activities?

a) Select a responsible peer who can repeat the teacher's directions to the student.

b) Seat the student close to instruction so that he can look at the teacher when she is speaking.

c) Provide detailed written directions to accompany all instruction that the teacher gives verbally.

d) Use closed captioning whenever the class is watching a video clip during instruction.

B is correct.

Explanation: Seating the student close to the teacher will help him to listen to what she is saying. By watching the teacher as she talks, he will be able to understand her more easily.

Which of the following scenarios would fall under Maslow's level of belonging and love needs?

a) a teenager establishing his first relationship with a girlfriend

b) a teenager working a part-time job to pay for his own gas and phone bill

c) a teenager eating his favorite meal

d) a teenager passing a difficult exam he studied extensively for

A is correct.

Explanation: A romantic relationship falls under Maslow's belonging and love needs.

Every Friday, a teacher leaves a note of encouragement on each of his students' desks, and he encourages the students to do the same for their classmates. What is the primary purpose of this?

a) It acknowledges students' different cultural backgrounds.

b) It fosters higher-order thinking skills.

c) It creates a climate of high expectations.

d) It cultivates a positive classroom environment.

D is correct.

Explanation: Notes of encouragement are an effective way to promote a positive environment, in which students feel a sense of belonging and feel comfortable taking risks.

Every day during recess, Mr. Hernandez observes his third-grade students. He notices the games they are playing, the other students they are interacting with, and what activities interest them. Afterward, he always pulls a student aside to compliment them on a skill they showcased or speak about something he noticed them doing. What is the main purpose of this?

a) It helps to improve his relationship with the students.

b) It sets a positive example for students to follow.

c) It teaches students how to interact with their peers.

d) It promotes a culture of inclusivity.

A is correct.

Explanation: When a teacher shows a genuine interest in a student and their interests, it helps to develop a positive relationship. And when students have a strong relationship with their teachers, it has a positive, long-term effect on their academic and social development.

A high school teacher is looking to make changes in the classroom to promote a more inclusive environment that will increase social and emotional learning (SEL). Which of the following changes is likely to have the most positive impact?

a) Greeting students as they come into the classroom.

b) Incorporating personal connections in class discussions and requiring participation from all students.

c) Encouraging students to work with a different peer each time they have small group assignments.

d) Talking to students about personal interests and sharing similar experiences.

D is correct.

Explanation: Students will be more engaged if they know that their teacher cares about their aspirations.

Mrs. Miller, a sixth-grade science teacher, is striving to create a classroom environment that encourages learning and academic effort. She does not want to have a classroom culture that causes stress and anxiety in the students. Which of the following would best accomplish Mrs. Miller's goal?

a) create stressful situations so students know how to handle them

b) encourage students to search for the information by themselves when they are having trouble learning an academic concept

c) tell students to work harder if there is an issue in academics or peer-to-peer relationships

d) clearly outline expectations for student behavior and performance

D is correct.

Explanation: Clear behavioral expectations combined with a well-organized classroom reduces students' stress because the students then do not have to guess what a teacher expects from them in terms of behavioral and academic expectations.

Wilmer Middle School has invited more parent volunteers to help the classroom teachers. By increasing the number of parent volunteers present in the school's classrooms, the school is most likely to achieve which of the following?

a) enhance the interest of students and increase their willingness to collaborate

b) reduce the workload of the teachers and allow a more efficient use of class time

c) increase classroom management and the students' abilities to work productively in groups

d) create a greater awareness in the school community to help achieve important student goals

D is correct.

Explanation: By increasing the number of parents exposed to school activities, it is likely to promote parent participation in school activities and create a greater awareness in the community at large.

Which of the following is the most important factor in building active engagement in students?

a) developing friendships with students

b) arranging the room purposefully

c) showing enthusiasm for the topic

d) creating thoughtful learning goals

Explanation: When a teacher shows enthusiasm for the topic, their students are more likely to be interested in it themselves. In addition to showing interest in the topic, teachers must also show enthusiasm for their students – showing appropriate interest in their lives, encouraging their abilities, and being curious about their ideas. These elements help students develop independent interest in the topic rather than simply working for a grade or for praise from the teacher.

Mr. Shaf is known as a great technical building teacher at Pawnee High School. He has decades of experience and his knowledge surpases any other instructors in the district. He is know as a difficult teacher and students claim that he does not like for students to ask questions. A new assistant principal (AP) reviews one of his classes and states that he needs to improve his listening skills with students and should evaluate the way he responds to questions. This critique most likely means:

a) the new AP is trying to help Mr. Shaf improve the climate of the classroom to allow students to feel emotionally safe enough to ask questions and improve their access to learning.

b) the new AP thinks he can teach the classes better than Mr. Shaf.

c) the new AP does not think Mr. Shaf should be a teacher anymore because he is old and unable to change.

d) the new AP is trying to make Mr. Shaf understand that he is not the person in charge and should fear the new reviewer.

