TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) — All Questions

What happened when teachers were trained to wait three to five seconds after asking questions?

• a.Weaker students answered more✓
• b.Student answers became shorter
• c.Fewer students answered at all
• d.Students asked fewer questions

Research found that after such training "The number of responses from students identified by the teacher as less able increased," and responses grew longer. Fewer answers is tempting if a pause seems awkward, but the opposite occurred.ERIC ED285497 (classroom questioning)

A student gives a partial answer. The teacher asks, "Can you explain why?" What technique is this?

• a.Grading
• b.Probing✓
• c.Lecturing
• d.Redirecting

Probing is used "to make students explore initial comments." Redirecting is tempting, but it turns the question to another student.ERIC ED285497 (classroom questioning)

Which question promotes the deepest thinking about a story?

• a."Where does the story take place?"
• b."How many chapters does the book have?"
• c."Why might she have changed her mind?"✓
• d."What is the character's name?"

Deep questions ask students to explain; IES recommends prompts for "deep-level" questions. The setting question is tempting because it is about the story, but it only asks for recall.IES Practice Guide: Organizing Instruction (2007)

About how much classroom time has research found is spent in question and response?

• a.About 90%
• b.None at all
• c.About 5%
• d.As much as 40%✓

Research indicates that "as much as 40% of classroom time is spent in a question-response mode." Ninety percent is tempting in question-heavy classes, but the research figure is 40%.ERIC ED383706 (wait time)

Which nonverbal response best encourages a student who is answering a question?

• a.Nodding and keeping eye contact✓
• b.Ruffling papers to signal time is short
• c.Looking at notes while the student speaks
• d.Writing on the board during the answer

Research on questioning lists "smiling, nodding, and maintaining eye contact" as proper nonverbal responses and looking at notes or ruffling papers as improper ones. Writing on the board is tempting because it may record the answer, but it turns attention away from the student.ERIC ED285497 (classroom questioning)

Which factor may be considered in deciding whether an educator's communication with a student was inappropriate?

• a.Whether the message was typed or written
• b.Whether it was made openly or concealed✓
• c.Whether the educator is a new teacher
• d.Whether the student earned good grades

Standard 3.9 lists "whether the communication was made openly, or the educator attempted to conceal the communication" among the factors. The typed-or-written option is tempting because the standard covers electronic messages, but the medium alone is not a listed factor.19 TAC 247.2

Which is one of the IES recommendations for improving adolescent literacy?

• a.Assign only independent silent reading
• b.Delay comprehension instruction until high school
• c.Provide explicit vocabulary instruction✓
• d.Eliminate discussion of texts

The IES guide's first recommendation is to "Provide explicit vocabulary instruction." Independent silent reading is tempting because it builds practice, but it is not one of the five recommendations.IES Practice Guide: Adolescent Literacy (2008)

According to the PPR framework, what should teachers vary in the instructional process?

• a.The grading scale for each student
• b.The school's bell schedule
• c.The state standards for each grade
• d.Teacher and student roles✓

The framework says a teacher "varies teacher and student roles in the instructional process." Varying the state standards is tempting as flexibility, but standards are set by the state.PPR framework, Competency 008

Which strategy does the PPR framework list for promoting student engagement?

• a.Lecturing
• b.Keeping the same groups all year
• c.Flexible groupings✓
• d.Eliminating wait time to keep pace

The framework names "using flexible instructional groupings, pacing lessons flexibly in response to student needs, including wait time." Keeping the same groups is tempting for consistency, but the framework calls for flexible grouping.PPR framework, Competency 008

Why does showing students how a skill applies in the real world help?

• a.It promotes motivation to learn✓
• b.It shortens the time needed for practice
• c.It replaces the state standards
• d.It removes the need for feedback

Research says "Relevance also promotes motivation, as does 'contextualizing' learning." Shortening practice is tempting as a benefit, but the research finding is about motivation.ERIC ED370200 (student motivation)

Which classroom climate best supports students' motivation to learn?

• a.A caring, respectful place where all belong✓
• b.A room where grades are posted by rank
• c.A competitive room where only top scores are praised
• d.A silent room where talking is never allowed

Research says that when students experience the classroom "as a caring, supportive place where there is a sense of belonging," they "participate more fully." A competitive room is tempting because it may push some students, but it does not build belonging.ERIC ED370200 (student motivation)

Under the 2024 ELPS, which emergent bilingual students receive intensive foundational second language acquisition instruction?

• a.K–12 students at pre-production, beginning or intermediate levels✓
• b.Only students who have been in U.S. schools five years
• c.Only students in grades 9–12 at any level
• d.Only students at the advanced level

The 2024 ELPS call for this instruction for students "in Kindergarten-Grade 12 who are at the pre-production, beginning, or intermediate level." Advanced students are tempting to include, but they engage with little to no support.19 TAC 120.20 (ELPS)

Which is a listening expectation in the 2024 ELPS?

