Deck 2: How Can I Build a Learning Community in My Classroom: Strategies for Including All Children

Question 1

The expectancy x value model of motivation holds that people's willingness to expend effort depends on how much they expect the teacher to perform successfully.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The classroom community facilitates Dorsett's (1993)concept of good curriculum as one that respects and balances the need to

A)educate "three people" in each individual: the worker, the citizen, and the private person.
B)integrate curriculum in literacy and social studies for each citizen in the classroom.
C)individualize instruction in each subject area for cross-grade-level experiences.
D)use powerful ideas to make connections within social studies and literacy content.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

If you spend adequate time developing your classroom community early in the year, maintenance will take care of itself.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Typically, the norms and skills necessary for successful group work need to be taught

A)together with the content as skill builders.
B)separately as skill builders and as lectures.
C)separately as skill builders within a discussion format.
D)separately as skill builders rather than as lectures.

Question 5

Cooperative learning structures that facilitate student achievement have two key characteristics. They are

A)research-based and match the goals of the unit.
B)authentically assessed and linked to the NCSS content.
C)individual accountability and clear group goals.
D)student-driven and fit within the learning community context.

Question 6

A unit on childhood (adolescence for upper grades)can be very effective early in the year for developing substantive content and for deepening students' understanding and appreciation of their community and its members.

Question 7

Teachers can minimize test anxiety problems by

A)regularly "springing" tests on students so they get into the habit of expecting them
B)portraying tests as opportunities to assess progress rather than as measures of ability.
C)practicing taking tests so students get into the habit and posting student results.
D)stressing evaluation or grading functions of tests and posting results.

Question 8

The best results using group work are achieved when the groups are held accountable.

Question 9

The most effective learning communities are developed as

A)ongoing growth processes and have existing expectations but are always moving to new heights of understanding and positive actions.
B)environments that feature shared responsibilities, promote tolerance, and appreciate chauvinism.
C)ongoing growth processes that promote socio-emotional and moral development exclusively.
D)environments that focus on extrinsic rewards and support for intended learning outcomes.

Question 10

The SEL competencies of social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making have particular relevance to social studies education.

Question 11

In launching your learning community, how would you ensure that the community is contributing to social understanding and personal and civic efficacy?

A)have parents and administrators visit your class
B)make sure that cultural universals are being met
C)set aside periodic committee and total-class reflection time
D)ask the class president to interview committee members

Question 12

Cooperative learning techniques that impact achievement feature

A)activities that are "hands on" in nature.
B)activities that have clear group goals.
C)assessments that are authentic.
D)learning arrangements that promote choice.

Question 13

UDL is an approach built on three central principles (Hall, Meyer, & Rose, 2012):

A)To reframe instructional goals, assessments, and the barriers that may interfere with students' learning.
B)To support universal, strategic, and affective learning.
C)To support recognition, strategic, and affective learning.
D)To optimize teaching, learning, and student engagement.

Question 14

Time for building community should occur during recess, specials, or other periods of the day when it will not interfere with instruction.

Question 15

Teachers' expectations about students' abilities play an insignificant role in student achievement.

Question 16

Cooperative learning benefits students by allowing them to work in groups or pairs to construct understanding or help one another master skills.

Question 17

In a robust learning community,

A)whole-class instruction is often complemented by small group and individual learning opportunities.
B)whole class instruction and individual learning opportunities are minimized in favor of small groups.
C)cooperative learning opportunities are emphasized and individual opportunities are minimized.
D)group investigations are emphasized with students being placed in interest groups with varying strategies.

Question 18

Extrinsic motivation associated with behavior encourages students to see the value for themselves and for their relationships with peers.

Question 19

Cooperative learning promotes necessary competition and has the capacity to promote students' academic growth.

Question 20

The classroom community provides a forum for

A)living formal social studies exclusively in a safe and enjoyable environment.
B)articulating an effective management system using mostly extrinsic rewards.
C)building a healthy and competitive atmosphere for accomplishing a range of tasks.
D)living informal social studies in a safe, orderly, and enjoyable environment.

Question 21

Jere Brophy depicted motivation in the classroom as expectancy x value reasoning within the context of a learning community. Explain what this means. Use a concrete example to illustrate each aspect of this model.

Question 22

Describe how you as a classroom teacher will promote productive communication and interaction patterns and encourage the class to function as a learning community. Explain the what, how, and why of strategically doing this. Include at least four concrete examples in your response.

Question 23

A large body of research evidence indicates that cooperative learning techniques can affect achievement in positive ways, although it is important to know techniques to use and how to implement them. Defend this position by showing with examples and an explanation what this would look like in the classroom.