A is correct.

Explanation: It is important for students to feel safe both physically and emotionally in order for them to be able to learn new concepts.

In which of the following ways could the teacher scaffold the paragraph writing activity to accommodate for a student in the beginning stage of English language proficiency?

a) allow the student to write a paragraph with another student in the same stage of language proficiency

b) allow the student to use a bilingual dictionary while writing the paragraph

c) allow the student to use sentence stems while writing the paragraph

d) allow the student to create an illustrated storyboard timeline of a person's life

D is correct.

Explanation: Students in the beginning stage of English language proficiency will feel more comfortable drawing pictures versus writing complete sentences. Many beginners are non-verbal or only communicate using single words or simple phrases.

Ms. Marcel is reading a short story with her middle school English class. The class contains several English as a Second Language students who are struggling with the vocabulary being presented. Which of the following is a strategy that Ms. Marcel could use to help these students better comprehend the reading material?

a) Students complete a series of discussion questions on the novel and take part in a large group discussion with their peers.

b) Students create a pictorial vocabulary journal of the most challenging words and use the journal to fill in sentence stems about the story.

c) Students write fictional stories in response to the story they are reading to create a comparison for themselves and others in the class.

d) Students create notecards with the word on one side and the definition on the other and then study them at home before coming to class.

B is correct.

Explanation: This is the correct set of strategies to use with ESL students because these students often require scaffolding in order to be successful on class assignments. Visual representations help students "see" the vocabulary word they are trying to learn, and writing inside sentence stems helps them understand sentence structures.Therefore, this is the correct answer choice.

Why is it important for teachers to recognize and be aware of student diversities? Select all answers that apply.

a) in order to modify and adapt curriculum to include students of many backgrounds and diversities

b) in order to group students with like diversities to promote student success.

c) in order to assimilate students into the cultural norms of the classroom

d) in order to bond with students to promote trust and deeper learning

A is correct.

Explanation: Certain lessons will need to be adapted to accommodate student diversities and ensure student success.

D is correct.

Explanation: Students who trust their teacher are more likely to put effort into learning and being successful in the classroom.

Aida is an ELL student from Iran. Mr. Bruno, her ESL teacher, is bothered by the fact that Aida looks down and doesn't make eye contact with him when he is giving her feedback. He noticed that eye contact doesn't seem to be a problem with her classmates. What is most likely to be the cause of this behavior?

a) Aida's culture might believe it's impolite to make eye contact with a person of authority.

b) Aida might have trouble hearing what Mr. Bruno is saying.

c) Aida might not be interested in what Mr. Bruno is telling her.

d) Aida might have a visual impairment making it difficult to make eye contact.

A is correct.

Explanation: This is common in many cultures. Particularly in Iran, looking down and away from the person who is speaking to you is a way to show humbleness. Direct eye contact may be seen as hostile or rude. This is the most likely cause of her behavior.

In planning a lesson for her English language learners, Mrs. Sims wants to ensure their language needs are being met. In making accommodations to the instruction, Mrs. Sims should remember it is most important to

a) lessen the demand for academic instruction by simplifying the content and concepts the English language learners are required to learn.

b) focus accommodated instruction on the English language learners by isolating them from the rest of the class.

c) include multiple unknown words to build the students' vocabulary.

d) address the same instructional objectives and goals in the original instruction.

D is correct.

Explanation: English language learners are not low-achieving students nor do they have special needs. Any accommodation to instruction should not weaken the content or instructional objectives as their barrier to learning is not the material, but the language of the classroom.

Which of the following classroom strategies would best accommodate ELL language challenges?

a) bulletin boards with displays of first draft student work

b) word wall with pictures of vocabulary words

c) dividing students into homogenous language skills groups

d) bulletin boards with pictures of students

B is correct.

Explanation: A word wall provides students a visual aid to help them feel confident in using vocabulary.

Which of the following is an example of a modification that might be included in a student's IEP?

a) assigned reading passages that are written below grade level

b) inclusion of a word bank on assessments

c) preferential seating

d) ability to take frequent breaks

A is correct.

Explanation: This is an example of a modification because it changes the reading level that the student is expected to read and comprehend.

A ninth-grade English teacher has an inclusion class that includes English Learners, students with disabilities, and students who are reading at a variety of levels. The teacher assigns a writing project. Which of the following is the most effective way for the teacher to accommodate the needs of the students in the class?

a) Pair struggling learners with higher-achieving students so they can complete the report as partners.

b) Provide students with a graphic organizer for outlining their reports and a list of approved sources.

c) Assign specific authors to struggling readers.

d) Allow students with disabilities to deliver oral reports rather than turning in written reports.

B is correct.

Explanation: Providing an outline for organizing the content of the report will be valuable for the students, particularly those who have disabilities. Providing a list of approved sources will allow the students to focus on their research rather than having to spend time locating sources.

