Q&A Hero

Q: While Lyndon Johnson was President, the Colman Report that concluded performance differences were based on race was used to integrate schools. Later, A Nation at Risk suggested it was socio-economic conditions, not race. More recently, Kahlenberg seems to support the latter approach. Construct an essay in which you present an argument as to why Coleman was incorrect.

Q: Grouping is always a topic of interest. If we are looking at ability grouping, not curriculum grouping, would you suggest doing it within the individual classroom or within the school so there are complete classes of above average students, etc. Support your judgment.

Q: NCLB has been called "no test maker left behind" because most states have imposed specific tests and scores needed to pass to a specific grade. We know curriculum grouping may result in vastly different levels of academic rigor. At the secondary level, current redesign efforts suggest a common core of courses for everyone, at least in the first two years of high school. Given these facts, formulate an essay relating those facts to what should be done in the schools.

Q: It has been stated some research indicates social promotion results in better attitudes toward school, better self-image, and improved achievement. Based on your experiences and philosophies of education do you agree or not agree social promotion is a valid practice. In your essay you must state support.

Q: It has been said a key to enriching curriculum is to involve students in real-life problem-solving scenarios. Explain why this is a reasonable statement.

Q: You are serving as a supervisor and examine an assessment instrument constructed by a teacher. You notice not all mastery objectives on the topic are covered and there are questions resulting from "teachable moments." What should your position be with the teacher?

Q: Construct an essay in which you explain the concept of structured learning, the four characteristics, and how the concept can be applied in the classroom when constructing lessons.

Q: A student states: "A unit of study can exist independently of anything else." Explain, with support, that student's statement.

Q: In 1981 Saylor, Alexander, and Lewis made a distinction between de jure policy and de facto policy. Construct an essay explaining the difference and why it might be useful today.

Q: Assuming there is the written curriculum, the supported curriculum, the taught curriculum, and the tested curriculum, we can assume one should lead to the other to maximize the effectiveness. Suppose things do not go as well as one would like and assuming competent people, which of the types of curricula is probably the cause and why.

Q: In terms of principal leadership with respect to curriculum and instruction assessment it has been said the principal "is directly involved in design and implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices." Considering the current trend to empower teachers to what degree should principals be involved?

Q: At least one state adopted a "comprehensive curriculum" whereby the curriculum is mapped out, time frames provided and even activities prescribed. Based on what you know about the approaches of Glatthorn, what position do think he would take and why.

Q: John Goodlad suggested there were five different types of curriculum. Construct an essay in which you identify the five types and either support or criticize the approach.

Q: There have been many definitions of curriculum. You have an option of either: a. selecting the one you like best and write an essay supporting the definition or b. construct your own definition with a rationale for the definition.

Q: Statistical evidence provides a strong warrant that how we ___________ and _________ schools has a major effect on the instructional exchanges in classrooms.

Q: State curriculum guidelines specify state-approved lists of basic texts that restrict the choice of _____________ to a relatively small number.

Q: ______________ curriculum embodies all of the school-sponsored programs that are intended to supplement the academic aspect of the school experience.

Q: What students learn outside of what the school intends them to learn is sometimes called the ____________ curriculum.

Q: __________ learnings are those that are basic but do not require structuring.

Q: The three types of learning are mastery, organic, and _________

Q: List five of the nine strategies identified by Marzano that have a strong effect on student achievement.

Q: No education reform is ever going to be long lasting unless it becomes _______.

Q: Instructional strategies increase the _________ capacity to learn and change the emotional state of learners

Q: ________ _________ does not affect how the curriculum is delivered.

Q: Few would argue that increased _____________ learning, along with advanced technology skills, can help to more evenly distribute students.

Q: The most useful definition of curriculum should meet two criteria, one of which is being useful in making operational distinctions; the other is ____________.

Q: The term learned curriculum is used here to denote all the changes in values, perceptions, and __________ that occur as a result of school experiences.

