AEPA Early Childhood Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage for children ages 3–5 centers on which core conflict?
- Trust vs. Mistrust
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
- Initiative vs. Guilt (Correct answer)
- Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct answer: Initiative vs. Guilt
During the Initiative vs. Guilt stage (ages 3–5), children explore their environment and assert control; healthy resolution builds a sense of purpose.
Question 2: Which type of assessment is most appropriate for evaluating young children's learning in an early childhood classroom?
- Norm-referenced standardized tests administered individually
- Portfolio and observation-based authentic assessment (Correct answer)
- Multiple-choice unit tests
- Timed performance assessments
Correct answer: Portfolio and observation-based authentic assessment
Authentic assessment methods such as portfolios, anecdotal records, and observations capture children's real performance in natural contexts and are most developmentally appropriate for young learners.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) in early childhood special education?
- To document a child's academic test scores for kindergarten placement
- To outline early intervention services and outcomes for children birth through age 2 and their families (Correct answer)
- To establish a child's IEP goals before age 3
- To provide parental rights information only
Correct answer: To outline early intervention services and outcomes for children birth through age 2 and their families
An IFSP is a legally required, family-centered plan under IDEA Part C that identifies outcomes and services for eligible infants and toddlers (birth–age 2) and their families.
Question 4: In early childhood mathematics, which skill involves understanding that the last number counted represents the total quantity of a set?
- One-to-one correspondence
- Cardinality (Correct answer)
- Subitizing
- Seriation
Correct answer: Cardinality
Cardinality is the understanding that the final number spoken when counting a set names the total number of objects in that set.
Question 5: A teacher reads a big book aloud while children follow along, pointing to each word. This strategy primarily develops which early literacy skill?
- Phonemic awareness
- Print concepts and concepts about print (Correct answer)
- Syllable segmentation
- Morphological awareness
Correct answer: Print concepts and concepts about print
Tracking print while reading aloud builds print concepts such as directionality (left-to-right), word boundaries, and one-to-one word matching.
Question 6: Which theorist is associated with the concept that children construct knowledge through interaction with their environment, forming and revising schemas?
- Lev Vygotsky
- Jerome Bruner
- Jean Piaget (Correct answer)
- Albert Bandura
Correct answer: Jean Piaget
Piaget's constructivist theory holds that children build knowledge by assimilating new experiences into existing schemas and accommodating schemas when new information does not fit.
Question 7: When a preschool teacher modifies an activity to provide additional support just beyond a child's current independent ability level, this technique is called:
- Differentiated instruction
- Scaffolding (Correct answer)
- Backward chaining
- Direct instruction
Correct answer: Scaffolding
Scaffolding refers to temporary, targeted support provided by a more knowledgeable other to help a learner accomplish tasks within their ZPD, with support gradually removed as competence grows.
AEPA Early Childhood Education 2
Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage for children ages 3–5 centers on which core conflict?