Which assessment format is likely to create the most issues for a student with language differences?

a) essay

b) multiple choice questions

c) matching

d) portfolio

A is correct.

Explanation: An essay requires the strongest command of a language, as students must develop complete sentences and incorporate vocabulary words independently.

A 7th-grade ELA teacher is planning an opinion writing unit in which students can choose from a list of controversial issues to research and write about. Which of the following should be the primary consideration in determining which issues to include on the list of potential topics?

a) Avoiding contentious political topics.

b) Avoiding topics that are too complex.

c) Reading levels and quantity of relevant texts available in the school library.

d) Cultural relevance and student interest.

D is correct.

Explanation: The best way to motivate students and inspire high-quality thinking and writing is to ensure that students are interested in the learning topics. If the list includes topics that are not relevant to the students or that they do not care about, they are less likely to be intrinsically motivated to learn and demonstrate their best ability. This is just one of the many reasons that knowledge of students and their cultural backgrounds is important.

For which of the following problems would it be LEAST appropriate to utilize a student-teacher contract as a solution?

a) A student punches another student out of frustration on the playground.

b) A student is capable of turning in work, but often forgets.

c) A student loses worksheets because his binder is disorganized.

d) A student shouts out occasionally in class and disrupts the learning process.

A is correct.

Explanation: A contract is not appropriate because another student was involved as a victim of violence. This should be escalated and dealt with according to district and campus policy.

Mr. Oden would like to develop a set of classroom behavior standards to create a positive environment. Which of the following strategies would be the best way for Mr. Oden to accomplish this goal?

a) Ask parents of the students to email which rules they think are most important in creating a positive classroom environment.

b) Implement and explain the behavioral standards as the school year progresses, to allow flexibility among student behavior and to encourage individual expression.

c) Create clear classroom behavior standards, post the standards in a visible location in the classroom, and discuss in detail each standard with the students.

d) Create classroom rules during a group discussion with students, where they can provide their input and opinions for behavioral consequences.

D is correct.

Explanation: When students are allowed to participate in the creation of classroom rules, a greater sense of ownership is instilled among the students and they will be more likely to hold themselves and their classmates accountable to the behavioral standards.

Which of the following expresses how a behavioral theorist views learning?

a) Learning occurs as a result of processing information and making associations between stimuli and responses.

b) Learning occurs as a product of socialization.

c) Learning occurs as the student takes past experiences and incorporates new material into them.

d) Learning occurs when a student is motivated to reach their fullest potential.

A is correct.

Explanation: Behaviorists believe learning occurs as students are given stimuli repeatedly and receive a consistent response.

One of Ms. Landers' 4th-grade students is high achieving and enthusiastic about school. She becomes frustrated when not called on to answer questions and is known to take over when working collaboratively in groups. How can Ms. Landers best support this student along with the rest of the class?

a) Give her 5 popsicle sticks to turn in each time she asks or answers a question. When she runs out, she will no longer be allowed to ask or answer questions that day.

b) Use role-playing games to model positive small and whole group interactions while also finding opportunities for this student to take an active leadership role in the class.

c) Establish a class routine with the expectation students will be chosen to answer all questions based on random name selection.

d) In order to support her natural talents, employ assigned roles within groups reserving a head leadership role for her each time.

B is correct.

Explanation: This would be a positive way to help the student understand how her actions impact the class as a whole. Role-playing games are an opportunity for her to see how one student answering the majority of the questions impacts other students. However, it is also important to recognize individual strengths of students and look for opportunities for her to use those skills.

During the first weeks of school, a first-grade teacher sets aside time for teaching, modeling, and practicing transition procedures during math and reading stations. Which of the following would be the greatest benefit of this activity?

a) Students will understand the consequences in place if the transition procedures are not followed.

b) Students will be able to teach and model transition procedures for any new student who joins the classroom at a later date.

c) Transitions between stations will run more smoothly, allowing students to direct their focus on the skill or activity at each station.

d) Students will have time to adjust to a new classroom before any new academic content is introduced.

C is correct.

Explanation: Modeling and practicing desired behaviors is a crucial step in classroom management. By modeling and practicing transitions between stations, the teacher is ensuring that transitions move smoothly and that students can focus on the required task at each station. Teaching routines also promotes student independence and can increase intrinsic motivation as students feel ownership over classroom activities.

A second-grade teacher would like to help her students develop their interpersonal skills. Which of the following activities would be best suited to meet the teacher's goal?

a) assign a project in which each student has a specific role to fulfill for the group

b) conduct parent conferences to discuss each student's social development

c) provide students with a choice board of activities to complete after finishing a unit

d) have students journal daily about their feelings and emotions

A is correct.

Explanation: This activity requires students to successfully work together to meet a common goal, which would require interpersonal communication skills.

