Arizona Professional Teaching Exam
Questions and Answers14
operant conditioning - ANSWERS -a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if
followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Strategies to make students self-regulated learners - ANSWERS -Encourage children to repeat
and practice new information
Model effective learning strategies like thinking outloud
Use scaffolding techniques like using charts worksheets and mnemonics or acronyms
Challenge children to reflect on how they like to learn
convergent thinking - ANSWERS -a type of critical thinking in which one evaluates existing
possible solutions to a problem to choose the best one
A kindergarten teacher can best apply the concept of developmentally appropriate practice by
making which of the following a priority?
A. minimizing the amount of structure and routine in the students' learning environment.
B. providing students with frequent opportunities to participate in cooperative learning
activities
C. focusing instruction on students' social skills rather than on their academic skills.
D. designing a learning environment that supports the essential role of play in students' learning
- ANSWERS -D. designing a learning environment that supports the essential role of play in
students' learning
, According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychological development, the elementary years are a
critical period for individuals to develop a sense of:
A. competence
B. autonomy
C. identity
D. trust. - ANSWERS -A. Competence
An elementary teacher observes that some students tend to talk to themselves softly during
individual problem-solving activities. The teacher should be aware that this type of self-talk:
A. suggests that a student is feeling a high level of anxiety about the learning task
B. helps guide a student's thinking about the learning task
C. plays a key role in developing a student's self-confidence in his or her ability to learn
D. indicates that a student may have an undiagnosed learning disability - ANSWERS -B. helps
guide a student's thinking about the learning task
A first-grade teacher notices that even though all students in the class know their letters and
numbers, a few students routinely reverse certain letters and numbers when writing them. In
this situation, the teacher's most appropriate initial course of action would be to:
A. gather a sample of the students' work and meet with the special education teacher to
determine whether the students should be formally evaluated
B. provide the students with a variety of homework activities to help them learn how to orient
letters and numbers correctly
C. recognize this tendency as part of the normal range of development and continue to observe
students' work for potential learning problems
D. require the students to redo class activities and homework with the letters and numbers
correctly oriented - ANSWERS -C. recognize this tendency as part of the normal range of
development and continue to observe students' work for potential learning problems
Questions and Answers14
operant conditioning - ANSWERS -a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if
followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Strategies to make students self-regulated learners - ANSWERS -Encourage children to repeat
and practice new information
Model effective learning strategies like thinking outloud
Use scaffolding techniques like using charts worksheets and mnemonics or acronyms
Challenge children to reflect on how they like to learn
convergent thinking - ANSWERS -a type of critical thinking in which one evaluates existing
possible solutions to a problem to choose the best one
A kindergarten teacher can best apply the concept of developmentally appropriate practice by
making which of the following a priority?
A. minimizing the amount of structure and routine in the students' learning environment.
B. providing students with frequent opportunities to participate in cooperative learning
activities
C. focusing instruction on students' social skills rather than on their academic skills.
D. designing a learning environment that supports the essential role of play in students' learning
- ANSWERS -D. designing a learning environment that supports the essential role of play in
students' learning
, According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychological development, the elementary years are a
critical period for individuals to develop a sense of:
A. competence
B. autonomy
C. identity
D. trust. - ANSWERS -A. Competence
An elementary teacher observes that some students tend to talk to themselves softly during
individual problem-solving activities. The teacher should be aware that this type of self-talk:
A. suggests that a student is feeling a high level of anxiety about the learning task
B. helps guide a student's thinking about the learning task
C. plays a key role in developing a student's self-confidence in his or her ability to learn
D. indicates that a student may have an undiagnosed learning disability - ANSWERS -B. helps
guide a student's thinking about the learning task
A first-grade teacher notices that even though all students in the class know their letters and
numbers, a few students routinely reverse certain letters and numbers when writing them. In
this situation, the teacher's most appropriate initial course of action would be to:
A. gather a sample of the students' work and meet with the special education teacher to
determine whether the students should be formally evaluated
B. provide the students with a variety of homework activities to help them learn how to orient
letters and numbers correctly
C. recognize this tendency as part of the normal range of development and continue to observe
students' work for potential learning problems
D. require the students to redo class activities and homework with the letters and numbers
correctly oriented - ANSWERS -C. recognize this tendency as part of the normal range of
development and continue to observe students' work for potential learning problems
