TEPC 5800: EC-12 PRACTICE TEST #2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The students in an eighth-grade class represent a wide range of levels of cognitive
development, from concrete operational to formal operational though. The teacher's
best strategy for adapting instruction to accommodate this degree of cognitive variation
among students would be to:
make use of experiential and hands-on activities to complement and illustrate more
abstract content.
group students as much as possible according to level of cognitive development.
plan to work with students one-on-one to the greatest extent possible.
target instruction at the average level of cognitive development represented by the class
overall. - Correct Answers -make use of experiential and hands-on activities to
complement and illustrate more abstract content.
2. A high school junior tells a teacher that he intends to drop out of school because
school is a waste of time and a full-time job would enable him to earn a lot of money.
The teacher is most likely to be able to discuss this issue effectively with the student if
the teacher is aware that many students at this age:
focus on the present and have trouble appreciating long-term consequences.
are not yet able to recognize and distinguish the diverse roles of individuals and groups
in society.
find it difficult to apply reasoning skills to any issues that are affecting their own lives.
view the authority figures in their lives, including teachers, as being able to make the
best decisions. - Correct Answers -focus on the present and have trouble appreciating
long-term consequences.
Use the information below to answer the two questions that follow.
A third-grade teacher finds that her class includes a number of English Language
learners who have varying levels of English language proficiency. As the school year
begins, the teacher is considering ways to adapt instruction and assessment to meet
these student's needs.
3. The teacher plans to modify lessons and materials for the English Language
Learners in ways that will address their language needs and facilitate learning. In
making the modifications, it is most important for the teacher to create modified lessons
and materials that:
,present simplified, less academically demanding versions of the content and concepts
that are included in the original lessons.
include only those words and language structures that are already familiar to the
English Language Learners.
focus mainly on the acquisition of basic knowledge through teacher presentation -
Correct Answers -address the same instructional goals and objectives as those
addressed in the original lessons.
4. When assessing the English Language Learners in his classes, the teacher can best
ensure accurate assessment of the students' learning by:
using various assessments, including written, oral, and performance measures, to allow
students multiple opportunities to show what they have learned.
permitting the students to determine on their own when they are ready to be assessed
in particular areas of instructional content.
assessing the students frequently (e.g., on a weekly basis) so that intervals between
tests are short and the amount of material assessed at any one time is minimized.
placing equal emphasis on the teacher's assessment of students learning and student
learning and students' assessment of their own learning. - Correct Answers -using
various assessments, including written, oral, and performance measures, to allow
students multiple opportunities to show what they have learned.
10. The most important reason for planning an entire unit before beginning instruction in
it is to:
facilitate moving from one topic to another in the unit according to students' interests
and needs.
allow the unit's summative assessment tool to be created before developing lesson
plans.
ensure that the content and learning activities are sequenced in a logical and coherent
manner.
determine whether the topic of the unit is appropriate given the age and developmental
level of the students. - Correct Answers -ensure that the content and learning activities
are sequenced in a logical and coherent manner.
11. When planning and setting up activity centers in a classroom to accompany and
instructional unit, it is more important for a teacher to adhere to which of the following
guidelines?
Each activity should be designed to support a specific objective or set of objectives
related to the unit
The centers should be designed to be visited in a predetermined sequence rather than
randomly.
Each activity should be simple enough that students can complete it in a short amount
of time.
The centers should be introduced only after the class is about halfway through the unit -
Correct Answers -Each activity should be designed to support a specific objective or set
of objectives related to the unit
, 12. A seventh-grade teaching team is in the beginning stages of planning
interdisciplinary units for the upcoming year. Which of the following would be the best
initial step to take in this process?
Brainstorm content units that are likely to have immediate appeal to students.
Create a curriculum map to help identify themes and skills that overlap across content
areas.
Decide how many of such units there will be and space them evenly across the school
year.
Develop a list of topics that individual members of the team are especially interested in
teaching. - Correct Answers -Create a curriculum map to help identify themes and skills
that overlap across content areas.
5. A sixth-grade classroom includes students with special needs who regularly spend
time in the school's resource room. In planning and organizing instruction for this class,
it is most important for the teacher to take steps to ensure that the students with special
needs:
focus on learning experiences that emphasize collaborative rather than individual work.
do not experience feelings of social isolation from their peers.
spend most time engaged in self-selected activities geared toward their own strengths
and preferences.
have ample opportunity to interact with others who have similar needs - Correct
Answers -do not experience feelings of social isolation from their peers.
6. A high school teacher's classes include students from different cultural backgrounds.
The teacher notes that relations among diverse student groups are sometimes tense
and include occasional verbal conflict. The teacher can best respond to the observed
tensions by using which of the following approaches?
Reinforce student recognition of the benefits of cooperation by setting up a system in
which some members of the class receive meaningful rewards for exhibiting positive
behavior during specified periods of time.
Use a seating arrangement that separates students from different groups, and organize
group work to accommodate student's preferences regarding peers with whom they
would like to work.
Work with students to create a set of clearly defined guidelines for behavior and
interactions in the classroom, and insist that all students consistently adhere to the
guidelines.
Implement a grading system in which studen - Correct Answers -Work with students to
create a set of clearly defined guidelines for behavior and interactions in the classroom,
and insist that all students consistently adhere to the guidelines.
7. An English teacher plans to assign a major research project to students in a mixed-
ability class. The teacher wishes to implement the project in a way that will build
confidence and positive expectations among the class's lower-achieving students.
Which of the following approaches is most likely to help the teacher achieve this goal?
