CH 12 (Middle Childhood Cognitive Development) – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
concrete operational thought
answer
-Piaget's term for the ability to reason logically about direct experiences and perceptions -cognition during middle childhood -characterized by concepts that enable children to use logic. These concepts including understanding classification/conservation and developing transitive inference. -by calling this period operational, Piaget emphasized productive thinking. The school-age child, no longer limited by egocentrism, performs logical operations -children apply their new reasoning skills to concrete situations--situations that are visible, tangible, real (not abstract)
question
operational
answer
to work;to produce
question
True or False. In concrete operational thought, children become more systematic, objective, scientific and educable. Egocentrism diminishes and logical thinking begins.
answer
True
question
-the logical principle that things can be organized into groups (or categories/classes) according to some characteristic they have in common -Each class includes some elements and excludes others, each is part of a hierarchy -this occurs at about age 8
answer
classification
question
What is the following an example of? You can take the class of food and divide it into meat, grain, and fruit. You can divide meat into pork, beef, and poultry. You can divide pork into bacon, etc.
answer
classification
question
Adults realize that items at the bottom of the classification hierarchy belong to each higher level. (ex: bacon is always pork, meat, and a food). But younger children may know that bacon is pork, but they cannot perform the mental operation of moving up and down the hierarchy.
answer
Adults realize that items at the bottom of the classification hierarchy belong to each higher level. (ex: bacon is always pork, meat, and a food). But younger children may know that bacon is pork, but they cannot perform the mental operation of moving up and down the hierarchy.
question
The following shows that these children don't understand what? A research shows 9 flowers-2 white roses and 7 yellow daisies to a group of children. Then he asks, ''Are there more daisies or flowers?''. Until about 7 yrs, most children say ''more daisies''. Younger children can't offer any justification for the answer, but some 6-7 yrs old say that ''there are more yellow ones than white ones'' or ''b/c daisies are daises, they aren't flowers''.
answer
classification
question
the ability to figure out the unspoken link between one fact and another -ability to grasp connections that are implied, not stated -this is another logical concept that is understood in concrete operational thought
answer
transient inference
question
If children can correctly answer the following question, then this means that they have grasped what? ''John is taller than Jim. Jim is taller than David? Who's taller: John or David?''
answer
transient inference
question
Preoperational children cannot do simple transient inference b/c they only know what they have been told directly, not implications. By contrast, school-age children can infer relationships.
answer
Preoperational children cannot do simple transient inference b/c they only know what they have been told directly, not implications. By contrast, school-age children can infer relationships.
question
Transient inference may be connected /w maturation of the hippocampus, which reaches a critical point at about age 7, making inferences and other kinds of mental logic possible. But neurological/comparative research find that transitive inference is both simpler and more complex than Piaget imagined, with some nonhuman animals succeeding at simpler versions of it.
answer
Transient inference may be connected /w maturation of the hippocampus, which reaches a critical point at about age 7, making inferences and other kinds of mental logic possible. But neurological/comparative research find that transitive inference is both simpler and more complex than Piaget imagined, with some nonhuman animals succeeding at simpler versions of it.
question
the knowledge that things can be arranged in a logical sense -this is crucial for using the alphabet or for understanding number sequence
answer
seriation
question
By age 5, most children can count up to 100, but they can't correctly estimate where any particular 2-digit number would be placed on a line that starts at 0 and ends at 100. Generally, this is possible by age 8. The ability to estimate where any particular 2-digit number would be placed on a number line is an example of an understanding of what?
answer
seriation
question
The logical abilities of school-age children may allow them to understand arithmetic. They correlate with math skills in primary schools though many factors contribute to math achievement. Although logic connects to math concepts, researchers have found more continuity than discontinuity in # skills. Thus, Piaget was mistaken: There's no sudden shift between pre-operational and concrete operational logic. In fact some children learn logic via math, not vice versa. The ability to classifies appears long before middle childhood and transitive inference is not unique to humans
answer
The logical abilities of school-age children may allow them to understand arithmetic. They correlate with math skills in primary schools though many factors contribute to math achievement. Although logic connects to math concepts, researchers have found more continuity than discontinuity in # skills. Thus, Piaget was mistaken: There's no sudden shift between pre-operational and concrete operational logic. In fact some children learn logic via math, not vice versa. The ability to classifies appears long before middle childhood and transitive inference is not unique to humans
question
Piaget's experiments revealed something important: School-age children can use mental categories and subcategories more flexibly, inductively, and simultaneously than younger children can. They're more advanced thinkers, intellectually capable in ways that younger children are not.
