Deck 2: Approaches to Reading Instruction

Question 1

Comprehensive instruction in reading evolves from teachers' knowledge about the needs of students.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Teachers who use the bottom-up approach think that students need to be assessed on the basis of their performance in meaningful contexts.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A dynamic conception of curriculum reflects what teachers and students do as they engage in classroom activity.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The First-Grade Studies indicated the bottom-up approach to be more effective for beginning reading and spelling achievement.

Question 5

Teachers who work within a top-down curriculum create a classroom community with students to engage in reading, writing, and other collaborative acts of meaning-making.

Question 6

Which of the following characteristics is associated with a comprehensive reading program?

A) Sampling of methods
B) Grouping of disparate approaches
C) Informed philosophical stance
D) Two distinct, parallel approaches

Question 7

How do teachers define who they are as teachers of reading?

A) Questioning
B) Self-examination
C) Reflection
D) All of the above

Question 8

Which characteristic is based on the bottom-up belief system?

A) Reading and writing connections
B) Use of context clues
C) Authentic writing
D) Letter-sound relationship

Question 9

Identify the characteristic that is NOT based on the top-down belief system.

A) Using context clues
B) Allowing a choice of reading materials
C) Less emphasis on correcting word errors
D) Engaging in vocabulary activities before reading

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT based on the top-down principles?

A) Students writing in journals
B) Students reading with a buddy
C) Students identifying beginning sounds on picture cards
D) Students participating in activities associated with a unit of study

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT associated with the top-down curricula philosophy?

A) Immersion
B) Scope and sequence
C) Expectation
D) Engagement

Question 12

Which descriptor is frequently associated with the basal reading approach?

A) Archaic
B) Eclectic
C) Inflexible
D) Ineffective

Question 13

Which of the following approaches supports children working with their own language?

A) Integrated language arts
B) Basal reading
C) The language-experience approach
D) Literature-based instruction

Question 14

Another term for the comprehensive approach to teaching reading is

A) integrated approach.
B) language-experience approach.
C) holistic approach.
D) multifaceted approach.

Question 15

In the _________ approach, students regulate their own reading and select reading based on interests.

A) basal reading
B) language-experience approach
C) literature-based instruction
D) integrated language arts

Question 16

Which of the following are used in technology-based instruction?

A) E-mail
B) Wikis
C) Smart Boards
D) All of the above

Question 17

The characteristics of highly effective literacy teachers include the thorough integration of ________ to support the development of children's literacy skills and strategies.

A) reading activities
B) writing activities
C) instructional scaffolding
D) All of the above

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of comprehensive reading instruction?

A) Drill and practice of alphabetic principle
B) Integration of reading and writing experiences
C) Scaffolded instruction in the use of skills and strategies
D) Meaningful and authentic reading and writing activities

Question 19

Which approach has been useful for meeting the needs of English language learners because it embraces the natural language of children and provides opportunities for meaningful text for students from diverse backgrounds?

A) Technology-based approach
B) Bottom-up approach
C) Basal reading approach
D) Language-experience approach

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true regarding approaches to reading instruction and struggling readers?

A) If teachers try enough approaches, they will find the one that works for every child.
B) Students who struggle can benefit from a program that is grounded in the teacher's understanding of research-based principles.
C) Adopting a particular instructional approach and sticking to it is a way to solve the problems of struggling readers.
D) Whole-language teaching is the best approach for students who struggle.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a bottom-up philosophical stance?

A) Students must decode letters and words before they are able to construct meaning from sentences, paragraphs, and larger text selections.
B) Reading acquisition is mastering and integrating a series of word identification skills.
C) Sentences, paragraphs, and text selections are the units of language emphasized instructionally.
D) Students should read a passage over and over is an important instructional activity because they develop accurate word recognition.

Question 22

The Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted by most states, call for the new standards to be taught within the context of a content-rich curriculum. Which of the following is NOT true about the CCSS and curriculum?

A) The CCSS do not stipulate what content students need to learn.
B) Responsibility for developing a curriculum falls to schools, districts, and states.
C) In many states, model curriculum has been developed that is aligned with the new standards.
D) The CCSS provide detailed instructions on what content students need to learn.