A student has been acting silly and disrupting class lately. She needs frequent reminders to be on task and it is impacting her academic progress. What is the most appropriate first action in response to these behaviors?

a) setting up a parent-teacher conference

b) setting up a student-teacher conference

c) referring the student to the principal

d) requesting a behavioral evaluation

B is correct.

Explanation: This approach allows the student to reflect on the impact of their behavior before there are more severe consequences. It also allows the teacher to determine the causes of the behavior.

An elementary teacher has created small groups based on reading level for guided-reading instruction. A few weeks after creating the reading groups, the teacher notices that three students seem to be reading at a higher level than the other students in their groups. Which of the following steps should the teacher take to meet the needs of these students?

a) Provide these students with independent reading assignments until it is time to adjust all reading groups.

b) Create an additional reading group comprised of these three students.

c) Reassess the students' reading levels and adjust the groups accordingly.

d) Allow these students to model appropriate fluency for the other students in their groups.

C is correct.

Explanation: Guided-reading groups should be flexible and should be adjusted regularly based on student progress and needs.

In Mrs. Deaver's fifth-grade classroom, many students seem to enjoy using a word-processing program for writing. However, there are only four computers in the room. How could the teacher best make use of the limited classroom computer access?

a) Allow students who particularly struggle with spelling skills to use the computers; all others write by hand.

b) Prioritize those with limited access; allow students who do not have computers at home to use the computers during class time.

c) Reserve computers for revisions; facilitate student rotations with a computer station to provide time for all students.

d) Let students earn the privilege of using the computers for drafting; require revisions be completed independently.

C is correct.

Explanation: Using the classroom computers as a compliment to computer-lab time is a good way to accommodate students working at different rates. Specifically, their use in revision would be reasonable since students will often vary greatly in the amount of time needed throughout the writing process.

A six-year-old kindergartener has shown difficulty raising her hand to share responses during direct instruction. The student's teacher has chosen to reward the student for raising her hand but does not provide a reward on each occasion when the student raises her hand. This is an example of

a) fixed-interval reinforcement

b) Intermittent reinforcement

c) negative reinforcement

d) punishment

B is correct.

Explanation: Intermittent reinforcement is being used because the student is rewarded for raising her hand, but she is not rewarded on each occasion when she demonstrates this desired behavior.

School districts should be expected to do all of the following to encourage the parents and guardians of English learners to become more actively involved in their children’s education EXCEPT:

a) educate parents on the structure of the US school system and all of the rights that they have as parents of ELL students.

b) provide resources in many different languages and encourage parents to continue the use of the first language at home.

c) send written updates to parents regarding student progress at the end of each week.

d) create opportunities for parents to engage in sharing their home cultures and their own expertise with students at the school.

C is correct.

Explanation: Parents should be provided with progress updates, but weekly is unrealistic.

A high school English teacher has been thinking of ways to support his English-language-learning students. To do this, he wants to involve families in the students' learning process. Which of the following activities would best facilitate this?

a) sending monthly student evaluations to families that provide details about student learning progress

b) discussing with parents the ways that the school is promoting a multicultural learning environment for students

c) inviting parents to a school event in which they can learn different strategies to use at home to support their student

d) informing parents about multicultural events happening around the city

C is correct.

Explanation: Parents' support at home and their involvement in their child's learning needs can increase student success, especially while learning a second language.

Mr. Maher wants to create contact with the parents to gain their support for a behavior management program at the beginning of the school year. Which of the following would be the best approach to gaining the support of the parents?

a) Send a letter home with the students after the first day of school letting the parents know about the behavior program and requesting a parent-teacher conference to discuss the program further.

b) Ask parents for help in extracurricular activities and discuss the behavior management programs during these activities.

c) Schedule a parent–teacher conference when a student demonstrates unacceptable behavior.

d) Invite the parents to participate in monitoring student behavior to ensure all the students are in compliance with the behavior management program.

A is correct.

Explanation: This is the best answer option because the teacher is being proactive and discussing the program with parents before an incident occurs. It is always best for the teacher to be proactive in building parent–teacher relationships.

A kindergarten teacher wants to ensure that he starts the school year by establishing a positive relationship with each of his students' families. Which of the following is the most effective way for him to achieve this goal?

a) Invite each family to attend a conference during the first week of school.

b) Have a welcoming classroom environment established for meet-the-teacher night.

c) Send home a welcome letter sharing information about himself and his teaching experience.

d) Make a phone call to each family within the first week of school to share something positive that their child did in class.

D is correct.

Explanation: This would help the teacher establish a positive relationship with each family by starting the year off on a positive note.

A first-grade student frequently disrupts class discussion, has an unorganized desk, misplaces his classroom materials, and has a hard time maintaining eye contact with whom he is speaking. His teacher becomes concerned, as these behaviors are causing him to struggle in his academic studies. Before she contacts the student's parents to schedule a meeting, which of the following is the most appropriate first step?

a) Discuss the situation with the special education coordinator at her school.

b) Gather information and treatment possibilities for attention deficit disorder to share with the parent.

c) Create and gather documentation about specific instances of the student's behavior.

d) Inform the student of the observed behaviors and discuss possible learning disorder symptoms with the student.

