Educational Research (D180)

Correct Answer

D. Guides students along as they read

Explanation

In guided reading, the teacher's primary role is to guide students as they read, providing support as needed to help them understand the text. This includes prompting students with questions, offering strategies for decoding, and assisting them with comprehension. The teacher doesn't just focus on telling students what to comprehend or teaching pronunciation alone, but works alongside them to facilitate active engagement with the text.

Why other options are wrong

A. Tells students what they should comprehend

While comprehension is a goal of guided reading, the teacher doesn't merely tell students what they should understand. Instead, the teacher helps them navigate the text and develop comprehension strategies on their own through interaction and guided practice.

B. Doesn't worry about comprehension at first

Comprehension is an essential focus in guided reading. The teacher does not ignore comprehension; rather, it is addressed throughout the reading process. The teacher might start with simpler tasks but always aims to help students improve their comprehension skills as they read.

C. Teaches students how to pronounce words better

Pronunciation may be a part of guided reading, but it is not the primary focus. Guided reading emphasizes comprehension and word recognition. Improving pronunciation might happen incidentally, but it’s not the central goal.

Correct Answer

C. To inform, teach, and help educators meet the instructional needs of ELL students

Explanation

The primary purpose of the proposed research is to help educators understand and meet the specific instructional needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). The research aims to provide teachers with knowledge and strategies to effectively support these students in their learning, addressing language barriers and cultural differences.

Why other options are wrong

A. To analyze the cultural backgrounds of ELL students only

While understanding cultural backgrounds is important, the research's primary purpose is broader, aiming to help educators meet the instructional needs of ELL students, not just analyze their cultural backgrounds.

B. To evaluate the performance of ELL students in standardized tests

The focus of the research is not on evaluating student performance in standardized tests but on helping educators develop strategies for effective instruction. This would be a secondary concern in relation to the broader goal.

D. To develop new teaching methods for all students regardless of language

The research specifically targets ELL students and how educators can meet their instructional needs. It does not focus on developing methods for all students regardless of their language background.

Correct Answer

C. Comparison of English Language Arts and Mathematics performance

Explanation

The book provides a comparison of English Learners' performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This data helps in understanding how well ELLs are performing in these core subjects, providing insights into areas that may need further support or improvement.

Why other options are wrong

A. Comparison of extracurricular participation rates

This is incorrect because the book focuses on academic performance, specifically in English Language Arts and Mathematics, rather than extracurricular activities.

B. Comparison of attendance rates among different student groups

While attendance might be a factor in overall performance, the book specifically compares performance in core academic subjects, not attendance rates.

D. Comparison of science and social studies performance

This is incorrect because the book primarily compares English Language Arts and Mathematics performance for English Learners, not science or social studies.

Correct Answer

D. All of the above

Explanation

Guided reading is a teaching method where a teacher works with small groups of students who have similar reading levels or needs. It can include activities such as read alouds, shared reading, and targeted instruction tailored to the students’ specific learning requirements. The teacher provides support and guidance as students practice reading, focusing on strategies that will help them improve their reading comprehension and fluency.

Why other options are wrong

A. Doing a read aloud then a shared reading with a group of students.

This description only partially covers guided reading. While read alouds and shared reading may be components of the approach, guided reading is more focused on small groups with specific instruction for each student's needs.

B. Teaching children by levels.

While guided reading often involves grouping students by reading levels, it is not just about teaching by levels. It also includes targeted strategies and support based on each student's individual learning needs within those levels.

C. Meeting with a group of students who have similar learning needs.

This option is close to the concept of guided reading but is not complete. Guided reading involves meeting with students to provide specific reading instruction, not just addressing learning needs in a general sense. It is a more focused, structured approach to reading instruction.

Correct Answer

B. They assist in understanding the meaning of words and phrases within a text.

Explanation

Semantic cues play a crucial role in understanding the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences within a text. They help readers or listeners infer meaning from context, making sense of the overall message by relying on the meaning of words and their relationships.

Why other options are wrong

A. They provide grammatical structure to sentences.

Grammatical structure is primarily managed by syntactic cues, not semantic cues. While semantics focuses on meaning, syntax deals with sentence structure and rules of grammar.

