Deck 9: Scheduling and Curriculum Planning

Question 1

In many programs, activity time is also called ______ time.

A) rest
B) large-group
C) free play
D) transition

Answer 1

free play

Question 2

Five-year-old Jeremy likes having informal talks with his teacher. This most likely happens during ______.

A) activity time
B) rest
C) transition
D) cleanup

Answer 2

activity time

Question 3

Which type of activity for young children most likely needs the closest attention from a teacher?

A) singing a song
B) drawing a picture
C) reading a book
D) baking a cake

Answer 3

baking a cake

Question 4

Which example would most likely take place during activity time?

A) Two five-year-olds swap fruits during lunch.
B) After an art project, a group of five-year-olds straighten up the room.
C) A group of four-year-olds sing holiday songs.
D) A group of four-year-olds take a nap for one hour.

Question 5

A group of young children do a dramatization of the first Thanksgiving. This example would most likely be a ______.

A) rest activity
B) transition activity
C) large-group activity
D) small-group activity

Question 6

Which example would most likely be considered a large-group activity?

A) A teacher asks open-ended questions of children to provoke discussion.
B) A teacher gives children a break to eat snacks.
C) A teacher and children work on a puzzle.
D) Teachers and children meet to solve the problem of sharing toys during play time.

Question 7

Children take part in cooperative drawing, which involves creating art as a team. During this time, the teacher focuses on how each child participates in the task. This example is most likely a(n) ______.

A) small-group activity
B) outdoor activity
C) large-group activity
D) rest activity

Question 8

The timing of meals for preschoolers should be dictated by ______.

A) the teacher's needs
B) the children's needs
C) a predictable schedule
D) the overall curriculum

Question 9

Which of the following is an accurate statement about naps for young children?

A) They should happen immediately before lunch.
B) They should happen during the middle of the day.
C) They should last about half an hour.
D) They should happen at the end of the day.

Question 10

Which of the following is the most effective way to organize a schedule?

A) Active times should be in the morning and less active times after lunch.
B) Two consecutive active times should be followed by two less active times.
C) Active times and less active times should alternate.
D) One active time should be followed by two less active times.

Question 11

Which example shows a less active time?

A) A small group of children dramatize a story.
B) A large group of children do a scavenger hunt.
C) A small group of children play hopscotch outside.
D) A large group of children listen to the teacher read a story.

Question 12

Which schedule most needs to be readjusted?

A) Children have outdoor play for 45 minutes, listen to a story for 20 minutes, and do self-selected activities for 30 minutes.
B) Children draw pictures 20 minutes, have outdoor play for 45 minutes, and listen to a story for 15 minutes.
C) Children listen to a story for 30 minutes, nap for one hour, and listen to a lesson for 15 minutes.
D) Children have a treasure hunt for 30 minutes, draw pictures for 20 minutes, and have outdoor play for 45 minutes.

Question 13

Which of the following typically involves teacher initiative?

A) small-group time
B) outdoor time
C) activity time
D) socialization time

Question 14

Which example would most likely develop autonomy in children?

A) eating a snack
B) taking a nap
C) playing games outdoors
D) participating in a teacher-planned activity

Question 15

Lois is a teacher who has a group of children that is much more active than the group she had last year. Considering this, Lois should ______.

A) adjust the schedule to include more rest time
B) keep the schedule the same for consistency
C) adjust the schedule to include more outdoor activities
D) change the schedule completely every two weeks

Question 16

Last year, Juan taught preschoolers, but this year he is taking care of primary school children. Considering this, how should Juan change his schedule?

A) Add more time for cleanup.
B) Add more naps throughout the day.
C) Decrease the teacher-led activities from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.
D) Increase the reading time from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Question 17

In programs where children arrive at different times, which of the following should be scheduled during arrival time?

A) teacher-led activities
B) self-selected activities
C) meals
D) naps

Question 18

Which scheduling would make the most sense for an early childhood center in northern Wisconsin during the winter?

A) one outdoor block of time between 15 to 45 minutes per day, depending on the temperature
B) three outdoor blocks of time per day, with each one being 20 minutes
C) one outdoor block of time of 5 minutes per day
D) three outdoor blocks of time between 10 to 30 minutes per day, depending on the temperature

Question 19

Which of the following shifts often happens in an infant/toddler program as children get older?