answer
Piaget's experiments revealed something important: School-age children can use mental categories and subcategories more flexibly, inductively, and simultaneously than younger children can. They're more advanced thinkers, intellectually capable in ways that younger children are not.
question
Vygotsky stressed the social context of learning, including the specific lessons of schools and learning from peers/culture. Culture affects not only what children learn but also how they learn. He believed that culture (tools, customs, and mentors) teach. Research inspired by Vygotsky and the sociocultural perspective reveals that cultural differences can be powerful and that specific instruction and practical experience vary from one context to another. Therefore, each child learns different skills, guided by local culture.
answer
Vygotsky stressed the social context of learning, including the specific lessons of schools and learning from peers/culture. Culture affects not only what children learn but also how they learn. Research inspired by Vygotsky and the sociocultural perspective reveals that cultural differences can be powerful and that specific instruction and practical experience vary from one context to another. Therefore, each child learns different skills, guided by local culture.
question
True or False. Unlike Piaget, Vygotsky regarded instruction as crucial. He thought that peers are good mentors and teachers provide the bridge between developmental potential and needed skills/knowledge, via guided participation, scaffolding and the zone of proximal development. -ex: Achievement scores of 6-yr old 1st graders far exceed those of kindergartners of the same age who are only one month younger. Obviously, they had learned a great deal from their first grade teachers
answer
True
question
True or False. Vygotsky believed education occurs everywhere, not only in school. Children mentor one another as they play together. They learn from TV, dinner with their families., ppl they see on the streets and every other daily experiences. This education accumulates from infancy on.
answer
True
question
Like Piaget, Vyotsky felt that educators should consider childrens' thought processes not just outcomes. He recognized that younger children are confused by some concepts that older children understand. Children are curious, creative learners. For that reason, Vygotsky believed that an educational system based on rote memorization rendered the child helpless in an attempt to apply any of this acquired knowledge.
answer
Like Piaget, Vyotsky felt that educators should consider childrens' thought processes not just outcomes. He recognized that younger children are confused by some concepts that older children understand. Children are curious, creative learners. For that reason, Vygotsky believed that an educational system based on rote memorization rendered the child helpless in an attempt to apply any of this acquired knowledge.
question
True or False. Vygotsky's emphasis on the sociocultural context contrasts with Piaget's maturational, self-discovery approach.. Piaget described universal change, Vygotsky noted cultural impact
answer
True
question
A child who is surrounded by adults reading for pleasure by full bookcases, by daily newspaper and by street signs will read better than a child who has had little exposure to print, event if both are in the same classroom. Of course, classroom experiences matter as well, with some teachers showering children with words, spoken/written, and encouraging writing/talking from every student, whereas other teachers stress safety/silence
answer
A child who is surrounded by adults reading for pleasure by full bookcases, by daily newspaper and by street signs will read better than a child who has had little exposure to print, event if both are in the same classroom. Of course, classroom experiences matter as well, with some teachers showering children with words, spoken/written, and encouraging writing/talking from every student, whereas other teachers stress safety/silence
question
One example of knowledge acquired from the social context: Child vendors in Brazil are deprived of formal education so they know little or nothing about history or literature. However, they are skilled at pricing their wares and making change. Some cannot read, but they use color and pictures to identify how many reals each bill is worth. They may re calibrate selling prices daily response to inflation, whose sale costs and customer demand. They understand the give/take of social interaction and learn math from: the social context, daily experience, and other sellers, esp older children.
answer
One example of knowledge acquired from the social context: Child vendors in Brazil are deprived of formal education so they know little or nothing about history or literature. However, they are skilled at pricing their wares and making change. Some cannot read, but they use color and pictures to identify how many reals each bill is worth. They may re calibrate selling prices daily response to inflation, whose sale costs and customer demand. They understand the give/take of social interaction and learn math from: the social context, daily experience, and other sellers, esp older children.