• a.Write using a variety of sentence types
• b.Decode words using sounds and letters
• c.Spell words following conventional patterns
• d.Follow oral directions with accuracy✓

The listening expectations include "follow oral directions with accuracy." Decoding words is tempting because it involves sounds, but it is a reading expectation.19 TAC 120.20 (ELPS)

What benefit of cooperative learning for young children does research consistently report?

• a.Higher scores on every test
• b.Improved relationships with peers✓
• c.Faster reading speed in every child
• d.Less need for teacher planning

A research digest reports that "cooperative learning activities improve children's relationships with peers." Less need for planning is tempting, but cooperative learning requires careful structure.ERIC ED306003 (cooperative learning)

Which practice reflects the file management skills in the Technology Applications TEKS?

• a.Using random file names to save time
• b.Saving every file to the desktop
• c.Clear names and organized folders✓
• d.Keeping one copy with no backup

Students are expected to "identify effective file management strategies such as file naming conventions, local and remote locations, backup, hierarchy, folder structure." Saving to the desktop is tempting because it is easy, but it ignores organization and backup.19 TAC 126 (Technology Applications)

Which fair-use factor asks how much of a work is copied?

• a.The purpose and character of the use
• b.The effect on the potential market
• c.The nature of the copyrighted work
• d.The amount of the work used✓

One of the four factors is "the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole." The purpose factor is tempting because it is often discussed first, but it concerns why the work is used.17 U.S.C. 107

Under federal rules on children's online privacy, a "child" is under what age?

• a.13✓
• b.10
• c.18
• d.16

The rule defines "Child" as "an individual under the age of 13." Eighteen is tempting because it is the age of majority, but the online privacy rule uses 13.16 CFR 312.2

Students collect, organize, analyze and publish data for an audience. Which Technology Applications strand is this?

• a.Practical technology concepts
• b.Data literacy, management, and representation✓
• c.Digital citizenship
• d.Creativity and innovation

The TEKS describe this strand: "Students collect, organize, manage, analyze, and publish various types of data for an audience." Digital citizenship is tempting because publishing involves ethics, but the task centers on data.19 TAC 126 (Technology Applications)

An educational app shows students ads chosen from their activity in the app. What does Texas law say?

• a.It is allowed if the app is free
• b.It is allowed for students over age ten
• c.It bars ads targeted this way✓
• d.It is allowed during school hours only

Texas law bars operators from engaging "in targeted advertising" based on information acquired through their school-purpose service. Free apps is tempting because cost seems relevant, but the prohibition does not depend on price.Texas Education Code 32.152

Some students have little experience using keyboards and software. Before grading a typed project, what should the teacher do?

• a.Teach the needed skills in class first✓
• b.Excuse those students from the project
• c.Grade typing speed along with content
• d.Require families to teach the skills at home

The framework asks teachers to identify "and addresses disparities related to the use of technology," which includes differences in experience. Excusing students is tempting because it seems kind, but it removes their learning.PPR framework, Competency 009

A projector displaying a lesson is an example of what?

• a.An input device
• b.A storage device
• c.A network server
• d.An output device✓

The Technology Applications TEKS expect students to "apply appropriate technology terminology such as cloud applications, input, output"; a projector sends information out. An input device is tempting because projectors connect to computers, but input devices send information in.19 TAC 126 (Technology Applications)

Which is an example of formative assessment that does not require a test?

• a.Watching a discussion to adjust teaching✓
• b.Ranking students by their state test scores
• c.Giving a final exam at the end of the course
• d.Reporting grades on a report card

Because formative assessment aims to understand what students know "in order to make responsive changes," techniques "such as teacher observation and classroom discussion have an important place." The final exam is tempting because it is an assessment, but it is summative.ERIC ED470206 (formative assessment)

Which feedback best matches the IES recommendation for prescriptive, informational feedback?

• a."Drawing a diagram first helped you solve it."✓
• b."Try harder next time."
• c."You got 8 out of 10."
• d."You are a math genius."

IES describes feedback that "focuses on strategies, effort, and the process of learning." "Try harder next time" is tempting because it mentions effort, but it gives no information about what worked.IES Practice Guide: Girls in Math and Science (2007)

What is a scoring rubric?

• a.A list of students ranked by score
• b.A schedule for grading assignments
• c.A scheme describing quality levels✓
• d.A test of students' learning styles

"Scoring rubrics are descriptive scoring schemes that are developed by teachers or other evaluators to guide the analysis of the products or processes of students' efforts." A ranked list is tempting because rubrics produce scores, but a rubric describes quality levels.ERIC ED446110 (scoring rubrics)

Before writing a performance assessment, what should a teacher identify first?