Question 23

The First-Grade Studies were launched nationally in an effort to identify the best approaches to the teaching of reading. The major finding of The First Grade Studies was that

A) classroom instructional materials were the most important factor in first grade classrooms.
B) no instructional approach was superior to the others for students at either high or low levels of readiness.
C) children in first grade benefitted most from an interactive approach to reading instruction.
D) as long as the classroom teacher is competent, any instructional material was acceptable.

Question 24

In Ben Thompson's classroom, children are immersed in a community of learners. Ben uses only authentic texts for children to read, discuss, listen to, or write about, and he says his main goal is to, "Support children in the skillful use of language." How would you best describe Ben's approach to teaching literacy?

A) Ben is a whole-language teacher.
B) Ben believes in a top-down approach to teaching reading.
C) Ben has a balanced literacy program in his classroom.
D) Ben believes in a bottom-up approach to teaching reading.

Question 25

Albert's district has recently adopted a new basal reading program. He says with so many different things to think about such as response to intervention, Common Core State Standards, and how to meet the needs of English Language Learners, following the basal closely is the best approach for him. What would lead Albert to think this way?

A) A basal reading program gives him the opportunity to work with students who need his individual time.
B) A basal reading program is an all-inclusive set of commercially produced materials for providing classroom reading instruction.
C) Basal reading programs are widely adopted so they are acceptable nationally.
D) Basal reading programs require the teacher to think less and simply follow the manuals.

Question 26

In Ms. Tempo's first grade class the children are using software to create stories following a field trip to the botanical garden. Ms. Tempo is likely using what approach to teach reading and writing?

A) Language Experience
B) Reading Writing Connection
C) Basal Reader
D) Individualized Instruction

Question 27

Which of the following approaches to teaching reading best compliments the Common Core State Standards because reading, writing, listening, and speaking apply across content areas and are intended to help students read and write well in all disciplines?

A) Literature-Based
B) Language Experience
C) Integrated
D) Technology-Based

Question 28

An important way to motivate students in a literature-based program is to

A) hold conferences with individual students about what they are reading.
B) provide a leveled reading library.
C) allow them to use the literature as a springboard for writing.
D) allow students to self-select literature for independent reading.

Question 29

In a fourth grade classroom a teacher notices some of her students don't understand how to apply a strategy to their reading. She models the strategy again and demonstrates how readers use it with text. She also shares her thinking aloud with the group of students and provides opportunities for practice. This teacher knows that

A) effective teachers need to allow time for practice.
B) effective teachers provide explicit strategy instruction when needed.
C) effective teachers patiently wait until everyone masters a concept before moving on.
D) effective teachers reteach to the entire classroom when a small group doesn't grasp the concept.

Question 30

Ms. Goldstein knows extensive reading is critical to the development of reading proficiency and practice provides the opportunity for students to combine the skills and strategies that teachers work to develop. With this in mind she knows children should be reading

A) 2/3 of the time set aside for reading.
B) 1/3 of the time set aside for reading.
C) half of the time set aside for reading.
D) all of the time set aside for reading.?

Question 31

What do you believe about reading and learning to read? Explain your answer and include information from the text to support your answer.

Question 32

You are a beginning teacher participating in an interview for a teaching position. The superintendent asks you about your curriculum decision as it relates to literacy teaching. Discuss decisions you have made as they relate to instructional objectives, materials, learning environment, instructional strategies, and assessment.

Question 33

Compare and contrast the bottom-up curriculum and the top-down curriculum approaches. Discuss the instructional objectives, materials, learning environment, instructional strategies, and assessment for each approach. Are they similar in any way?

Question 34

Suppose the school system in which you teach has mandated that all first-grade teachers should use a language-experience approach. Your principal is responsible for supervising these teachers, but doesn't really understand the approach. Prepare a checklist of "recommended practices" and one of "practices to avoid" to guide the principal in evaluating whether the teaching strategies that she or he observes are consistent with the approach.

Question 35

In what ways are teachers using technology as an approach to teaching reading? What other ways can you think of to use today's technology in the reading classroom?