Break the project into a series of manageable subtasks, and be available to provide
students with ongoing assistance in planning and accomplishing tasks as needed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The students in an eighth-grade class represent a wide range of levels of cognitive
development, from concrete operational to formal operational though. The teacher's
best strategy for adapting instruction to accommodate this degree of cognitive variation
among students would be to:
make use of experiential and hands-on activities to complement and illustrate more
abstract content.
group students as much as possible according to level of cognitive development.
plan to work with students one-on-one to the greatest extent possible.
target instruction at the average level of cognitive development represented by the class
overall. - Correct Answers -make use of experiential and hands-on activities to
complement and illustrate more abstract content.
2. A high school junior tells a teacher that he intends to drop out of school because
school is a waste of time and a full-time job would enable him to earn a lot of money.
The teacher is most likely to be able to discuss this issue effectively with the student if
the teacher is aware that many students at this age:
focus on the present and have trouble appreciating long-term consequences.
are not yet able to recognize and distinguish the diverse roles of individuals and groups
in society.
find it difficult to apply reasoning skills to any issues that are affecting their own lives.
view the authority figures in their lives, including teachers, as being able to make the
best decisions. - Correct Answers -focus on the present and have trouble appreciating
long-term consequences.
Use the information below to answer the two questions that follow.
A third-grade teacher finds that her class includes a number of English Language
learners who have varying levels of English language proficiency. As the school year
begins, the teacher is considering ways to adapt instruction and assessment to meet
these student's needs.
3. The teacher plans to modify lessons and materials for the English Language
Learners in ways that will address their language needs and facilitate learning. In
making the modifications, it is most important for the teacher to create modified lessons
and materials that:
,present simplified, less academically demanding versions of the content and concepts
that are included in the original lessons.
include only those words and language structures that are already familiar to the
English Language Learners.
focus mainly on the acquisition of basic knowledge through teacher presentation -
Correct Answers -address the same instructional goals and objectives as those
addressed in the original lessons.
4. When assessing the English Language Learners in his classes, the teacher can best
ensure accurate assessment of the students' learning by:
using various assessments, including written, oral, and performance measures, to allow
students multiple opportunities to show what they have learned.
permitting the students to determine on their own when they are ready to be assessed
in particular areas of instructional content.
assessing the students frequently (e.g., on a weekly basis) so that intervals between
tests are short and the amount of material assessed at any one time is minimized.
placing equal emphasis on the teacher's assessment of students learning and student
learning and students' assessment of their own learning. - Correct Answers -using
various assessments, including written, oral, and performance measures, to allow
students multiple opportunities to show what they have learned.
10. The most important reason for planning an entire unit before beginning instruction in
it is to:
facilitate moving from one topic to another in the unit according to students' interests
and needs.
allow the unit's summative assessment tool to be created before developing lesson
plans.
ensure that the content and learning activities are sequenced in a logical and coherent
manner.
determine whether the topic of the unit is appropriate given the age and developmental
level of the students. - Correct Answers -ensure that the content and learning activities
are sequenced in a logical and coherent manner.
11. When planning and setting up activity centers in a classroom to accompany and
instructional unit, it is more important for a teacher to adhere to which of the following
guidelines?
Each activity should be designed to support a specific objective or set of objectives
related to the unit
The centers should be designed to be visited in a predetermined sequence rather than
randomly.
Each activity should be simple enough that students can complete it in a short amount
of time.
The centers should be introduced only after the class is about halfway through the unit -
Correct Answers -Each activity should be designed to support a specific objective or set
of objectives related to the unit
, 12. A seventh-grade teaching team is in the beginning stages of planning
interdisciplinary units for the upcoming year. Which of the following would be the best
initial step to take in this process?
Brainstorm content units that are likely to have immediate appeal to students.
Create a curriculum map to help identify themes and skills that overlap across content
areas.
Decide how many of such units there will be and space them evenly across the school
year.
Develop a list of topics that individual members of the team are especially interested in
teaching. - Correct Answers -Create a curriculum map to help identify themes and skills
that overlap across content areas.
5. A sixth-grade classroom includes students with special needs who regularly spend
time in the school's resource room. In planning and organizing instruction for this class,
it is most important for the teacher to take steps to ensure that the students with special
needs:
focus on learning experiences that emphasize collaborative rather than individual work.
do not experience feelings of social isolation from their peers.
spend most time engaged in self-selected activities geared toward their own strengths
and preferences.
have ample opportunity to interact with others who have similar needs - Correct
Answers -do not experience feelings of social isolation from their peers.
6. A high school teacher's classes include students from different cultural backgrounds.
The teacher notes that relations among diverse student groups are sometimes tense
and include occasional verbal conflict. The teacher can best respond to the observed
tensions by using which of the following approaches?
Reinforce student recognition of the benefits of cooperation by setting up a system in
which some members of the class receive meaningful rewards for exhibiting positive
behavior during specified periods of time.
Use a seating arrangement that separates students from different groups, and organize
group work to accommodate student's preferences regarding peers with whom they
would like to work.
Work with students to create a set of clearly defined guidelines for behavior and
interactions in the classroom, and insist that all students consistently adhere to the
guidelines.
Implement a grading system in which studen - Correct Answers -Work with students to
create a set of clearly defined guidelines for behavior and interactions in the classroom,
and insist that all students consistently adhere to the guidelines.
7. An English teacher plans to assign a major research project to students in a mixed-
ability class. The teacher wishes to implement the project in a way that will build
confidence and positive expectations among the class's lower-achieving students.
Which of the following approaches is most likely to help the teacher achieve this goal?
Break the project into a series of manageable subtasks, and be available to provide
students with ongoing assistance in planning and accomplishing tasks as needed.