A) from uniform schedules to individual schedules
B) from individual schedules to uniform schedules
C) from teacher-initiated schedules to self-demand schedules
D) from self-demand schedules to individual schedules

Question 20

Which change often happens in toddler programs as children get older?

A) The child moves from a schedule based on the teachers' needs to one that is more consistent to an adult schedule.
B) The child moves from a schedule based on parents' needs to one that is more consistent with teacher needs.
C) The child moves from a schedule based on adult needs to one that is more consistent with his or her physiological needs.
D) The child moves from a schedule based on his or her physiological needs to one that is more consistent to an adult schedule.

Question 21

A self-demand schedule is used for ______.

A) infants
B) younger toddlers
C) older toddlers
D) preschoolers

Question 22

A schedule in which infants communicate what they need and adults respond accordingly is called a ______ schedule.

A) self-care
B) self-actualization
C) self-demand
D) self-continuity

Question 23

Which example would best help infants and toddlers transition from an individual to a group schedule?

A) Larry has three caregivers when he is two years old.
B) Jessica has the same caregiver from infancy to age three.
C) Dmitri has one caregiver from infancy through age two and another at age three.
D) Sophia has two caregivers during infancy and two others when she is a toddler.

Question 24

According to Carol Gestwicki, which grouping would foster a neighborhood feeling for an after-school program?

A) mixed-aged groupings with an age range of 3 to 4 years
B) mixed-aged groupings with an age range of 1 to 2 years
C) single-aged groupings for toddlers; mixed-aged groupings for preschoolers
D) mixed-aged groupings for toddlers; single-aged groupings for preschoolers

Question 25

Which approach to early childhood care is the most effective?

A) If teachers are exhausted by the end of the day, then the children need more discipline.
B) It is more important that teachers get enough planning time than enough rest.
C) The needs of the teachers are unimportant compared to the needs of the children.
D) If teachers get enough rest and planning time, the needs of the children will be better met.

Question 26

How can a schedule help to provide security for young children?

A) by providing tasks that are challenging
B) by providing discipline so children will not misbehave
C) by providing surprises to relieve boredom
D) by providing a predictable order to the day

Question 27

Which example shows the advantage of a flexible schedule?

A) A teacher keeps the order of the daily schedule the same to help the children feel secure.
B) The schedule allows one hour for the most popular activity, playing outside.
C) Because it is a warm day for winter, the teacher does an activity outside instead of inside.
D) The schedule allows times for snacks throughout the day.

Question 28

Which example best shows a school schedule for primary school children?

A) The schedule is extremely flexible, allowing the child's needs to dictate it.
B) The schedule has set times for self-initiated activities, structured learning, and a meal.
C) The schedule allows for much more self-initiated activities than structured learning.
D) The schedule consists mainly of structured learning with set times for meals and snacks.

Question 29

Jacob attends a school in which play is integrated into most of his learning activities. Considering this, Jacob most likely attends a(n) ______ school.

A) early childhood
B) elementary
C) middle
D) high

Question 30

Which example shows an accelerated curriculum?

A) Diego attends the 1st grade where he learns the basics of addition.
B) Contanza attends a preschool that integrates play throughout the day.
C) Vincente attends a preschool where he takes math for 1st graders.
D) Javier attends an elementary school that has an outdoor play time of half an hour.

Question 31

Which of the following is an accurate statement about accelerated curriculum?

A) It is based on an upward escalation of curriculum.
B) It can dampen children's desire to learn.
C) It tends to reduce stress for preschoolers.
D) It is supported by extensive research.

Question 32

A sound understanding of child development will most likely help a teacher to know ______.

A) what are the ages of students
B) the cultural background of students
C) what interests students of the same age share
D) the unique needs of students

Question 33

The cultural heritage of children can best be determined by ______.

A) taking a course in schedule planning
B) studying books about child development
C) understanding the background of each child
D) closely observing each child's group behavior

Question 34

Curriculum that is derived from the interest of the children is called ______ curriculum.

A) theme
B) teacher-controlled
C) traditional
D) emergent

Question 35

Which example shows that a teacher closely observed her children?

A) Alva learns that three of her children have a Mexican background.
B) Maja increases the outdoor play time because she notes that her group of children are very active.
C) Emil keeps the story time the same even though many children in his group are good readers.
D) Oscar understands the social ability of most three-year-olds.