C is correct.

Explanation: The teacher should gather evidence of their concern before meeting with the parents. By providing the parents with evidence and specific examples, the teacher can best inform the parents of the situation.

A teacher receives an angry email from a parent accusing the teacher of allowing their child to be bullied by other students in the class. The parent asks for the names of other students in the class that are targeting their child. What should the teacher do in response to this email?

a) Ask the student in question about whether or not they are experiencing bullying and then respond to the parent based on the results of that conversation with the child.

b) Respond with the names of students who sit with the student in class and offer to set up a meeting with the parents of those students

c) Immediately forward the email to the appropriate administrator and ask for support in resolving the issue with the parent.

d) Respond to the email by assuring the parent that their student is not being bullied in the classroom.

C is correct.

Explanation: For serious issues involving bullying or in interactions with angry or unreasonable parents, involving an administrator is always the best approach. They can help the teacher determine the best next steps and provide protection for the teacher, as administrators are better trained to handle difficult parent interactions.

A student from a different cultural background is struggling in class. The teacher wants to schedule a parent-teacher conference but is unsure if a language barrier might exist. What should be done first?

a) identify resources available at the school to determine the language proficiency of the parents and provide appropriate supports

b) cancel the conference and communicate with the student directly

c) ask the student to translate for their parents during the conference

d) schedule the conference and reschedule if language barriers present a significant challenge to communication

A is correct.

Explanation: The school will likely have a record of the english proficiency of the parents, either officially or unofficially. The student's ELL teacher may also have been in prior contact with the family and could provide support. Once the teacher has determined the level of language support needed, the appropriate services, including professional translation, must be provided.

Which of the following activities best promotes family-centered programming with the school?

a) inviting students to share a family tradition or custom and allowing all students to participate in it during a school day festival

b) increasing the number of books about the most prominent cultures represented in the school

c) hosting monthly activities that invite parents, such as "Doughnuts with Dad" or "Muffins with Mom"

d) hosting a Saturday carnival with proceeds benefiting special programs at the school

A is correct.

Explanation: This activity only involves families who are able to participate during the set times and may exclude guardians and caregivers outside of traditional families.

Mrs. Buff receives a letter from the mother of one of her fourth-grade science students about the amount of time it is taking to do the homework for her class. Mrs. Buff has been working with all her students on developing appropriate study skills, including setting timelines for homework. Mrs. Buff responds to the letter from the parent with an invitation to the mother and her husband to meet with her concerning this issue. Which of the following would be the best strategy for Mrs. Buff to begin the conference?

a) Explain they are the only parents who have ever complained about homework.

b) Listen to the parents' concerns and then explain the study skills that have been taught and discussed in her classroom.

c) Ask the parents how much time their child spends studying each night.

d) Ask the parents how much homework their child has in other classes.

B is correct.

Explanation: This is the correct answer because the best way to approach these parents would be to listen first and then explain.

A kindergarten teacher is reviewing data that has been gathered for a student using a combination of methods including observational notes, checklists, class assignments, and a norm-referenced test. This teacher is most likely preparing for:

a) their yearly observation from their principal.

b) a team planning meeting.

c) report cards.

d) a parent conference.

D is correct.

Explanation: Data from each of these assessments would be relevant and appropriate to use during a parent conference.

Mrs. Clark wants to divide her class into eight sections with each section having an activity center where her students can do a hands-on science experiment to correlate with the current science instructional unit. When designing the activity centers, it is most important for Mrs. Clark to ensure that:

a) each activity clearly relates to and supports a specific concept from the instructional unit.

b) the activities are performed at the beginning of the instructional unit.

c) each activity is easy to complete.

d) every student understands how each experiment was created and the materials used in each experiment.

A is correct.

Explanation: The activity centers will only be successful if students can relate the activity to an instructional concept. If the activities do not support the rest of the instructional unit, there is a good chance the students will not understand the purpose of the activities.

Research has shown that ELL students benefit from formative assessments. All of the following are benefits that formative assessments provide to ELL students except:

a) They provide information about students' current knowledge/skills that can inform future lessons.

b) They provide students with a grade that can be compared to peers.

c) They include feedback that is specific, timely, and related to the learning goals.

d) They occur on a consistent basis to help teachers stay up-to-date on student learning.

B is correct.

Explanation: Formative assessments do not typically provide students with a grade.

Which activity would be most beneficial for students learning the structure and functions human body systems?

a) A project in which students run an election campaign for their assigned body system. Students write campaign speeches about why their body system is the most essential, make posters, and have a vote at the end of the project.

b) A lab in which students must identify the body system from the types of tissue. Students are given unlabeled prepared slides and must view them under a microscope to categorize them.

c) An activity in which students create a diagram of the human body with all body systems labelled and colored.

d) An activity in which students play a matching game to match the organs to the body system.