question
One example of knowledge acquired from the social context: Children in Varansani have an extraordinary sense of spatial orientation--such as knowing whether they're facing north or south, even when inside a room with no windows. This skill was learned during childhood, as adults and peers in that culture refer to the compass orientation to name the location of objects and so on. This transfer of knowledge from one context to another isn't automatic. The blindfolded children retained their excellent sense of direction but a child from Varsani might become disoriented in the tangle of mega city streets--still knowing where north is, but not knowing how to get downtown.
answer
One example of knowledge acquired from the social context: Children in Varansani have an extraordinary sense of spatial orientation--such as knowing whether they're facing north or south, even when inside a room with no windows. This skill was learned during childhood, as adults and peers in that culture refer to the compass orientation to name the location of objects and so on. This transfer of knowledge from one context to another isn't automatic. The blindfolded children retained their excellent sense of direction but a child from Varsani might become disoriented in the tangle of mega city streets--still knowing where north is, but not knowing how to get downtown.
question
Culture affects the methods of learning, not just the content. When a bro or sis is learning how to make a toy, so you focus your attention on that or do you look elsewhere? Apparently it depends partly on what your mother has taught you, not directly but in the way she expects you to learn. For instance, children from families where indigenous Indian learning was the norm: children from that culture are expected to learn by watching others and to help each other if need be. Other children from more acculturated US norms were accustomed to direct instruction not observational learning. They expect to work on their own, not collaborative with the peers. In this study, each child was shown how to make a toy while his/her siblings sat nearby. First that younger sibling waited while the older sibling made a toy & then older sibling waited while the younger made the toy. Unexpectedly, a week later, each child was individually given the materials to make the toy his/her sibling had made but wasn't told how to do so unless the child needed help. They found that children from indigenous backgrounds were more attentive in the first session and needed less help a week later.
answer
Culture affects the methods of learning, not just the content. When a bro or sis is learning how to make a toy, so you focus your attention on that or do you look elsewhere? Apparently it depends partly on what your mother has taught you, not directly but in the way she expects you to learn. For instance, children from families where indigenous Indian learning was the norm: children from that culture are expected to learn by watching others and to help each other if need be. Other children from more acculturated US norms were accustomed to direct instruction not observational learning. They expect to work on their own, not collaborative with the peers. In this study, each child was shown how to make a toy while his/her siblings sat nearby. First that younger sibling waited while the older sibling made a toy ; then older sibling waited while the younger made the toy. Unexpectedly, a week later, each child was individually given the materials to make the toy his/her sibling had made but wasn't told how to do so unless the child needed help. They found that children from indigenous backgrounds were more attentive in the first session and needed less help a week later.
question
Much research shows that children's understanding of arithmetic depends on context (culture). If they learn math in school, they are proficient at school math. If they learn math out of school, they are adept at problems encountered in similar situations.
answer
Much research shows that children's understanding of arithmetic depends on context (culture). If they learn math in school, they are proficient at school math. If they learn math out of school, they are adept at problems encountered in similar situations.
question
____is an approach that examines each step of the thinking process (cognition), from input to output, using computer as a model. This approach is useful for understanding memory, perception, and expression. It highlights the many components of thinking that advance during middle childhood. Like computers, ppl sense and perceive large amounts of info. They then seek specific units of info, analyze and express their conclusions so another person can understand.
answer
information-processing
question
(Note: memory begins with info that reaches the brain from sense organs) =the first component of information processing system in which incoming stimulus is stored for a split second after they are received to allow it to be processed. -AKA sensory register -sensations are retained for a moment and then some become perceptions.
answer
sensory memory
question
True or False. Sounds are retained slightly longer than sights. The first step of sensory awareness is already quite good in early childhood, improves slightly until about age 10 and remains adequate until late adulthood.
answer
True
question
Once sensations become perceptions, the brain selects those perceptions that are meaningful and transfers them to _____for further analysis
answer
working memory
question
Various methods of input, storage, and retrieval effect the increasing cognitive ability of the schoolchild.
answer
Various methods of input, storage, and retrieval effect the increasing cognitive ability of the schoolchild.