C. They focus solely on the phonetic aspects of language.

Phonetic cues are related to the sounds of language, not the meaning. These cues are important for decoding written words but do not contribute to understanding the meaning of a text, which is the role of semantic cues.

D. They are used exclusively in written communication.

Semantic cues are used in both written and spoken communication. They are not exclusive to written language, as they help interpret the meaning of words and phrases regardless of whether the language is spoken or written.

Correct Answer:

To identify gaps in existing research and support the research question

Explanation:

A literature review is a critical part of the research process that helps situate a study within the context of what is already known. It allows the researcher to identify patterns, trends, and gaps in existing knowledge. This in turn helps justify the need for the study and supports the formulation of a strong, researchable question. It does not serve to prove a hypothesis but rather to provide a foundation and rationale for the inquiry.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

To prove the researcher's hypothesis is correct

This is incorrect because the role of the literature review is not to confirm a hypothesis, but to inform the research question. Proving or disproving a hypothesis is the role of the study itself, not the background research.

To summarize personal teaching experiences

This is inaccurate. While reflective practice is valuable in education, the literature review relies on published, peer-reviewed academic sources, not anecdotal accounts or personal reflections.

To provide statistical analysis of the study’s results

This is incorrect because statistical analysis is part of the data analysis section, not the literature review. The literature review happens early in the research process, before any data is collected or analyzed.

Correct Answer

A. Ask each student to read out loud while you time him/her and mark the passage for accuracy

Explanation

Running records are a tool for assessing a student's fluency, which includes accuracy, rate, and expression. To assess fluency, students are typically asked to read aloud while the teacher times them and marks any errors, providing valuable insight into their reading ability. This method allows the teacher to track how well students decode words, their reading speed, and how they handle unfamiliar text.

Why other options are wrong

B. Provide comprehension questions following a short paragraph

This option focuses on comprehension, not fluency. While comprehension is important, running records specifically assess fluency through timed, aloud reading, not through questions after reading.

C. Have students write a summary

Writing a summary tests a student’s comprehension and ability to recall information but does not measure fluency. Fluency assessments require oral reading to observe accuracy, pace, and expression.

D. Observe students' behavior during silent sustained reading time

While observing students during silent reading provides useful information about engagement, it does not assess fluency directly. Fluency is best measured through oral reading and running records, where the teacher can track the accuracy and rate of the student's reading.

Correct Answer

B. It allows them to process information through movement.

Explanation

Students with high kinesthetic intelligence thrive when they can engage in physical movement while learning. Flexible seating allows these students to move, which helps them process and retain information better by engaging their bodies in the learning process. This type of seating arrangement supports their need for physical interaction while studying.

Why other options are wrong

A. It encourages them to work in silence without movement.

Flexible seating environments encourage movement, which is the opposite of promoting silence and stillness. Students with kinesthetic intelligence often need movement to focus and learn.

C. It eliminates distractions by keeping them seated.

This option focuses on stillness, which may not be effective for students with high kinesthetic intelligence. Flexible seating allows movement, which can help reduce distractions rather than eliminate them entirely by enforcing stillness.

D. It restricts their movement to improve focus.

Flexible seating does the opposite; it supports movement, allowing students to work in ways that suit their physical needs, thereby improving focus and engagement, especially for kinesthetic learners.

Correct Answer

B. students repeatedly read and practice the text before reading the script out loud for an audience

Explanation

The key to developing fluent readers through oral reading performance, like Reader's Theatre, is the repeated reading and practice of the text. This allows students to become more familiar with the text, improving their fluency, expression, and confidence before performing it in front of an audience.

Why other options are wrong

A. students memorize the text to present it to an audience

This option is incorrect because memorization may not contribute to fluency development as effectively as repeated practice with reading aloud, which focuses on understanding the text and improving reading skills.

C. students work on designing and creating props for the oral performance

While creating props can be a fun activity, it is not directly related to developing reading fluency. Fluency is built through practice with the text itself, not through peripheral activities like prop-making.

D. students read the text aloud for an audience the first time they see it

This option is incorrect because reading the text aloud for the first time without prior practice would likely lead to a lack of fluency, comprehension, and confidence, making the performance less effective.