A is correct.

Explanation: This project allows students to engage creatively with the material, and they must know the body systems in order to run an effective campaign. Students will see that each body system is equally essential.

A third-grade teacher is planning a new geometry unit based on the state curriculum. Which of the following questions should the teacher ask to ensure an effective first lesson?

a) What level of Bloom's taxonomy does the lesson fall into?

b) Which lessons are the most fun for students in math?

c) How does the textbook align with the state standards?

d) What is the extent of the students' prior knowledge of geometry?

D is correct.

Explanation: Building the lesson around prior knowledge allows students to be confident in the new material.

Ms. Abel gave her tenth-grade biology students an exit ticket with five questions and found that 27 out of 30 students did not respond correctly. What is the best next step for Ms. Abel in this situation?

a) Ms. Abel should revisit this content with the entire class, using a different method to communicate the content to the students.

b) Ms. Abel should not take the exit ticket as a grade.

c) Ms. Abel should tell students they can visit her office hours for tutoring if they need further explanation.

d) Ms. Abel should not test the students on this content again because it is too complicated for them.

A is correct.

Explanation: Most of the students did not master the content, so the best option is for her to revisit the material before moving on to the next topic.

Mr. Jameson believes that student self-evaluations are important as they encourage students to monitor their own learning needs and serve as an additional source of information on student learning. As an additional way to monitor ELL students, he uses "exit slips" in which:

a) students write reflections on their projects upon completion.

b) students meet with him at the end of each month to discuss their growth and set goals for the following month.

c) students assess their own work at the end of the year and create future learning goals.

d) students write a response tthat teacher prompt or question on a card or slip of paper at the end of a class.

D is correct.

Explanation: In order to gather information about current levels of understanding and/or current questions, teachers invite students to complete a quick "exit slip" as they leave the room or at the end of a lesson.

Which of the following is the best reason a teacher should mindfully include science practices and interdisciplinary connections when planning a science lesson?

a) Allows every student to utilize their own learning styles.

b) Engages students so they will be more attentive to the lesson.

c) The practices and connections will be useful in the students' future studies and careers.

d) The practices and connections will benefit the students' ability to socialize well with other students in the class.

C is correct.

Explanation: Science practices and interdisciplinary connections cut across the sometimes artificial boundaries of subject-specific science classes. These practices and connections will be useful in future studies and in careers.

An 8th-grade social studies teacher decides to move the unit about note-taking in the school year so that it occurs directly before the research unit. This teacher also decides to teach one additional form of note-taking that they believe will be especially helpful for the students this year. This would be a change to the:

a) curriculum.

b) teaching model.

c) scope and sequence.

d) lesson plan.

C is correct.

Explanation: Scope and sequence is an organizational tool that teachers use to help plan what they will teach throughout a course or school year. The scope refers to the depth of the teaching and the sequence refers to the order in which topics will be taught. When creating a scope and sequence, a teacher should consider the standards that must be covered as well as the prior knowledge students will need in order to be successful with each skill or topic.

Mr. Sanders is preparing a lesson for the following TEKS History standard: The student understands how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history of Texas during the 20th and early 21st centuries. The student is expected to: (A) explain the political, economic, and social impact of the oil industry on the industrialization of Texas. Which of the following would be an example of a learning goal to support this TEKS standard?

a) Students will differentiate between the Texas economy before and after the rise of the oil industry.

b) Students will understand how individuals, events, and issues shaped the history of Texas during the 20th and early 21st centuries, including the political, economic, and social impact of the oil industry on the industrialization of Texas.

c) Students will read an article describing the pre-oil economy then work with a peer to predict what changes occured because of the high demand of oil.

d) Students will outline the reason for an increased demand of oil.

A is correct.

Explanation: This would be an example of a learning objective that would partially cover the provided TEK.

Ms. Johnson has implemented small, homogeneous, intervention groups in her class to provide instruction to students who have similar needs. This allows Ms. Johnson to invite individual students to join the group to work on a specific set of skills. Which of the following would be the best use of these intervention groups by Ms. Johnson?

a) to assess the content mastery of the high-achieving students to ensure the instructional units do not progress faster than the students' capacity

b) to assess a specific group's content knowledge

c) to provide instruction to a minority of students who exhibit a noticeable lack of interest during instruction

d) to provide instruction to a minority of students who have not demonstrated mastery of a specific content objective

D is correct.

Explanation: Intervention groups allow teachers to create a group based on ability. This is possible because the group is formed by invitation and is not mandatory. Forming groups based on homogeneous ability allows the teacher to re-teach specific skills or concepts the group may not have grasped during regular classroom instruction.

