Test Objective 04 – UIC College of Education Content Test Prep

Question #1

A three year old and a four year old have been competing for opportunities to ride the swing. Both children are capable of seating themselves in the swing and pushing it. Which of the following responses from their preschool teacher will best serve to foster the children’s social problem solving skills?

A. suggesting that the children take turns using the swing and determining who should use the swing firstB. asking the children to explain the situation and helping them decide what to doC. redirecting the children to different activities and keeping them separated until their attention is refocusedD. reminding the children that arguing is against the rules and making the swings off limits to them for the rest of the day

You answered

Correct Response: B

Rather than taking the lead in identifying the issue causing the conflict and determining best way to resolve it, the teacher can reinforce problem solving strategies and communication skills by asking the children to describe the problem as they perceive it then encourage the children to come up with viable solutions that they can both agree upon. When children take an active role in finding solutions to such conflicts, they will be more motivated to accept and apply the new resolution.

Question #2

A first-grade teacher establishes and teaches students specific routines for times such as morning arrival, weekly class meetings, and daily silent reading. This practice can be expected to support students' learning and development primarily by:

A. helping foster a sense of stability and security.B. encouraging cooperative behaviors.C. creating a climate of mutual respect.D. promoting feelings of personal competency.

You answered

Correct Response: A

Classroom routines create predictability in the learning environment and help children understand expectations and boundaries. When children know what to expect and how to perform various tasks and responsibilities, they gain confidence and security and tend to be less distracted and anxious. Routines allow children to focus more of their attention on the important task of learning.

Question #3

Students in a second-grade class are studying transportation. During this unit, the teacher provides students with a checklist (view checklist). Every day or two, the teacher reviews each child's checklist and guides the children in keeping their checklists up to date. This strategy is likely to be especially effective for helping the students:

A. manage their time effectively.B. begin to assume responsibility for their own learning.C. identify their personal learning style.D. spend increasing periods of time engaged in productive tasks.

You answered

Correct Response: B

One of an early childhood teacher’s key responsibilities is to promote young children’s growth as independent learners. By routinely providing children with opportunities to work with partners, make independent choices, and monitor their own activities, the teacher encourages children to assume responsibility for their own learning. Providing children with such opportunities on a regular basis promotes children’s development of independent habits of mind.

Question #4

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

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

You answered

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.

Question #5

Jamie, a child with Down syndrome, will soon join a general education kindergarten class. When doing educational planning for this child, the kindergarten teacher should be aware that the typical developmental profile for children with Down syndrome includes relative strength in which of the following areas?

A. visual learningB. generalization of learned skillsC. expressive languageD. acquisition of number skills

You answered

Correct Response: A.

The typical learning profile of children with Down syndrome includes strength in visual processing and visual memory skills. Jamie’s general education teacher should work closely with the special education teacher to determine whether this is the case with Jamie and, depending on Jamie’s specific learning profile, to develop instructional strategies that build on the learning strengths Jamie brings to the classroom.