TEXAS STR CERTIFICATION EXAM
Questions & Answers
1.Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices
Answer This refers to practices that rec- ognize and incorporate the
assets and strengths all students bring to the classroom and ensure
that learning experiences are relevant to all students.
2.Assets-Based Teaching Approach
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.
3.Phonemes
Answer The specific units of sounds in a language that distinguish one
word from another (e.g., "b" and "t"
in "bat" and "tab")
4.Morphemes
Answer The smallest unit of meaning in a language (e.g., "ed" changes
a word to past tense)
5.Decoding
Answer The ability to use letter-sound relationships to correctly sound-
,out and pronounce written words.
6.Discourse
Answer Written or spoken communication or debate (e.g., talk and
conversa- tion)
7.Language Demands
Answer The tools (vocabulary, syntax, discourse) students use to
participate in the content they are learning
8.Deep Orthography
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.
9.Shallow Orthography
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.
10.Emergent Literacy
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).
,11.Phonological Awareness
Answer the ability to hear and manipulate all units of sound including
words, syllables, onset, rimes, and phonemes in spoken language.
12.Pragmatics
Answer The practical rules that guide our use of language in social
contexts
13.Morphology
Answer the study of the structure of words and how meaningful units
are combined in text (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, root words).
14.Transitional Bilingual Education
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.
15.Sheltered Instruction
Answer An approach to teaching English language learners that
integrates language and content instruction.
16.BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills)
Answer Development of fluency in conversations - social language
17.CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency)
, Answer Development of content and subject area language.
18.Comprehensible Input
Answer The part of a language that is understood by listeners when
learning a second language
19.Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning
Answer Acquiring language through subconscious processes vs.
learning a language through direct instruction.
20.Receptive Language
Answer The ability to understand words and language
21.Phonology
Answer The study of sounds, their patterns and meanings and the way
they combine to form words and language.
22.Semantics
Answer The study of meaning in words, phrases, sentences, or text
23.Repetition and Practice
Answer A teaching strategy that helps bring skill knowledge from
conscious to subconscious.
Questions & Answers
1.Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices
Answer This refers to practices that rec- ognize and incorporate the
assets and strengths all students bring to the classroom and ensure
that learning experiences are relevant to all students.
2.Assets-Based Teaching Approach
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.
3.Phonemes
Answer The specific units of sounds in a language that distinguish one
word from another (e.g., "b" and "t"
in "bat" and "tab")
4.Morphemes
Answer The smallest unit of meaning in a language (e.g., "ed" changes
a word to past tense)
5.Decoding
Answer The ability to use letter-sound relationships to correctly sound-
,out and pronounce written words.
6.Discourse
Answer Written or spoken communication or debate (e.g., talk and
conversa- tion)
7.Language Demands
Answer The tools (vocabulary, syntax, discourse) students use to
participate in the content they are learning
8.Deep Orthography
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.
9.Shallow Orthography
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.
10.Emergent Literacy
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).
,11.Phonological Awareness
Answer the ability to hear and manipulate all units of sound including
words, syllables, onset, rimes, and phonemes in spoken language.
12.Pragmatics
Answer The practical rules that guide our use of language in social
contexts
13.Morphology
Answer the study of the structure of words and how meaningful units
are combined in text (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, root words).
14.Transitional Bilingual Education
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.
15.Sheltered Instruction
Answer An approach to teaching English language learners that
integrates language and content instruction.
16.BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills)
Answer Development of fluency in conversations - social language
17.CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency)
, Answer Development of content and subject area language.
18.Comprehensible Input
Answer The part of a language that is understood by listeners when
learning a second language
19.Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning
Answer Acquiring language through subconscious processes vs.
learning a language through direct instruction.
20.Receptive Language
Answer The ability to understand words and language
21.Phonology
Answer The study of sounds, their patterns and meanings and the way
they combine to form words and language.
22.Semantics
Answer The study of meaning in words, phrases, sentences, or text
23.Repetition and Practice
Answer A teaching strategy that helps bring skill knowledge from
conscious to subconscious.