Q: True or False. No Child Left Behind tried to address issues through accountability and testing. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. The chief problem with curriculum tracking, according to researchers, is the lack of challenge in the general curriculum. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. differentiated lessons include such strategies as curriculum compacting, flexible grouping without tiered activities or individual student contracts a. true b. false

Q: True or False. Basic learnings are those essential for every student. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. A primary focus of CCSS is to draw on the evidence of what it means to be college and workforce ready but they do not lead to the development of a common core of state standards in a variety of subject areas for grades K-12 a. true b. false

Q: True or False. A field of study is an organized and clearly demarcated set of learning experiences typically offered over a multiyear period. a. true b. false

Q: True or False Curriculum-referenced tests should not focus only on mastery elements; organic elements should be tested.. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. The courts ruled that when tests were used for purposes that denied constitutional guarantees of equal protection or due process (as in retention or denial of graduation), schools needed to provide evidence that those tests assessed skills and concepts actually taught in the classroom. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. Research from the National Education Association has shown that a class size of 15 or less is most efficient at the primary level. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. With respect to the supported curriculum, states do not have much influence. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. National standards do not constitute a national curriculum. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. The most useful definition of curriculum should meet two criteria, one of which is being useful in making operational distinctions. a. true b. false

Q: True or False. The MBE model can be applied in four or more areas. a. true b. false

Q: Reform reports are not fueled by which of the following? a. Achievement gap between students of different races b. Decline of education in America c. Low international ranking d. Unacceptable technology integration

Q: Principal leadership responsibilities do not include which of the following: a. Culture b. Communication c. Facility repair d. Flexibility

Q: The main focus of Head Start includes all but which of the following? a. Student matriculation into Kindergarten b. Student development of social and emotional skills c. Enhanced opportunities for staff development d. Provides opportunities to develop curriculum so it threads into the district curriculum.

Q: If you were appointed a district director of curriculum, in your initial discussions with school leaders it is most important to a. Admonish building administrators if you do not see uniformity b. Ascertain the names of the best teacher in each department c. Examine student achievement records d. Probe to see if there are clear goals understood by everyone

Q: Assessment and data analysis are now becoming major determiners of: a. What is taught b. How to develop social and emotional growth c. When it is taught d. How it is taught

Q: Common Core State Standards are designed to a. improve teaching and learning without being prescriptive b. emphasizes a set of skills students will truly need c. draw from research d. establish state testing guidelines

Q: Which of the following terms do not belong with the other three? a. Academic variables b. Culture variables c. Organizational variables d. Social-system variables

Q: Below are four actual school-based events. Which one is not consistent with aspects of the hidden curriculum which most people consider inherent in the concept? a. In a New Jersey middle school, the civics class establishes a class government based on the type of government used in the community. b. In an Illinois high school, an alternative education program is established whereby students operate a second hand store, set prices, and distribute profits. c. In a California middle school, after the events of September 11, 2001, students were required to dress as Muslims and follow Muslim customs. d. In Louisiana, the state legislature mandated a course in Free Enterprise so all students understood the capitalistic system.

Q: One key to applying the mind/brain MBE model, Fischer said the MBE model can be applied in the following ways (which is not one way)? a. Instructional strategies to change emotional state of learners b. Enriched environments encourage optimal learning c. Deficit correction cognitive enhancement builds foundation for critical thinking d. Evaluation tools are not useful.

Q: The school district should control a. Enrichment curriculum b. Mastery curriculum c. Organic curriculum d. Individualized curriculum

Q: Which of the following is most likely a mastery objective? a. Correctly balance an equation for a composition reaction b. Develop positive attitudes toward inquiry c. Practice appropriate safety precautions d. Study regularly to maximize learning

Q: Structured learning has four characteristics. Which of the characteristics is not one of the four? a. Measurable outcomes b. Planning c. Sequencing d. Student determined content

Q: Which of the following does not belong with the other three? a. Curricular policies are the set of designated rules, criteria and guidelines b. Curricular policies are intended to control curriculum c. Curricular policies can be macro or micro d. Curricular policies do not allocate value