Question 36

A teacher comes from a Swedish background, but most of the children in her group have a Chinese background. Considering this, which action would be most effective for the teacher?

A) Read about cultural practices in China and use this knowledge when planning programs.
B) Plan many programs that integrate Swedish culture, and explain the background to children.
C) Base her curriculum on the school system in China.
D) Make sure most activities lack any cultural emphasis.

Question 37

What is another name for the thematic approach to curriculum?

A) traditional
B) experimental
C) contemporary
D) sociological

Question 38

Which of the following is the most effective approach to theme-based curriculum?

A) The topics should be more abstract than concrete.
B) The content should be one or two grades ahead of students' skills.
C) The topics should be unusual to catch the children's interest.
D) The content should deal with the developing skills of the children.

Question 39

Which lesson would be appropriate for two-year-olds?

A) learning the names for the various teeth in their mouths
B) learning how adult teeth emerge
C) learning the names for basic parts of their leg
D) learning how legs move

Question 40

Which example shows the best approach to teaching about family to young children?

A) Jessica gives her opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of various types of families.
B) Lionel focuses mainly on the family culture that is dominant in the area.
C) Cynthia makes sure to show families from different cultures and shows respect for each type.
D) Karl emphasizes the role of families but ignores the relationship between family members.

Question 41

Field trips are especially helpful when teaching young children a curriculum focused on ______.

A) family
B) community
C) children
D) school

Question 42

A teacher wants to help children explore the physical environment by teaching them about mountains. Such an approach would be most effective if the school is located in ______.

A) the Rockies
B) the Plains
C) a coastal area
D) a harbor city

Question 43

Which example would be the most effective at teaching young children about community as a social system?

A) showing the main departments in a hospital
B) showing how a hospital and a fire station interrelate
C) learning about the types of jobs at a fire station
D) learning how to administer first aid

Question 44

Which of the following provides unifying themes around which activities are planned?

A) lesson plans
B) units
C) field trips
D) tasks

Question 45

Which of the following is the most effective way to plan units?

A) Units should be well defined and have a rigid time frame.
B) Each unit should center around the teacher's needs.
C) Units should last one to two days.
D) Each unit should be based on a group of objectives.

Question 46

Which of the following is an accurate statement about lesson plans?

A) Children should be left unaware of the lesson's objectives.
B) Lesson plans should provide a loosely-defined time frame.
C) Any teacher should be able to use them.
D) Lesson plans are the smallest element of curriculum planning.

Question 47

The ______ approach expands children's and teachers' learning through in-depth exploration of topics of interest to children and teachers.

A) project
B) traditional
C) environmental
D) self-demand

Question 48

Which of the following are key elements of emergent curriculum?

A) image of the child; teacher goals; projects; visualization
B) teacher goals; the environment; units; documentation
C) image of the child; the environment; projects; documentation
D) teacher goals; the environment; units; visualization

Question 49

Which of the following is an accurate statement about emergent curriculum?

A) Teachers emphasize challenging children beyond their grade level.
B) Children learn from teachers by carefully observing them.
C) It sees children as needy instead of competent.
D) It sees children as strong instead of weak.

Question 50

Which example supports the principle called image of the child?

A) Five-year-old Monica would rather stay at home alone than hear a talk by a policeman.
B) Four-year-old Ivan is eager to visit the hospital and talk to the doctors.
C) Four-year-old Violet has little interest in learning about butterflies.
D) Three-year-old Mark prefers taking a nap to playing with friends.

Question 51

Rodrigo's parents finds his classroom to be beautifully decorated and arranged in a way that would make most children feel comfortable. Considering this, Rodrigo's school probably uses a(n) ______ curriculum.

A) traditional
B) theme-based
C) emergent
D) teacher-centered

Question 52

To encourage symbolic learning with children, emergent curriculum includes a(n) ______.

A) science lab
B) art studio
C) playground
D) quiet-time space

Question 53

Which shows an accurate difference between traditional curriculum and emergent curriculum?

