Glossary Tips

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Observing

observing
using the five senses to find out about objects and events

   

authentic assessment

authentic assessment

Here is a type of assessment that reflects the incorporation of tasks that are meaningful,challenging, and dependent on a student's application of prior knowledge. These tasks usually are at the student's ability level and tend to address their learning styles.

   

Sponge Activities

sponge activities
These are activities that are used when you finish a lesson earlier than expected, while students are standing in line, or any other time when you are faced with those extra minutes of nothing to do. The activities are often quick, enjoyable ones that may require student recall or application.

   
What does predicting mean ?

Predicting

predicting
making forecasts of future events or conditions based upon observations or inferences

   
What are standards ?

standard

standards
Guidelines used to evaluate the effectiveness
of a curriculum.

   

systemic reform

systemic reform
Change that takes place in all levels and aspects of the educational process. People who are part of this process (for example,teachers, students, and parents) are affected by such a change.

   

modeling

modeling
Demonstration to students of how to complete a particular task. It is expected that the students will copy the model observed.

   

criterion-referenced assessment

criterion-referenced assessment

This type of assessment is designed to determine what a student understands, knows, or can do in response to specific performance objectives.

   

benchmark

benchmark
This term is used to define stages at which certain levels of specific knowledge should be appropriately attained. It is used in conjunction with the current goals of education reform.

   

Classifying

classifying
grouping things according to similarities or differences

   

disequilibation

disequilibation
the moment at which you have encountered a new or unique idea that does not yet fit into any existing schema, and a new schema has yet to be developed

   

Measuring

measuring

developing and using appropriate units of measurement for length,area,volume,time,weight,and temperature

   
What is the Reading Excellence Act ?

Reading Excellence Act

Reading Excellence Act

This act focuses upon the improvement of K-3 reading instruction in elementary schools that serve the nation's neediest children. It is based upon scientifically based reading research. This Act is behind the Reading Excellence Program that includes the following objectives:

Teach each child to read by the end of third grade.

Provide reading readiness skills at the early childhood level.

Expand the number of high quality family literacy programs.

   

Sensori-Motor Interlligence

Sensori-Motor Intelligence
This is the first of Piaget's stages of
cognitive development.
Usually occuring from birth to two years of age, babies organize their physical action schemes, such as sucking,grasping, and hitting in order to deal with the immediate world.

   

scaffolding

scaffolding

Here teachers model learning strategies desired,then slowly pass responsibility to students,who must create their own questions.

   

facilitator

This is considered the type of role a teacher needs to assume in order to effectively utilize standards-based curricula. In this situation, the teacher acts as a coach, encouraging the student to take more responsibility for the learning that takes place. The teacher does not always stand in front of the classroom giving out facts, rather, the student has a far more active role in the learning that occurs.

   
What does metalinguistic mean ?

Metalinguistic

metalinguistic
ability to reflect upon knowledge of language

   

prior knowledge

prior knowledge
Considered previous knowledge students can apply to new skills and concepts addressed.

   
What does cognitive mean ?

Cognitive

cognitive
involves intellectual abilities such as the ability to recall or reason

   
What is data gathering ?

Data Gathering

data gathering
process of direct observing some object that is present and recording these observations. These recordings may include graphs,drawings,or notes.

   

critical thinking

critical thinking
This type of thinking is highly reflective
and reasonable.

   

accomodation

accomodation
modification of mental concepts to fit new material or to create new schema

   
What does rhythm mean ?

Rhythm

rhythm
the pattern of pulses in music

   

informal knowledge

informal knowledge

Knowledge children acquire through experiences outside of a school setting.

   

higher order thinking

higher order thinking

This type of thinking requires the comprehension of difficult concepts and the application of occasionally conflicting information in order to solve a problem.

   

portfolio assessment

portfolio assessment

Method where a collection of student work is assessed. The work usually reflects progress the student has made over a period of time.

   

equilibration

equilibration
after your schema has changed to fit all information, a state of balance is achieved

   

schema

schema
ideas, mental concepts

   

open-ended question

open-ended question
A question that gives students the opportunity to respond in different ways. It is an excellent way to help students see that there is not always just one answer to a question.

   

collaborative learning /cooperative learning

collaborative learning /cooperative learning

Students are placed in small groups to complete a specific assignment. The group is usually scored on the basis of objectives that revolve around group dynamics.

   
What is metacognition ?

Metacognition

metacognition
student's ability to reflect upon their knowledge of a given subject

   
What does inferring mean ?

Inferring

inferring
explaining an observation or set of observations

   

Concrete Operations

Concrete Operations

Third in Piaget's stages of Cognitive Development.

Children,from 7 to 11 years of age, have the capacity to think systematically, but only when they can refer to concrete objects and activities.

   

standardized test

standardized test
Assessment that is administered and scored exactly the same way for all students .

   

problem solving

problem solving

Method of learning where students consider strategies for solving a problem and evaluate their own thinking-usually collaboratively-in the process of solving this problem.

   

coaching

coaching

This is a method of supporting students who are acquiring new skills and enhancing the ones already in place.

   

manipulatives

manipulatives
Usually physical objects that are to be used within the context of problem solving or clarification of abstract concepts.

   

at-risk

at-risk

This phrase refers to children that are underserved by social service and educational systems.

   

Communicating

communicating
using the written and spoken word,graphs, drawing,diagrams,or tables to transmit information and ideas to others

   

curriculum frameworks

curriculum frameworks
Guidelines on what should be taught in order for students to acquire specific skills.

   
What´s a hypothesis ?

Formulating A Hypothesis

formulating a hypothesis
making educated guesses based on observations and inferences about the same class of objects or events

   

curriculum

curriculum
An instructional plan that outlines what students will know, how they are to acquire such knowledge, what the role of the teacher is, and the context within which such instruction is to occur.

   

Formal Operations

Formal Operations

Fourth in Piaget's stages of Cognitive Development

Young people, from ages 11 to adulthood, develop the capacity to think systematically on a purely abstarct and hypothetical plane.

   

assimilation

assimilation
incorporation of new concept into existing concept; integration of new material with an already existing schema.

   

inquiry

According to the National Science Education Standards,
inquiry refers to :

1.the abilities students should develop to be able to design and conduct scientific investigations and to the understandings they should gain about the nature of scientific inquiry,

and,

2. the teaching and learning strategies that enable scientific concepts to be mastered through investigations.

   
What is the GEAR UP program ?

GEAR UP for College Program

GEAR UP for College Program

This is a long-range college preparation and awareness program that gives low-income students and their families pathways to college by partnering middle and high schools with colleges and community organizations.

   

constructivism

constructivism
This approach stresses that students learn by fitting new knowledge with what they already know.

   

holistic scoring

holistic scoring
In this type of scoring, a single overall score is assigned to a performance. A score guide or anchor papers are usually used in this process.

   

Preoperational Thought

Preoperational Thought

This the second of Piaget's stages
of Cognitive Development.
From ages 2 to 7, children learn to think, use symbols and internal images,however, the thinking is usually unsystematic and illogical. It is most different from adult thinking.

   
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