A teacher reflects on instructional efficacy while analyzing longitudinal student reading development data. What is the primary benefit of maintaining detailed academic progress records in this context?

a) to support anecdotal observations during team collaboration

b) to provide retrospective insight for potential report card comments

c) to evaluate learning trends and inform future pedagogical decisions

d) to preserve examples of student growth for optional family conferences

C is correct.

Explanation: Well-maintained records allow teachers to adjust instruction based on real-time progress.

The Texas education system is made up of primarily independent school districts. This means that each district maintains their own rules and governing board, while also:

a) having accountability to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

b) adhering to laws and rules established by the Texas Legislature.

c) adhering to laws and rules established by the United States Congress.

d) all of the above

D is correct.

Explanation: This statement is true. Districts maintain their own rules and abide by the other governing bodies.

Which of the following does NOT accurately reflect the 504 designation?

a) The document may require accommodations like providing notes to a student instead of expecting them to copy the projected notes, or providing a seating assignment that decreases distractions.

b) A 504 plan provides requirements for classroom teachers to adjust instruction or the classroom environment in various ways to better meet the student's needs.

c) A 504 plan defines accommodations for student success in the general education classroom when the student has an impairment that significantly impacts their life.

d) A 504 plan is the same as an IEP and they can be used interchangeably.

D is correct.

Explanation: This is the correct response. A 504 plan is not the same as an IEP. Individual Education Plans are specific to students being served by special education services.

Which of the following exceptionalities does Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 not protect?

a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

b) dyslexia

c) giftedness

d) mild hearing loss

C is correct.

Explanation: While giftedness is considered an exceptionality, it is not considered a disability for which a child needs additional rights to ensure educational equity. In some states, giftedness does fall under special education services which can provide the student with specially designed instruction specific to the areas in which they are gifted.

The parents of a student with disabilities have complained that their student is not getting the services they need. Which of the following statements accurately describes the rights of students and parents in a dispute with the school?

a) If they cannot reach an agreement with the school or school district, they are guaranteed due process to resolve the dispute.

b) If there is a dispute, the school district Special Education Advocate will determine which services are needed.

c) If an agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the Special Education teacher closest to the student should determine which services are needed.

d) The parent and student should determine which services are needed.

A is correct.

A student finds a chart on a website while doing research and wants to include the chart in her research paper. What should she do?

a) Recreate the same chart on her computer without citing its source.

b) Copy and paste the chart in the paper, citing the source.

c) Remove any watermarks on the chart and include it in the paper.

d) Take a screenshot of the chart that includes the website link.

B is correct.

Explanation: A chart from a website can be included in a paper, as long as the source is properly cited.

When updating a digital grade book, a teacher aims to minimize data-entry errors and ensure record integrity. Which approach most directly supports this objective?

a) perform systematic verification of entries immediately after data input

b) delegate grade entry to a trusted colleague for expediency

c) delay grade reporting until all assessments are completed and reviewed

d) record grades after class based on recollection of student performance

A is correct.

Explanation: Immediate verification is a reliable method to prevent inaccuracies.

A fifth-grade teacher is concerned about the lack of academic achievement for one of her students. The teacher requests that the special education teacher observe and conference with her regarding appropriate instructional strategies. What is the best response that the special education teacher can offer?

a) observe and recommend an administrative observation

b) observe and recommend the RtI process

c) observe and recommend immediate special education services

d) observe and recommend an initial evaluation

B is correct.

Explanation: RtI is a scientific research-based instructional method of intervention that is delivered in the general education classroom to provide early, systematic, and appropriate assistance to those students who are at-risk for underperforming at their age- or grade-level. RtI is a process to monitor and measure student academic and behavioral progress in the general education curriculum.

A student has ADHD. His teacher is aware of the student's diagnosis and knows that he goes to the nurse to take his medication every day after lunch. One afternoon, the student is acting out more than usual and fidgeting in his seat. The teacher suspects that he has forgotten to take his medication. What should the teacher do?

a) Don't take any actionable steps.

b) Ask the student if he has remembered to take his medication today.

c) Send the student to the principal's office for acting out.

d) Check with the school nurse to see if the student has taken his medication.

D is correct.

Explanation: The school nurse should know whether the student has taken his medication and should be able to provide it to him if he hasn't.

To encourage student motivation, a teacher considers publicly displaying performance results. What practice would most clearly violate confidentiality expectations?

a) displaying students grouped by achievement categories using abstract symbols

b) sharing overall class averages without naming individuals

c) publishing grade data with student identifiers visible to peers

d) displaying anonymous feedback aligned with rubric criteria

C is correct.

Explanation: Displaying names with grades discloses private academic information.

One of the elements that can impact a source's credibility is its publication date. Which of the following best identifies why this element can impact credibility?

a) New research may be disproved in the future.

b) Old information may not reflect the current understanding of an issue or idea. Option b is the correct answer.

c) It could be difficult to verify the credibility of an author if the source is very old.

d) Older sources often have more bias than current sources.