question
Each of the 3 major steps in memory process: ____,____, and _____, are affected by maturation and experience
answer
sensory memory working memory long term memory
question
the component of the information processing system in which current conscious mental activity occur -this was formerly called short term memory -improves steadily and significantly every year from about age 4-15 as the brain matures and experiences accumulate.
answer
working memory
question
Improvements in working memory during the school years includes advances in 2 crucial areas _____ and ______.
answer
phronological loop, which stores sounds visual-spatial sketch pad, which stores sights
question
Finally, information from working memory may be transferred to ____, to store it for hours, minutes, days months or years
answer
Long term memory
question
=the component of the information processing system in which virtually limitless amounts of info can be stored indefinitely, retrieving parts when needed -capacity is very large by the end of middle childhood -organizes ideas and reactions
answer
long term memory
question
True or false. The more people know, the more they learn. True or false. For everyone, retrieval is easier for some memories than for others and long term memory is imperfect: we all forget and distort memories
answer
True True
question
Crucial to long term memory are: ___&____
answer
storage (how much material has been deposited) retrieval (how readily past learning can be brought into working memory)
question
a body of knowledge in a particular area that makes it easier to master new info in that area
answer
knowledge base
question
the mechanisms that pull memory, processing speed, and the knowledge base together are _____.
answer
control processes
question
What are the 3 factors that facilitate an increase in the knowledge base:
answer
past experiences current opportunity personal motivation (New concepts are learned best if they're connected to personal and emotional experiences)
question
mechanisms (including selective attention, metacognition, emotion regulation) that combines memory, processing speed and knowledge to regulate the analysis and flow of info within the information processing system -require the brain to organize, prioritize, and direct mental operations and so for this reason they're also called executive processes
answer
control processes
question
thinking about thinking -the ultimate control process b/c it allows a person to evaluate a cognitive task in order to determine how best to accomplish it, and then to monitor and adjust one's performance on that task
answer
metacognition
question
Children become better at controlling and directing their thinking as the prefrontal cortex matures. As control processes and metacognition advance, children are able to direct their mind toward whatever they want to learn. For example, ppl concentrate on only the relevant parts of a task, using their knowledge base to connect new info or apply memory strategies. Or a 4th grade child can listen to the teacher talk about the Nile river, ignoring classmates who are chewing gum or passing notes. Both metacognition and control processes with age and experiences
answer
Children become better at controlling and directing their thinking as the prefrontal cortex matures. As control processes and metacognition advance, children are able to direct their mind toward whatever they want to learn. For example, ppl concentrate on only the relevant parts of a task, using their knowledge base to connect new info or apply memory strategies. Or a 4th grade child can listen to the teacher talk about the Nile river, ignoring classmates who are chewing gum or passing notes. Both metacognition and control processes with age and experiences
question
the practical use of language that includes the ability to adjust language communication according to audience and content -children excel at this during middle childhood
answer
pragmatics
question
What is the following an example of? When children talk informally with friends but formally with teachers
answer
pragmatics
question
As children master pragmatics they become more adept. Mastery of pragmatics allow children to change styles of speech or code depending on their audience. Each code includes many aspects of language --tone, pronunciation, gestures, sentence length, idiom, vocab and grammar. Many can converse with friends using informal speech and master a more formal code to use in school. Sometimes the switch is between formal code (used in academic context) and informal code (used with friends); sometimes it's between standard speech and dialect or vernacular (used on the streets).Many children also use code in text messaging, with numbers, abbreviations and emoticons. -Code changes are also obvious when children speak one language at home and another at school
answer
As children master pragmatics they become more adept. Mastery of pragmatics allow children to change styles of speech or code depending on their audience. Each code includes many aspects of language --tone, pronunciation, gestures, sentence length, idiom, vocab and grammar. Many can converse with friends using informal speech and master a more formal code to use in school. Sometimes the switch is between formal code (used in academic context) and informal code (used with friends); sometimes it's between standard speech and dialect or vernacular (used on the streets).Many children also use code in text messaging, with numbers, abbreviations and emoticons. -Code changes are also obvious when children speak one language at home and another at school
question
Children in the US whose proficiency in English is low-usually below a cut off score on an oral or written test. -this term replaces ESL (english as a 2nd language) b/c many children who primarily speak a non-English language at home are also capable in English; they are not ELLs
answer
ELLs (English Language Learners)
question
Most of the language gap between one child and anotheris the result of the social context, specifically 2 factors:
answer
family income and adult expectation
question
Children of low SES are usually lower in linguistic skills, primarily b/c they hear less language and b/c adult expectations for their learning are low. This is no inevitable for low SES families however.
