Study Guide

Field 004: Early Childhood Education
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Objective 0001
Child Development and Learning (Standard 1)

1. Which of the following actions by an early childhood teacher would likely be most effective in fostering the moral development of young children?

  1. involving the children in creating specific behavior rules for each area of the school and classroom
  2. helping the children understand how their actions may affect others and consistently modeling caring and equity
  3. establishing a set of clear behavior rules at the beginning of the year and applying consequences without exception
  4. awarding a prize each Friday to the child who has been most cooperative during the course of the week
Answer
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of young children's moral development and how to promote the moral development of children from prekindergarten through grade 3. According to social learning approaches such as Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory, children can learn moral behavior by observing the behavior of others. By modeling appropriate social behavior for children, the teacher provides children with specific examples of how to treat others that the children can emulate. Explaining how different behaviors can affect others either negatively or positively can help children learn the reasons why they should or should not act in certain ways.
Objective 0001
Child Development and Learning (Standard 1)

2. Which of the following scenarios in a kindergarten class would best support Lev Vygotsky's social constructivist theory of learning?

  1. Two children at the games table work on identical puzzles independently without interacting.
  2. One child watches another child dump out a set of puzzle pieces and arrange them by size.
  3. Two children at the table-toy area work side by side on different puzzles.
  4. One child watches another child rotate a puzzle piece to fit a space and then tries out the same strategy.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical foundations regarding development and learning for children from prekindergarten through grade 3. According to Lev Vygotsky's social constructivist theory of learning, social learning precedes development. Vygotsky states that "Every function in the child's cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people and then inside the child." He also declares that children learn from a "More Knowledgeable Other" (MKO), who is anyone who has a better understanding or a higher ability level than the learner with respect to a particular task, process, or concept. In this scenario, a child learns a new puzzle-solving strategy by observing an MKO (another child) use the strategy first.
Objective 0001
Child Development and Learning (Standard 1)

3. A four-year-old child at the sand table is trying to fill a container with sand using a measuring cup. However, the child's attempts result in more sand spilling on the floor than filling the container. Which of the following statements by the teacher would most likely prompt the child to engage in problem solving in this situation?

  1. "I'm going to watch you fill the container step by step. You tell me what happens at each step."
  2. "I wonder if you'd be more successful if you tried to fill a wide-mouth container."
  3. "Now I see what's happening. You're pouring the sand before the cup is above the container."
  4. "Perhaps it would work better to use the container to scoop up the sand."
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of learning processes for young children, including the role of play in developing problem-solving skills. In this activity, the teacher is helping the child construct the knowledge needed to solve the problem of how to avoid spilling sand when trying to fill a container. By having the child describe what he or she is doing during each step of filling the container, the teacher is supporting the child's learning while not giving the answer outright. Through this type of activity, the teacher is guiding the child to figure out the answer independently by actively testing his or her ideas and then drawing conclusions.
Objective 0002
Learning Environment (Standard 5)

4. Every fall before the school year begins, a kindergarten teacher creates a daily schedule for her class. The best rationale for this practice is that children:

  1. come from different types of families with different routines in the home.
  2. require repeated prompting and close monitoring to stay focused.
  3. need predictability to allow them to feel secure and be productive.
  4. learn most effectively from activities that are teacher directed.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the ability to manage schedules to enhance productivity and facilitate all children's development and learning. Young children feel more secure and confident when they know what will happen next in their daily life. By creating a daily schedule, the teacher helps create a predictable classroom environment in which children can feel comfortable. When children feel comfortable and at ease, they are not distracted by the unknown and can focus on learning and developing their creativity.
Objective 0002
Learning Environment (Standard 5)

5. Which of the following classroom scheduling practices would be developmentally appropriate for children of preschool age?

  1. providing frequent variations in routine
  2. beginning each day with a half-hour circle time
  3. introducing new learning centers each week
  4. alternating physically active and quiet activities
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to plan learning environments that are responsive to the needs of each child. Preschool-age children are often energetic, and it can be helpful for the teacher to channel this energy into physically active and fun events that foster their motor and social skills. Young children also enjoy quiet activities in which they can focus and develop their cognitive and creative abilities. It is helpful to alternate physically active and quiet experiences so children do not become overly tired or develop pent-up energy. Alternating these types of experiences is also beneficial because young children's attention spans require periodic changes in activity.
Objective 0002
Learning Environment (Standard 5)

6. A new first-grade teacher learns that morning arrival time for students occurs over a period of 20 to 30 minutes each day. Which of the following would be the teacher's best strategy for ensuring that the morning arrival period is calm and orderly?

