FREE ParaPro Classroom Application of Mathematics Concepts Questions and Answers

Question 1

A paraprofessional is helping a student who is struggling to understand the concept of fractions. Which of the following is the best first step?

Accepted Answer

Using physical manipulatives like fraction bars or pizza slices to represent the parts of a whole.

Answer

Giving the student a worksheet with 50 fraction problems.

Answer

Telling the student to memorize the multiplication table.

Answer

Explaining the abstract mathematical definition of a numerator and denominator.

Question 2

A student correctly solves the problem 12 x 3 = 36, but the teacher has asked them to 'show their work' by modeling it. How could a paraprofessional help the student model this multiplication problem?

Accepted Answer

By suggesting the student draw an array of 3 rows and 12 columns.

Answer

By telling the student to write the answer larger.

Answer

By having the student check the answer with a calculator.

Answer

By asking the student to write the problem out in words.

Question 3

A paraprofessional is working with a student on a word problem: 'Maria has 24 cookies. She wants to share them equally among her 4 friends. How many cookies will each friend get?' The student is unsure where to start. What is the best question for the paraprofessional to ask?

Accepted Answer

Do you think you should add, subtract, multiply, or divide?

Answer

What's 24 divided by 4?

Answer

Why don't you just guess a number?

Answer

Are cookies your favorite snack?

Question 4

When helping a student learn to measure the length of an object with a ruler, what is the most critical instruction a paraprofessional should emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Line up the end of the object with the zero mark (the very beginning) of the ruler.

Answer

Make sure the ruler is a bright color.

Answer

Always start measuring from the '1' mark on the ruler.

Answer

Estimate the length first before using the ruler.

Question 5

A student is comparing 1/2 and 1/4. They believe 1/4 is larger because 4 is a bigger number than 2. How can a paraprofessional best address this misconception?

Accepted Answer

Use a diagram or fold a piece of paper to visually show that 1/2 is larger than 1/4.

Answer

Tell the student they are wrong and to memorize the rule.

Answer

Explain that in fractions, bigger denominators mean smaller pieces.

Answer

Give the student a worksheet on comparing fractions with like denominators.

Question 6

A paraprofessional is helping a student with place value. The student writes the number 'one hundred twenty-three' as '100203'. This error indicates the student is having difficulty with:

Accepted Answer

Understanding that the position of a digit determines its value.

Answer

The concept of addition.

Answer

Writing their numbers neatly.

Answer

The names of the numbers.

Question 7

A teacher asks a paraprofessional to review basic geometric shapes with a small group. When holding up a square, a student calls it a rectangle. What is the most accurate and helpful response?

Accepted Answer

You're right that it is a rectangle, but it's a special kind of rectangle where all the sides are equal, so we call it a square.

Answer

No, that's wrong. It's a square.

Answer

Rectangles are long and squares are not.

Answer

Let's count the corners instead.