answer
Children of low SES are usually lower in linguistic skills, primarily b/c they hear less language and b/c adult expectations for their learning are low. This is no inevitable for low SES families however.
question
There's a strong correlation between academic achievement and SES. Language is a major reason. Not only do children from low SES families usually have smaller vocabularies, but their grammar is simpler and their sentences are shorter. They fall behind their peers in talking/reading and then in other subjects and their brains signal linguistic weakness
answer
There's a strong correlation between academic achievement and SES. Language is a major reason. Not only do children from low SES families usually have smaller vocabularies, but their grammar is simpler and their sentences are shorter. They fall behind their peers in talking/reading and then in other subjects and their brains signal linguistic weakness
question
Factors that appear to be causal of low achievement during primary school to be a major cause not merely a correlate): limited exposure to words, parents'/teachers' expectations
answer
Factors that appear to be causal of low achievement during primary school to be a major cause not merely a correlate): limited exposure to words, parents'/teachers' expectations
question
(Importance of exposure to words) While parents who attended college, many less educated parents don't provide varied/extensive language to their infants/young children. Daily book reading occurs less often for children of mothers with less than a high school education that in the children of mothers with at least a BA.. Book reading isn't the only way to increase language exposure in children. Some families never read books to their children but may engage them in conversations about the interesting sights around them. But in US it often indicates how much verbal input a child is given. Another way to increase language exposure is to sing to a child, not only simple songs, but dozens of songs. Ideally, parents read and sing to a child everyday as week as provide extensive vocab about various activities.
answer
(Importance of exposure to words) While parents who attended college, many less educated parents don't provide varied/extensive language to their infants/young children. Daily book reading occurs less often for children of mothers with less than a high school education that in the children of mothers with at least a BA.. Book reading isn't the only way to increase language exposure in children. Some families never read books to their children but may engage them in conversations about the interesting sights around them. But in US it often indicates how much verbal input a child is given. Another way to increase language exposure is to sing to a child, not only simple songs, but dozens of songs. Ideally, parents read and sing to a child everyday as week as provide extensive vocab about various activities.
question
For academic achievement in middle childhood, both past exposure to language and adult expectations are influential.
answer
For academic achievement in middle childhood, both past exposure to language and adult expectations are influential.
question
Low expectations lead to a low achievement in school. Expectations are related to another factor: Whether or not a child is taught advanced words and concepts, especially the vocab words that are the foundation for later learning. Income gap and consequent variation in school resources and student achievement is much greater in some nations than in others. School systems expect too little of children from some communities, so they emphasize discipline, not academic challenge. Lower expectation, lower reading scores
answer
Low expectations lead to a low achievement in school. Expectations are related to another factor: Whether or not a child is taught advanced words and concepts, especially the vocab words that are the foundation for later learning. Income gap and consequent variation in school resources and student achievement is much greater in some nations than in others. School systems expect too little of children from some communities, so they emphasize discipline, not academic challenge. Lower expectation, lower reading scores
question
Nations/experts agree that education is critical during middle childhood b/c that's when the human body and brain are ready. Almost all of the world's children now attend primary school or school of some sort. Schools differ in what/how they teach, especially in regard to religion, languages and the arts.
answer
Nations/experts agree that education is critical during middle childhood b/c that's when the human body and brain are ready. Almost all of the world's children now attend primary school or school of some sort. Schools differ in what/how they teach, especially in regard to religion, languages and the arts.
question
Everywhere in the world, children are taught to read, write, and do arithmetic. There are some age-based goals: B/c of brain maturation and the necessity of learning in sequence, no nation teaches 6 yrs old to multiply 3 digit numbers or read paragraphs fluently aloud, but every nation expects a 10-yr old to do so. Although literacy/numeracy are valued everywhere, many specifics of curriculum vary by nation, community and school subject. For instance PE is mandated in some schools and absent in others. Geography, music and art are essential in some places not in others.