• a.The number of students who will pass
• b.Timing
• c.Its purpose and objectives✓
• d.The grade each student deserves

"Before a performance assessment or a scoring rubric is written or selected, the teacher should clearly identify the purpose of the activity." The number who will pass is tempting as planning, but purpose and objectives come first.ERIC ED481714 (performance assessment)

What does research show about teaching self-monitoring strategies to students with learning disabilities?

• a.They perform worse than before
• b.They show no change in performance
• c.They no longer need any services
• d.They show performance gains✓

Research reports that students with learning disabilities "who are taught to use self-monitoring strategies related to their understanding of reading and writing tasks also show performance gains." No longer needing services is tempting as an overstatement, but gains do not end eligibility.ERIC ED470206 (formative assessment)

Why can feedback that emphasizes effort help lower-achieving students?

• a.It lets them avoid difficult work
• b.It shows effort can bring improvement✓
• c.It guarantees higher grades right away
• d.It compares them favorably with peers

Such feedback "may be particularly helpful to lower achieving students because it emphasizes that students can improve as a result of effort." Guaranteeing higher grades is tempting, but the benefit is the belief that effort leads to improvement.ERIC ED470206 (formative assessment)

Which is an example the PPR framework gives of a situation calling for a flexible response?

• a.A routine attendance check
• b.An unanticipated learning opportunity✓
• c.A planned unit test
• d.A scheduled fire drill

The framework names "lack of student engagement in an activity" and "the occurrence of an unanticipated learning opportunity." A scheduled fire drill is tempting because it interrupts class, but it is planned, not an instructional opportunity.PPR framework, Competency 010

The 2025 SBEC pedagogy standards call for feedback that emphasizes what?

• a.Comparison with the top student in class
• b.Only the final grade on each assignment
• c.Mistakes, without mention of strengths
• d.Effort, improvement, strengths and areas for growth✓

The standards call for "frequent, timely, and specific explanatory feedback that emphasizes effort, improvement, and acknowledges students' strengths and areas for growth." Mistakes only is tempting as honest feedback, but the standard includes strengths.19 TAC 235.21

Which strategy helps students decide what they still need to study?

• a.Rereading notes the night before
• b.Highlighting every line of the text
• c.Delayed judgments of learning✓
• d.Cramming

IES recommends teaching students "how to use delayed judgments of learning to identify content that needs further study." Rereading notes is tempting because it is common, but it does not show what students actually remember.IES Practice Guide: Organizing Instruction (2007)

What does it mean to interleave worked examples with problem solving?

• a.Give problems only, with no examples
• b.Alternate solved examples with problems✓
• c.Show examples only, with no problems
• d.Give all examples first, then all problems

IES recommends that students "alternate between reading already worked solutions and trying to solve problems on their own." All examples first is tempting because it seems orderly, but it is not alternating.IES Practice Guide: Organizing Instruction (2007)

During a class discussion, the teacher asks another student to respond to a classmate's idea. What is the benefit?

• a.Only strong students get to speak
• b.The teacher avoids having to evaluate answers
• c.The discussion ends more quickly
• d.More students take part and build ideas✓

Redirecting enables "more students to participate" and builds student-to-student discussion. Ending the discussion quickly is tempting as a time saver, but it is not the purpose.ERIC ED285497 (classroom questioning)

Which practice best helps emergent bilingual students learn content vocabulary?

• a.Teaching key words over several days, varied ways✓
• b.Avoiding academic words to reduce difficulty
• c.Using only the students' first language for terms
• d.Giving a long list of words to memorize at once

IES recommends teaching "a set of academic vocabulary words intensively across several days using a variety of instructional activities." Avoiding academic words is tempting because it reduces difficulty, but students need those words for content learning.IES Practice Guide: English Learners (2014)

In the BICS and CALP distinction, what does CALP refer to?

• a.Content area literacy program
• b.Cognitive academic language proficiency✓
• c.Conversational and listening proficiency
• d.Classroom attendance and learning plan

The distinction contrasts "BICS (basic interpersonal communicative skills) and CALP (cognitive academic" language proficiency). Conversational proficiency is tempting, but that is BICS.ERIC ED438551 (BICS and CALP)

According to the 2025 SBEC standards, how do teachers ensure a high degree of student engagement?

• a.Fewer assignments and less practice
• b.Explicit instruction, discussion, feedback and deliberate practice✓
• c.Rewards for students who stay quiet
• d.Longer lectures with fewer interruptions

The standards say teachers "ensure a high degree of student engagement through explicit instruction, student discussion, feedback, and opportunities for deliberate practice." Longer lectures is tempting as explicit instruction, but engagement requires discussion and practice too.19 TAC 235.21