TEXAS STR CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This refers to practices that
recognize and incorporate the assets and strengths all students bring to the classroom and ensure that
learning experiences are relevant to all students.
Assets-Based Teaching Approach - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This refers to viewing diversity of
thought, culture, and traits as a positive asset as students are valued for what they bring to the
classroom rather than being characterized by what they are lacking.
Phonemes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The specific units of sounds in a language that distinguish one
word from another (e.g., "b" and "t"
in "bat" and "tab")
Morphemes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The smallest unit of meaning in a language (e.g., "ed"
changes a word to past tense)
Decoding - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ability to use letter-sound relationships to correctly sound-
out and pronounce written words.
Discourse - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Written or spoken communication or debate (e.g., talk and
conversation)
Language Demands - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The tools (vocabulary, syntax, discourse) students use
to participate in the content they are learning
Deep Orthography - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This phrase refers to a spelling system that is more
difficult to decode because there is not a direct correlation between the letters and sounds in the
language.
Shallow Orthography - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This phrase refers to a spelling system that is easier
to decode because there is a direct correlation between. the letters and sounds in the language.
,Emergent Literacy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The term used to explain a child's knowledge of reading
and writing skills before they learn to read and write (e.g., recognizing a stop sign, cereal box).
Phonological Awareness - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅the ability to hear and manipulate all units of
sound including words, syllables, onset, rimes, and phonemes in spoken language.
Pragmatics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The practical rules that guide our use of language in social
contexts
Morphology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅the study of the structure of words and how meaningful units
are combined in text (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, root words).
Transitional Bilingual Education - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A program in which two languages are
used to provide content instruction. Over time, use of the native language is decreased and use of
English is increased until only English is used for instruction.
Sheltered Instruction - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An approach to teaching English language learners
that integrates language and content instruction.
BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Development of fluency in
conversations - social language
CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Development of content
and subject area language.
Comprehensible Input - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The part of a language that is understood by
listeners when learning a second language
Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Acquiring language through
subconscious processes vs. learning a language through direct instruction.
, Receptive Language - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ability to understand words and language
Phonology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The study of sounds, their patterns and meanings and the way
they combine to form words and language.
Semantics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The study of meaning in words, phrases, sentences, or text
Repetition and Practice - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A teaching strategy that helps bring skill
knowledge from conscious to subconscious.
Oral Language Rehearsal - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A strategy that gives students the opportunity to
'write aloud' before they begin a written language assignment; provides time for them to rehearse how
written forms differ from spoken forms
Language Systems - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Interdependent structures or systems that support the
language foundation necessary for reading
Orthographic Mapping - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process of matching letters and letter
sequences with sounds in a word, and storing those words for future use; necessary for spelling,
pronouncing words correctly, and developing sight words and vocabulary.
Frontal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain that 1) supports phonological processing
system (enables us to pronounce and
articulate words); 2) controls planning and decision making
Temporal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain that 1) supports phonological processing
(processes sound and connects
printed letters to sounds); 2) connects spoken words with meaning
Occipital Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain responsible for 1) recognizing print,
punctuation, diacritical marks, or spaces in print; 2) houses the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) - "Brain's
Letterbox".
ANSWERS
Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This refers to practices that
recognize and incorporate the assets and strengths all students bring to the classroom and ensure that
learning experiences are relevant to all students.
Assets-Based Teaching Approach - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This refers to viewing diversity of
thought, culture, and traits as a positive asset as students are valued for what they bring to the
classroom rather than being characterized by what they are lacking.
Phonemes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The specific units of sounds in a language that distinguish one
word from another (e.g., "b" and "t"
in "bat" and "tab")
Morphemes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The smallest unit of meaning in a language (e.g., "ed"
changes a word to past tense)
Decoding - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ability to use letter-sound relationships to correctly sound-
out and pronounce written words.
Discourse - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Written or spoken communication or debate (e.g., talk and
conversation)
Language Demands - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The tools (vocabulary, syntax, discourse) students use
to participate in the content they are learning
Deep Orthography - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This phrase refers to a spelling system that is more
difficult to decode because there is not a direct correlation between the letters and sounds in the
language.
Shallow Orthography - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅This phrase refers to a spelling system that is easier
to decode because there is a direct correlation between. the letters and sounds in the language.
,Emergent Literacy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The term used to explain a child's knowledge of reading
and writing skills before they learn to read and write (e.g., recognizing a stop sign, cereal box).
Phonological Awareness - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅the ability to hear and manipulate all units of
sound including words, syllables, onset, rimes, and phonemes in spoken language.
Pragmatics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The practical rules that guide our use of language in social
contexts
Morphology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅the study of the structure of words and how meaningful units
are combined in text (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, root words).
Transitional Bilingual Education - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A program in which two languages are
used to provide content instruction. Over time, use of the native language is decreased and use of
English is increased until only English is used for instruction.
Sheltered Instruction - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An approach to teaching English language learners
that integrates language and content instruction.
BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Development of fluency in
conversations - social language
CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Development of content
and subject area language.
Comprehensible Input - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The part of a language that is understood by
listeners when learning a second language
Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Acquiring language through
subconscious processes vs. learning a language through direct instruction.
, Receptive Language - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ability to understand words and language
Phonology - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The study of sounds, their patterns and meanings and the way
they combine to form words and language.
Semantics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The study of meaning in words, phrases, sentences, or text
Repetition and Practice - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A teaching strategy that helps bring skill
knowledge from conscious to subconscious.
Oral Language Rehearsal - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A strategy that gives students the opportunity to
'write aloud' before they begin a written language assignment; provides time for them to rehearse how
written forms differ from spoken forms
Language Systems - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Interdependent structures or systems that support the
language foundation necessary for reading
Orthographic Mapping - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process of matching letters and letter
sequences with sounds in a word, and storing those words for future use; necessary for spelling,
pronouncing words correctly, and developing sight words and vocabulary.
Frontal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain that 1) supports phonological processing
system (enables us to pronounce and
articulate words); 2) controls planning and decision making
Temporal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain that 1) supports phonological processing
(processes sound and connects
printed letters to sounds); 2) connects spoken words with meaning
Occipital Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Area of the brain responsible for 1) recognizing print,
punctuation, diacritical marks, or spaces in print; 2) houses the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) - "Brain's
Letterbox".