A) With emergent curriculum, there is a narrow range of activities; with traditional curriculum, there is a wide range of activities.
B) Emergent-curriculum activities are advanced for the child's age; traditional-curriculum activities are age appropriate for the child.
C) With emergent curriculum, dramatic play is often used; with traditional curriculum, dramatic play is rarely used.
D) Ideas for emergent-curriculum activities come mostly from the interests of children; ideas for traditional-curriculum activities come mostly from what teachers believe students should learn.

Question 54

Which example best shows how documentation is used for emergent curriculum?

A) A teacher takes photographs of children working on a project and tape records their discussion of the activity.
B) A teacher researches a possible project on the Internet and uses this information to create a project for the children in his class.
C) A teacher fills out a series of forms that show the progress the children in her class and sends them to the school board.
D) A teacher has the children in her class write down a list of what they learned by doing an activity.

Question 55

What is a key element of emergent curriculum?

A) It requires that teachers maintain a strict schedule that should be planned out months in advance.
B) It requires that teachers relinquish their control in developing meaningful experiences for children.
C) It requires that children memorize extensive lessons and follow the directions of their teachers.
D) It requires that children realize that teachers know what is better for them than they do.

Question 56

Which example would most likely encourage parents to be part of early childhood programs?

A) Although the school doesn't stress family involvement, Leslie's teachers communicate with her parents once every two weeks.
B) Although teachers rarely communicate with Peter's parents, the school emphasizes family involvement.
C) A teacher communicates with Betsy's parents at least once a month, even though the school doesn't prioritize teacher-parent relations.
D) A teacher communicates with Lawrence's parents at least once a week, which supports the school's policy on teacher-parent relations.

Question 57

Mateo's parents often offer suggestions to his teacher about the type of activities to do in class. The most effective response from the teacher would be to ______.

A) thank them for their ideas, but don't use any of them
B) encourage their ideas and use some of them
C) thank them for their ideas and use one to keep the parents happy
D) encourage their ideas, but rarely use them

Question 58

Which example would be the most helpful way to deal with parents who are skeptical of early childhood education?

A) A teacher refers parents to the head of the school who will explain the benefits of activities.
B) A teacher informs parents of her credentials and assures them their children are learning skills.
C) A teacher tells parents to read a particular book about the skills learned by doing certain activities.
D) A teacher has parents observe an activity and describes the skills the children are learning from it.

Question 59

Which of the following is often the biggest obstacle that prevents parents from appreciating early childhood education?

A) unfamiliarity with how certain experiences will help children learn certain skills
B) the strict structure and discipline of the programs
C) a lack of interest in learning why the programs are beneficial to their children
D) a confusing explanation by teachers about the benefits of certain experiences for children

Question 60

Family expertise and input can greatly ______ the early childhood program.

A) disrupt
B) discredit
C) enhance
D) hinder

Question 61

It is helpful for teachers to explain to families that many learning activities in early childhood education involve ______ concepts and skills.

A) no
B) one
C) two
D) several

Question 62

The largest block(s) of time each day should be reserved for activity time.

Question 63

Large-group time is when all the students and teachers gather together.

Question 64

Small-group activities usually include 10 to 12 students and often last about half an hour.

Question 65

Indoor activities require more planning by teachers than outdoor activities do.

Question 66

Children should move from very active involvement to being very quiet to develop discipline.

Question 67

Most of the day's activities should be child-selected and allow children to move from activity to activity at their own pace.

Question 68

A child care center has one large group of preschoolers consisting of 60 children. An effective way to deal with this group size is to create six subgroups that rotate blocks of time for various activities.

Question 69

In an infant and toddler program, teachers often use a uniform schedule.

Question 70

Continuity of care has been related to higher teacher ratings of children's self-control, initiative, and attachment, as well as fewer behavioral concerns.

Question 71

A centerwide schedule provides a large amount of flexibility for child care centers.

Question 72

The content and substance of a schedule is called the curriculum.

Question 73

Most children have an innate desire to learn.

Question 74

Children are well equipped for success if they are secure about their identities and feel good about themselves.

Question 75

Young children should focus on the roles of family members, instead of on different family forms.

Question 76

A curriculum master plan should have extensive input from teachers and little input from children.

Question 77

A lesson plan provides the working document from which a program is run.

Question 78

Emergent curriculum develops out of and is responsive to the interests of the children.

Question 79

In emergent curriculum, documentation involves using research to develop projects for children.

Question 80

Frequent family-teacher communication can encourage parents to be part of the early childhood program.