  1. arranging for available parents/guardians to serve as room monitors until everyone has arrived
  2. establishing a system in which students earn or lose points on the basis of their arrival behavior
  3. arranging for students who misbehave to be sent to the school office until the day's instruction begins
  4. establishing routine arrival tasks for students to perform followed by quiet activities such as reading
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to create an organized, productive, and appropriately challenging learning environment that facilitates each child's development and learning and encourages responsibility and accountability. First graders are comforted by and feel more secure when routines are in place. Many times, students will exhibit off-task and overly energetic behaviors as a result of not knowing what they are expected to be doing. When the teacher clearly establishes routine arrival tasks for students to perform, they know what they must do first when they arrive at school. This teaching practice sets the stage for an organized learning environment. In this scenario, following the arrival tasks with a quiet activity such as reading reinforces the emphasis on a calm introduction to the school day and gives students something specific to do while waiting for other students to arrive.
Objective 0003
Observation, Documentation, and Assessment (Standard 3)

7. A second-grade teacher wants to promote students' involvement in self-assessment and goal setting. The teacher's best strategy for achieving this objective would be to help each student:

  1. routinely compare his or her scores on pretests and posttests.
  2. maintain an ongoing portfolio/data collection that reflects his or her progress over time.
  3. periodically compare his or her performance with that of classmates.
  4. write a summary of his or her accomplishments at the end of each grading period.
Answer
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to use skills and strategies for promoting children's engagement in self-assessment and goal-setting. Portfolios and data collection have been shown to be comprehensive ways of illustrating students' abilities in many areas of their learning. In this situation, having the second-grade students select their best work and the projects that best showcase their growth provides them with insight into and understanding of their own development and achievements.
Objective 0003
Observation, Documentation, and Assessment (Standard 3)

8. A four-year-old child has difficulty sharing toys, taking turns, and initiating play during center time. Which of the following observational assessment tools would likely be the preschool teacher's best choice for collecting data on how often the child demonstrates the targeted behaviors?

  1. event sampling
  2. skills checklist
  3. rating scale
  4. running record
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of systematic observation and documentation and the ability to use these processes to gain insight into young children's development, interactions, strengths, and needs. Event sampling is an observation technique that enables teachers to study a particular behavior over a period of days or weeks and determine whether there is a pattern associated with that behavior. In this scenario, the teacher can observe and analyze the conditions that are present when the child exhibits the targeted behaviors and then strategize solutions to help the child. Event sampling is helpful for this type of situation because it allows the teacher to take into consideration numerous variables and conditions and can provide information that may help the teacher recognize specific situations that are beneficial or challenging to the child.
Objective 0003
Observation, Documentation, and Assessment (Standard 3)

9. A third-grade teacher is concerned about a student who has recently begun having difficulty in several content areas. The student had previously done well on in-class assignments and quizzes and on homework assignments. The teacher has scheduled a conference with the student's parents. Taking which of the following approaches would be the most appropriate way for the teacher to discuss the student's academic difficulties with the parents?

  1. expressing concern to the parents about the student's likely performance on upcoming assessments
  2. preparing a graph for the parents that compares the student's performance with that of classmates
  3. having the parents review the student's grades on his or her most recent report cards
  4. showing the parents recent samples of the student's work to illustrate the areas of concern
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the role of families as active participants in developing, implementing, and interpreting assessments for young children, and the ability to apply skills and strategies for communicating effectively with families about assessment results. When meeting with parents to discuss concerns about their child's performance, the teacher should have available concrete examples of the child's work that specifically illustrate the area of challenge. Abstract materials such as grades and graphs do not give parents a tangible illustration of their child's specific need. By showing parents concrete examples of how their child is struggling, parents will have a better understanding of the situation and can then learn how to help their child to address his or her needs.
Objective 0004
Developmentally Appropriate Methodology for Early Education (Standard 4)

10. A kindergarten teacher regularly includes project-based investigations as part of the curriculum. This practice would benefit students primarily by:

  1. encouraging them to evaluate their own learning in a systematic way.
  2. fostering their understanding of their own learning needs and preferences.
  3. introducing them to new information in a logical and orderly progression.
  4. promoting their exploration of content from integrated and varied perspectives.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics, uses, benefits, and limitations of a variety of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches. Project-based learning in a kindergarten class involves an in-depth investigation of a real-world topic worthy of children's attention and effort. Through this approach, children learn to plan and research, ask questions, make choices, apply knowledge, and feel ownership of their learning. Project-based approaches are beneficial to children because projects help children see that curriculum is not compartmentalized and that many subjects are interrelated.
Objective 0004
Developmentally Appropriate Methodology for Early Education (Standard 4)

11. A second-grade teacher reads stories aloud to his class every day. One of his students, an English Learner with limited oral language development in English, has difficulty comprehending the stories. Which of the following modifications should the teacher make to the read-aloud activity to best address this student's needs?

