5024 Praxis Study Guide

Of the following, which lists all of the concepts of measurement that a child at the

preoperational level can understand?

• The height of an object

• The height and length of an object

• The height, width, and length of an object

• The height, width, length, and surface area of an object

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the typical progression in each developmental domain of children from birth to age 8. Children at the pre-operational level have rigid thinking and can consider only one aspect of an object at a time. At the concrete-operations level they can comprehend the interaction of two dimensions, while at the formal operations level they can consider the interaction of two or more variables.

Before reading a story about butterflies to his first-grade class, Mr. Alexander would like to

access their prior knowledge of the subject. Which of the following would best address this

objective?

• Reinforcing concepts with an integrated curriculum

• Modeling concepts of print, using a relevant big book

• Prompting reflective thinking through a picture walk

• Discussing age-appropriate research about butterflies

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of assessing children’s prior knowledge in order to plan instruction. This answer has Mr. Alexander informally assessing the children’s prior knowledge with the subject matter as he listens to their responses and shows them the pictures in the book. As a result, he will be better able to judge whether more advance preparation is needed for the children to understand the story and its vocabulary. He can also learn if the children are interested in the subject, or if he needs to engage them in the content in other ways first. This step is an excellent start for any teacher interested in involving children at the appropriate level (ZPD) before scaffolding their current knowledge.

Mr. Lin teaches a second-grade class that includes three special education students whose

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) require the services of the speech-language

pathologist. These services are scheduled during the class’ “Book Battle” time, and Mr. Lin

regularly keeps the students in class for that activity because he believes it benefits their

reading skills. Which of the following best explains why Mr. Lin is in violation of the students’

IEPs?

• Mr. Lin is not providing the students educational supports in the least restrictive environment.

• Mr. Lin is not fulfilling the specific supports provided for the students in accordance with their IEPs.

• Mr. Lin’s actions are causing the speech pathologist to receive payment for services that are not being rendered.

• Mr. Lin is providing supplementary reading support that is not specified in the students’ IEPs.

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the implications of current federal legislation relating to children with exceptionalities. Instructional

arrangements/settings shall be based on the individual needs and individualized education programs (IEPs) of eligible students receiving special education services.

Mr. Bloch is encouraging character development in his second-grade students by modeling

positive character traits. Each week he awards one of his students the “I Know I Can” award

for sticking with a difficult task. Which of the following traits is he reinforcing by this

practice?

• Compassion

• Industriousness

• Perseverance

• Citizenship

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the principles and strategies that promote positive behaviors in children. Compassion relates to a child showing empathy or sympathy for others; industriousness refers to being diligent or skillful with work; perseverance describes determination and the ability to bear difficulties calmly and without complaint; citizenship describes patriotic character.

Which of the following theories continues to influence the field of early childhood education through the practice of postponing children’s entrance to kindergarten from age 5 to age 6, presuming they are then more ready to learn?

• Psychoanalytic Theory

• Maturationist Theory

• Sociocultural Theory

• Behavioral Theory

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of how major theories of learning connect to early childhood practice. Maturationist theory is based upon the research of Arnold Gesell, who contended that changes in a child’s abilities and behaviors is largely determined by the child’s biological growth processes rather than the experiences obtained through learning. Maturationist theory led to the notion that for learning experiences to be effective, teachers needed to wait until children were biologically ready.

Which of the following would most foster the continued development of a child's expressive language?

• Drawing on paper

• Dramatic play

• Building blocks

• Finger painting

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of creating a literacy-rich environment. Expressive language involves using language and learning to speak. In dramatic play, children are motivated to convey their wishes to others and speak from the perspective of their pretend roles. It is often through dramatic play that shy or withdrawn children first begin to express themselves through language.

Which of the following descriptions of physical development is typical for a child of 6 years?

• Walks on tiptoe, begins to skip, draws in circular motions

• Gallops, able to draw designs, including letters

• Likes to skip, somersault, copy designs, including letters

• Stands on tiptoe, kicks ball forward, able to screw and unscrew lids

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the typical progression in each developmental domain of children from birth to age 8. Children age 6 have developed greater control, a sense of rhythm, can move in time to music, may ride a bike confidently without training wheels, and can balance on a narrow beam. They can catch and throw a ball with accuracy and run, skip, and hop with confidence. 6-year-olds can write their names, have more even and clearer letter formation, and their drawings are involved and detailed.

The following are a teacher’s speech and language development notes on several children

who are all 8 years old.

Jake: needs to have multistep directions repeated because of not listening to the entire

request

Hallie: sometimes uses slang and curse words as she compliments and criticizes her

friends

Caden: exaggerates his experiences when he tells stories to others in the class with great

detail

Brandy: seldom follows through on simple verbal instructions requested by the teacher

Based on the teacher’s notes, the teacher should be most concerned with the speech and

language development of

• Jake

• Hallie

• Caden

• Brandy

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the typical progression in each developmental domain of children from birth to age 8. Understanding the language development of young children will help caregivers spot possible learning disabilities and seek treatment more quickly. The correct answer is that it is the simplest of the skills specified; and if the child is still struggling with the simplest of skills, it would cause the most concern.

A second-grade teacher is working with small groups of students during reading instruction

time. Which of the following would best allow the teacher to quickly assess the students’

current progress on the skills being taught?

• Observing the students informally as they read, write, and discuss during this small-

  group time

• Administering a diagnostic assessment to show the gaps and strengths in student

  learning

• Giving a formal assessment to take a more focused look at how students are

  progressing within the classroom

• Compiling anecdotal notes over several days to share with the students’ families during

  family-teacher conferences

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of the role of formal and informal assessment in informing the instructional process. Formative assessments are designed to assist teachers in improving the instructional process and to obtain feedback about students’ learning. In the scenario described, the teacher needs immediate feedback about the students’ progress. (A) will give the teacher immediate feedback during reading instruction time.

A second-grade teacher is using a constructivist approach and guiding students as they

learn about shadows. The teacher provides appropriate materials, and the students

discover that a small object can have a big shadow or a small shadow. Which of the

following teacher actions would best help the students understand why this is so?

• Telling the students that the size of an object’s shadow changes in relation to the object’s distance from the light source

• Demonstrating that the height of an object’s shadow changes when the object is moved

  away from the light source

• Providing more opportunities for students to experiment until they can explain what they have observed

• Working with a partner to trace one another’s shadows on large pieces of paper

Answer explanation

This question asks you to apply your understanding of how the major theories of learning connect to early childhood practice. In the constructivist classroom, the teacher becomes a guide for the learner, providing bridging or scaffolding, to extend the learner’s zone of proximal development. The child is encouraged to develop metacognitive skills such as reflective thinking and problem-solving techniques. The independent learner is intrinsically motivated to generate, discover, build, and enlarge her/his own framework of knowledge.