B is correct.

Explanation: This is the best option because older sources may not reflect the latest developments in scientific and historical research.

Which of the following appropriately identifies the teacher's role in understanding and using technology?

a) Effective teachers should understand basic terms and concepts related to current technology. Most classrooms have technology for teacher and student use and should be utilized appropriately.

b) Teachers should be experts on all new technology and need to be able to teach students how to use these tools.

c) Teachers should rely on pencil and paper and in-person communication, because students are lacking in these abilities because of a reliance on technology.

d) Teachers should expect students to understand technology, and don't need to be able to use the tools in the classroom.

A is correct.

Explanation: Teachers should be able to use tools in the classroom and should have a competent knowledge of technology to help in student learning and communication.

A fifth-grade class will be using electronic sources while researching for an upcoming project. The teacher has conducted a lesson reviewing how to determine a source's credibility and practiced previewing a website for relevant source information. Which of the following would best help students ensure their sources are credible while researching on their own?

a) Ask students to get teacher approval before using a source for data.

b) Have students work with a partner, checking each other's new source for credibility.

c) Provide students with a reference list detailing ways to determine a source's credibility.

d) Allow students to only use sources from one teacher-approved database.

C is correct.

Explanation: By giving students a checklist of ways to determine credibility, students can easily and quickly determine a source's credibility. This allows students to practice this skill while scaffolding their understanding of what makes a website credible.

Which of the following is the most effective way for a teacher to use technology to increase their productivity?

a) using a storytelling app to create graphics, videos, or cartoons to use in the classroom

b) using real-time collaboration and authoring tools to share documents with students and edit student writing assignments

c) using a learning management system to personalize lessons for each student

d) using advanced presentation software tools to create class presentations with bright colors and eye-catching graphics

B is correct.

Explanation: Real-time collaboration and authoring tools can save teachers a lot of time that is wasted copying documents for students and editing student writing and assignments.

Which of the following interactive online tools would best assist a teacher in trying to gauge the understanding of her class in real-time?

a) a time tracking and productivity app, which features instant timesheet recording and visual progress graphs

b) an interactive presentation tool in which students can respond on a device to questions posed by the teacher within the presentation

c) an online whiteboard app for classroom brainstorming sessions

d) a learning management system, which can assist with creating content, designing lessons, and assessing understanding

B is correct.

Explanation: It can sometimes be hard to check student understanding without making a student feel embarrassed in front of his or her peers. To avoid this, an interactive tool in which a teacher can pose questions to students and see their responses in real-time can be really helpful.

An 8th-grade class is studying accuracies and inaccuracies in the media, and students have been asked to self-select an article and rate the article according to the validity of the information. A student has found an article on a reputable news site but has noticed that much of the information presented in the article does not align with coverage of the event on other sites. What is an appropriate guideline for the student to follow?

a) Review coverage of the event from other media sites before making an informed decision on whether the information is accurate or not.

b) Acknowledge the article as inaccurate and no longer refer to that media site as a reputable source.

c) Since it is on a reputable site, all information is factual and accurate.

d) If the information in the article does not align with similar coverage, it is likely a piece of satire.

A is correct.

Explanation: Students should be advised to review the facts of the event in order to make an informed decision. Reviewing other articles will help the student to confirm the accuracy or inaccuracy of the information provided in the first article.

Which of the following should NOT be considered when evaluating an internet source for credibility on a topic?

a) the author(s) and publisher of the website

b) the design of the website and the frequency of spelling and/or grammar errors

c) the date of publication or copyright date

d) the amount of relevant information provided by the source

D is correct.

Explanation: Simply because a source has a lot or a little information to use, does not mean it is a valid source.

Mrs. Jones wants to use a website in her presentation. Which of the following is the most important for her to do first?

a) Convey to students the importance of citing sources.

b) Analyze the website and its content to ensure it is appropriate.

c) Ask the parents their opinion of the quality of the website.

d) Discuss with the class what websites can and cannot be used for academic purposes.

B is correct.

Explanation: This is the best option, because before the teacher can present the website to the students, the teacher must be sure of the validity of the content.

A first-grade teacher would like to incorporate more technology in her instructional planning. Which of the following describes a developmentally appropriate use of technology that would meet this goal?

a) Students use a word processing program to type a personal narrative.

b) Students are allowed to play an educational computer game if they complete their work.

c) Students record themselves reading a book at their reading level.

d) Students use an app that checks spelling and grammar before turning in their work.

C is correct.

Explanation: This would allow students to practice reading aloud and would also allow the students and teacher to listen to their recordings at a later time.

Which of the following would NOT be considered a reliable research source?

a) a newspaper

b) a university website

c) a blog

d) a book

C is correct.

Explanation: A blog could be written by anyone, and therefore would not be a reliable source without significant background knowledge and research on the author's expertise.