Q: Which of the following does not belong with the other three? a. At the beginning of a unit, have strategies to establish learning goals b. At the end, have strategies to help students assess achievement c. During the unit, monitor student progress d. Summarize and note taking

Q: Which of the following does not belong with the other three? a. Supported curriculum is influences by federal and state legislation. b. Supported curriculum is influenced by class size c. Supported curriculum is influenced by parallel curriculum d. Supported curriculum is influenced by program of study

Q: Listed below, in alphabetical order, are four terms used in describing curriculum. Which one represents the most narrow or restrictive? a. Courses of Study b. Fields of Study c. Programs of Study d. Units of Study

Q: Which one of the statements below is most likely a curriculum goal? a. All students should write well-structured essays b. All students relate well to cultural diversity c. The learner will correctly identify the five largest cities in the state d. Teachers will use appropriate teaching strategies

Q: Principal leadership responsibilities include a. Establishing a set of standard operating procedures and routines b. Providing teachers with material and professional development necessary for successful execution of their roles c. Allow teachers to design and implementation curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices without interference. d. Establish clear goals and keep those goals at the forefront of the school's attention.

Q: Global Education is of paramount importance considering recent technological advances. Which of the following is not a component of global education? a. Creating versus consuming b. Trial and error versus risk avoidance c. Individual achievement d. Intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation

Q: Which of the following is not a goal of CCSS? a. Draw from research to inform standards b. Draw on evidence of what college and career readiness is c. Maintain a global focus d. Force all states to use the same assessment of students

Q: Recommended curriculum: Ideological curriculum: a. Experimental curriculum: Perceived curriculum b. Operational curriculum: Formal curriculum c. Tested curriculum: Supported curriculum d. Written curriculum: Formal curriculum

Q: Which factors are not impacting the recommended curriculum? a. Decline in achievement in American Schools b. Technology c. NCLB d. Teachers' pre-service training

Q: Which of the following does not belong with the other three? a. Learned curriculum b. Perceived curriculum c. Recommended curriculum d. Tested curriculum

Q: The definition of curriculum used in the text includes all of the following except a. Actualization of plans in the classroom b. Grades earned after plan actualization c. Plans made for guiding learning d. Retrievable documents

Q: Of the theorists below, with respect to definitions of curriculum, which is most strongly focuses on actual delivery of curriculum? a. Tyler b. Dewey c. Ragan d. Ebert, Ebert, & Bentley

Q: A science teacher wants students to test hypotheses about their experiment. These experiments most closely align to which of the Curriculum theorist? a. Dewey b. Tyler c. Caswell &Campbell d. Ebert, Ebert, & Bentley

Q: Adequate planning time is an essential component of coteaching.

Q: An inclusion support specialist is usually a therapist who sees the child in an inclusive setting.

Q: One of the major barriers to successful inclusion is the philosophical differences between ECSC and ECE staff.

Q: As mandated by IDEA (P.L. 105-17), toddlers and preschoolers who have disabilities should be served in special education classrooms.

Q: The ways in which young children with special needs are supported in inclusive settings is highly variable.

Q: Teacher-initiated evaluations should not be necessary because teaching assistants can learn most from self-evaluations.

Q: Teachers cannot avoid focusing on the paraprofessional's personality when giving constructive criticism to the paraprofessional.

Q: Planning is the key for using a paraprofessional's time and talents.

Q: Extreme disillusionment with one's job is common among paraprofessionals.

Q: One-on-one assistants should be viewed as temporary whenever possible.

Q: A one-on-one assistant is a great help to the classroom teacher because the assistant will meet the needs of that one child, thus freeing the teacher to help the others.

Q: The use of a one-on-one assistant can actually impede the progress of a child.

Q: Performance effectiveness of paraprofessionals should be evaluated only in an informal session with the teacher.

Q: A paraprofessional need only have the motivation to serve to be a good aide or volunteer.