CPT Learning Environments and Curriculum Questions and Answers

Question 1

An emergent curriculum is best described as a curriculum that is primarily shaped by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The children's interests, questions, and daily experiences.

Answer

A pre-established, theme-based yearly calendar.

Answer

A set of academic standards mandated by the school district.

Answer

The materials and resources that the teacher has readily available.

Question 2

In the Reggio Emilia approach, the concept of 'the environment as the third teacher' emphasizes that the classroom's physical space should be what?

Accepted Answer

A dynamic, intentional, and inspiring space that actively contributes to learning.

Answer

Filled with brightly colored, commercially made educational toys.

Answer

Standardized across all classrooms to ensure consistency.

Answer

Designed primarily by the parents to reflect home environments.

Question 3

A teacher notices a small group of children are fascinated by the different bugs they've found on the playground. To implement a project-based learning approach, what would be the teacher's most effective next step?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a discussion with the children to explore their questions and help them plan an in-depth investigation about bugs.

Answer

Provide the children with bug-themed worksheets to practice counting and coloring.

Answer

Tell the children that the topic for the week is farm animals and redirect their attention.

Answer

Read a single story about a friendly caterpillar and move on to the next scheduled activity.

Question 4

Which of the following classroom practices best exemplifies a culturally responsive approach to teaching in a preschool setting?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the classroom library includes books with characters and families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Answer

Celebrating only the holidays that are most common in the dominant culture.

Answer

Asking children with diverse backgrounds to stop speaking their home language at school.

Answer

Teaching a 'tourist' curriculum where different cultures are studied for one week each year.

Question 5

A preschooler is attempting to build a tall tower with blocks but becomes frustrated when it keeps falling. The teacher sits with the child and asks, 'What if we try putting a wider block at the bottom?' This intervention is an example of what teaching strategy?

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding

Answer

Behavioral redirection

Answer

Independent discovery

Answer

Summative assessment

Question 6

When planning a curriculum using the principles of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), a teacher must consider three core components. These are:

Accepted Answer

Commonality, individuality, and cultural context.

Answer

The child's age, the teacher's preference, and the available materials.

Answer

State standards, school budget, and parental expectations.

Answer

Academic rigor, classroom cleanliness, and daily schedule.