answer
Everywhere in the world, children are taught to read, write, and do arithmetic. There are some age-based goals: B/c of brain maturation and the necessity of learning in sequence, no nation teaches 6 yrs old to multiply 3 digit numbers or read paragraphs fluently aloud, but every nation expects a 10-yr old to do so. Although literacy/numeracy are valued everywhere, many specifics of curriculum vary by nation, community and school subject. For instance PE is mandated in some schools and absent in others. Geography, music and art are essential in some places not in others.
question
the unofficial, unstated, or implicit rules and priorities that influences the academic curriculum and every other aspect of learning in school -aspects of this vary greatly from nation to nation -refers to the implicit values/assumptions evident in course selection, schedules, tracking, teacher characteristics, discipline, teaching methods, sports competition, student govt, and extracurricular activities.
answer
hidden curriculum
question
What is the following of an example of? If teachers different from their students in gender, ethnicity or economic background, the hidden message may be that education is irrelevant for these children's daily life. If some students are gifted in classes, the message is that they're more capable of learning and that less is expected of the other children.
answer
hidden curriculum
question
The question of when, how, to whom and whether schools should provide 2nd language instruction are answered in different ways from nation-nation.. Some nations teach 2 or more languages throughout elementary school, while others punish children who utter any word in any language except the majority one.
answer
The question of when, how, to whom and whether schools should provide 2nd language instruction are answered in different ways from nation-nation.. Some nations teach 2 or more languages throughout elementary school, while others punish children who utter any word in any language except the majority one.
question
a strategy in which instructions in all school subjects occur in the second (usually majority) language that a child is learning -this is the traditional approach in the US for children who don't already speak English
answer
immersion
question
a strategy in which school subjects are taught in both the learner's original language and the second (majority language)
answer
bilingual schooling
question
There are different teaching approaches to teaching a 2nd language: immersion, bilingual schooling, or children are taught in their first language until the 2nd language can be taught as a ''foreign tongue''
answer
There are different teaching approaches to teaching a 2nd language: immersion, bilingual schooling, or children are taught in their first language until the 2nd language can be taught as a ''foreign tongue''
question
an international assessment of the math and science skills of 4th and 8th graders. Although this is very useful, different countries' scores are not always comparable b/c sample selection, test administration, and content validity are hard to keep uniform
answer
trends in math and science study (TIMMS)
question
a planned 5-yr cycle of international trend studies in the reading ability of 4th graders
answer
progess in international reading literacy study (PIRLS)
question
International assessments of educational achievement are useful as comparisons, partly b/c few objective measures of learning are available.
answer
International assessments of educational achievement are useful as comparisons, partly b/c few objective measures of learning are available.
question
True or False. On both the TIMSS and PIRLS, children in East Asia excel and children in the US are middling. In addition to marked national, ethnic and economic differences, gender differences in achievement scores are reported. The PIRLS find that girls are ahead of boys in verbal skills in every nation. Traditionally, boys are ahead of girls in math/science.
answer
True
question
______& _______attempt to raise the standard of education, with mixed success
answer
No child left behind act national assessment of educational progress
question
Classroom performance also shows gender differences in almost every nation. Girls have higher grades overall, including math/science. Then at puberty, girls' grades dip, esp in science
answer
Classroom performance also shows gender differences in almost every nation. Girls have higher grades overall, including math/science. Then at puberty, girls' grades dip, esp in science
question
a hypothesis that males/females are similar on most test measures with trivial exceptions -this hypothesis was came up with b/c recent TIMSS finds that gender differences in math have narrowed or disappeared
answer
gender-similarities hypothesis
question
US law enacted in 2001 that was intended to increase accountability in education by requiring states to qualify for federal educational funding by administering standardized tests to measure school achievement. -a federal law promoting high national standards for public schools -one part of this law has requirement for frequent testing to measure whether standards are being met. Low-scoring schools lose funds and may close. -Unfortunately, this means that children of middling achievement are pushed to make sure they meet the benchmark, but children far above it are ignored b/c they'll do well enough w/o help. Children far below may be ignored as well b/c they will ever attain the benchmark. -most parents agree with this law's goals, but not the strategies -this esp troubles those who value the arts, social studies or PE b/c those subjects are often squeezed out when reading and math achievement is the priority.