  1. varying the volume and tone of his voice when speaking as various characters in a story
  2. reading each story aloud more than once while emphasizing key events in the story
  3. preteaching key vocabulary words from each story using pictures and concrete examples
  4. writing the names of the main characters from a story on the classroom word wall
Answer
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to differentiate learning experiences on the basis of children's characteristics and needs and to monitor and adapt activities to ensure the success of all children, such as English Learners. English Learners require multiple exposures to words to develop a rich understanding of their meaning and use. Preteaching key vocabulary is an example of how to provide English Learners with the repetition and reinforcement they need to become familiar with and understand new vocabulary. Using pictures and concrete examples of vocabulary is another helpful way to solidify understanding of new words for English Learners by connecting the abstract word to something physical.
Objective 0004
Developmentally Appropriate Methodology for Early Education (Standard 4)

12. A third-grade teacher is considering using a computer program as a tool for reinforcing classroom instruction. The teacher's most appropriate criterion for selecting such a program would be whether the program:

  1. allows self-pacing and can be adjusted to reflect each student's ability and comfort levels.
  2. displays the student's level of proficiency at regular intervals.
  3. includes amusing sounds and animated characters to maintain students' interest and focus.
  4. permits students to use it competitively with a partner.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of types of digital tools and the ability to use them to enhance teaching effectiveness. When choosing a computer program for children to use to reinforce their learning of material, a teacher should ensure that the program reflects each student's ability and comfort level so that students will use their time effectively when working at the program. If the program is too easy, children will be merely playing and not reinforcing new learning. If the program is too difficult, children will be overwhelmed, discouraged, and will not want to continue. A program that is appropriately challenging and self-pacing will maintain children's interest, reinforce learning, and enhance their self-confidence in their computer and subject knowledge skills.
Objective 0005
Family and Community Relationships (Standard 2)

13. The local fire department has offered to come to a preschool to make a presentation for families about safety in homes with young children. Which of the following pre-presentation strategies would best help ensure that the presentation will be meaningful for all attendees?

  1. sending each family a brochure on routine home safety practices and precautions
  2. asking families to submit confidential self-assessments of their parenting skills
  3. scheduling a class field trip to the fire station in the same week as the presentation
  4. seeking input from families regarding safety issues that directly affect their lives
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to apply skills and strategies for establishing and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with families and for involving families in their children's development and learning. Special learning experiences within the classroom present a unique opportunity to help families feel included in their child's learning. It is important for teachers to ask families for input about what they would like their children to learn from special presentations so that each event's usefulness is maximized. This outreach to families helps develop mutual respect and increased communication between teachers and families.
Objective 0006
The Professional Environment (Standard 6)

14. Which of the following steps should a program evaluation team take first as it begins the process of conducting a comprehensive evaluation of an early childhood program?

  1. reviewing the program's current philosophy, goals, and objectives
  2. comparing the current year's level of success to that of the previous few years
  3. creating a list of current teaching staff sorted by years of classroom experience
  4. assessing the performance of teachers, administrators, and staff for the current year
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate the ability to use summative program evaluations to ensure program quality. Program evaluations are essential to ensure that early childhood programs are providing the best quality services to children and their families. When conducting a comprehensive evaluation of an early childhood program, the team should begin by reviewing the program's current philosophy, goals, and objectives. This step must be done first to make sure that the program's current content and services are aligned with the stated mission and vision of the program. This review will also help the program evaluation team determine if the current philosophy, goals, and objectives are still working for the program or if they need to be revised to meet current needs.
Objective 0006
The Professional Environment (Standard 6)

15. In which of the following scenarios is an early childhood teacher acting primarily in his or her role as an advocate for children and families in the program?

  1. A preschool teacher collaborates with an agency in the community to organize a series of health and wellness events.
  2. A first-grade teacher participates in a workshop about incorporating the arts into the early childhood curriculum.
  3. A second-grade teacher regularly reads professional journals to stay informed about developments in the field.
  4. A third-grade teacher maintains a folder for every student to track individuals' development in each of the major domains.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the advocacy role of early childhood educators and the ability to apply skills for serving as an advocate for children. To advocate for children, a teacher works with other educational professionals and/or representatives of community organizations to accomplish goals that are aimed at improving children's educational experiences and their lives in general. By collaborating with an agency in the community to organize special health and wellness events, the teacher is advocating for children and their families to create a series of events that will likely have a long-term positive effect on the health of the children and their families. In this situation, the teacher seeks out the resources necessary to provide an experience for children and families that they would not have had otherwise.