ILTS 206 Sub-Area 1 Practice Question #18

Which of the following would be a second-grade teacher's best strategy for promoting all students' sense of competence and motivation to learn?

emphasizing homogeneous grouping to minimize comparisons between students who perform at different levelsdifferentiating instruction to present each student with tasks that can be achieved with persistencecreating frequent opportunities for friendly competitions such as spelling bees and math beesoffering praise for the completion of work regardless of a student's level of effort or the quality of the final product

Correct Response: B

This question requires the examinee to apply knowledge of supportive learning environments that promote students’ sense of competence and motivation to learn. Research has shown that children are motivated by high but realistic learning expectations.

Differentiating instruction allows teachers to set learning expectations at the appropriate level for each student. Students who believe that they can achieve success through effort and persistence become self-confident, motivated learners.