answer
no child left behind act
question
an ongoing and nationally representative measure of US children's achievement in reading, math and other subjects overtime; nicknamed ''The nation's report card'' -allows most schools to progress (and thus gets federal fund) -some ppl think this is better than state tests b/c fewer children are labeled proficient on the NAEP -Each state sets its own level of proficiency, which helps states in which children score low on the ____, to obtain more federal money for education
answer
national assessment of educational progress
question
-developed /w the sponsorship of governors of 50 states -developed b/c of disagreements about state tests and standards -an effort to raise national standards and improve accountability -used nationwide -the standards, higher than most state standards, are quite explicitly, with half a dozen or more specific expectations for achievement in each subject for each grade. Teachers are encourage to make sure all the children in each grade achieve the skills and knowledge listed for that grade
answer
Common Core
question
teaching reading by first teaching the sounds of each letters and of the various letter combination -proponents of this believe that decoding letters/sounds is essential to reading and that without it, children will flounder, become frustrated and fail. This is particularly likely if families haven't prepared their children for reading.
answer
phonics approach
question
teaching reading by encouraging early use of all language skills--talking, listening, reading and writing -these proponents are proud to be ''child-centered''. They counter that drilling children with phonics destroy motivation, reduces comprehension, and leads to the 4th grade slump, when a 10-yr old no longer wants to learn.. -these proponents offer children a choice of books and topics, encourage children to read their own stories to each other, and guide learners within their ZPD
answer
whole-language approach
question
What are the 2 different approaches in the reading wars?
answer
whole-language approach phonics approach
question
Describe the divide in the math wars
answer
-there's a divide between those who see an need for greater emphasis on basic skills in math and others who say students lack a broader, conceptual understanding of the subject -historically, US children memorize number facts, such as the multiplication tables, filling pg after pg of workbooks. In reaction to this approach, many educators sought to make math instruction more active and engaging and less a matter of memorization than of discovery. Children used blocks or marks to add/subtract; algebra was introduced in childhood b/c children enjoyed the mystery of unknown x and y. Curiosity, discovery and peer collaboration replace most memorization of formulas or facts
question
a public school (free to students) /w its own set of standards that is funded and licensed by the state or local district in which it is located -exempt from some regulations, esp those stipulated in contracts negotiated by unions and they have some control over admission. For this reason, they often are more racially segregated and have fewer kids with special needs -teachers are typically younger and work longer hours and school size is smaller than typical public school classrooms -children/teacher leave these kinds of schools more often than they leave zoned public schools
answer
charter schools
question
Disagreements about education are frequent. Some parents choose charter schools, other prefer private schools and still others opt for homeschooling
answer
Disagreements about education are frequent. Some parents choose charter schools, other prefer private schools and still others opt for homeschooling
question
a school funded by tuition charges, endowment, and often religious or non-profit sponsors
answer
private schools
question
education in which children are taught at home, usually by their parents. -authorities set standards for what a child must learn but allow families to decide curriculum, schedule, and discipline -the problem with this approach is not academic but social, since children miss out on the social interactions of the classrooms. To compensate, many parents plan social activities with other families that follow the same schooling approach as they do.
answer
home-schooling
question
public subsidy for tuition payment at a non-public school -they vary a great deal from place to place, not only in amount and availability but in restrictions as to who gets them and what school accepts them -they are controversial b/c it decreases public school funding/enrollment and some families choose church-sponsored schools, which may violate separation of church and state. -proponents say vouchers increase competition and may improve all schools, public/private
answer
vouchers
question
Small classes and nightly homework can be more attractive to parents than beneficial to children. Nations who children score high on international tests sometimes have large student/teacher ratios and sometimes small, and 4th graders with no HW sometimes have higher achievement score than those with HW. This suggests that class size/HW aren't the crucial variables in how much a child learns; rather, other interpretations are possible.
answer
Small classes and nightly homework can be more attractive to parents than beneficial to children. Nations who children score high on international tests sometimes have large student/teacher ratios and sometimes small, and 4th graders with no HW sometimes have higher achievement score than those with HW. This suggests that class size/HW aren't the crucial variables in how much a child learns; rather, other interpretations are possible.
