Section 10: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Secular Trends in Physical Growth

Systematic change from one generation to the next in body size and in the timing of the attainment of growth milestones

Malocclusion

Crooked, crowded teeth or a bad bite where the top and bottom jaws do not line up. Typically due to thumb sucking.

Concrete Operational Stage

7 to 11 years; thinking is more logical, flexible, and organized

Decentration

Ability to focus on several aspects of a problem

Reversibility

Thinking through a series of steps and the returning to the starting point

Seriation

Ability to order items along a quantitative dimension, such as length or weight

Transitive Inference

Ability to seriate mentally

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of spaces

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales

Measure five intellectual factors: general knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory, and basic information processing from age 2 to adulthood

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V (WISC-V)

Measures four broad intellectual factors: verbal reasoning, perceptual (or visual-spatial) reasoning, working memory, and processing speed for younger children, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Revised from ages 6 to 16

Triarchic Theory of Successful Intelligence

Intelligence consists of three core components: analytical intelligence, creative intelligence, and practical intelligence

Creative intelligence

Generating useful solutions to new problems

Practical intelligence

Adapting to, shaping, or selecting environments

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Proposes that human intelligence is split into several distinct modalities rather than a single general IQ score

Stereotype Threat

Fear of being judged on the basis of a negative stereotype can trigger anxiety that interferes with performance

Flynn Effect

Describes how IQs have increased steadily from one generation to the next

Dynamic Assessment

A form of testing in which an adult introduces purposeful teaching into the testing situation

Metalinguistic Awareness

The ability to treat language as an object of thought, allowing children to analyze its structure, sounds, and rules separate from its literal meaning

Pragmatics

The gradual learning of how to use language socially, including using language for different needs, adapting talk to the listener, and following conversation rules

Code Switching

A normal, rule-governed communication skill where bilingual children alternate between two or more languages or social speaking styles within a conversation

Traditional Classrooms

The teacher is the sole authority

Constructivist Classrooms

Children are active agents who reflect on and coordinate their own thoughts rather than absorbing those of others

Social-Constructivist Classroom

Children jointly construct understandings with teachers and peers

Reciprocal Teaching

Groups question, summarize,clarify, and predict in cooperative dialogues

Educational Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Children may adopt teachers’ positive or negative views and start to live up to them

Cooperative Learning

A structured teaching method where small student groups work together to reach a shared goal, relying on positive interdependence, individual accountability, and shared rewards

Learning Disabilities

Neurodevelopmental differences that affect how a person receives, processes, stores, and responds to information

Inclusive Classrooms

A general education learning environment where students of all backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles, including those with disabilities or diverse cultural needs, learn side-by-side with equal access to opportunities, support, and a true sense of belonging

Gifted

Displaying exceptional intellectual strengths

Creativity

Producing work that is original yet appropriate

Divergent Thinking

Generation of multiple possibilities when faced with a task or problem

Convergent Thinking

Arriving at a single correct answer; emphasized on intelligence tests

Talent

Outstanding performance in a specific field