Study Guide

Field 037: Prekindergarten (Subtest II)
Sample Constructed-Response Assignments

The following materials contain:

Directions for Constructed-Response Assignments

For each constructed-response assignment in this section, you are to prepare a written response of approximately 150–200 words in the response-box on-screen. Read the assignments carefully before you begin to write. Think about how you will organize your responses. You may use the erasable sheets to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your score will be based solely on the version of your responses typed in the on-screen response box presented with each assignment.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
  • Content Knowledge: The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
  • Support: The extent to which the response provides relevant and specific support

Evaluation of each response will be based on the criteria above, not on your writing ability. Your responses, however, must be communicated clearly enough to permit a valid judgment of your knowledge and skills. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in the field.

Your responses must be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work. You may not use any reference materials. Remember to review what you have written and make any changes you think will improve your responses. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English.

Sample Constructed-Response Assignment #1

Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows.

A preschool teacher with a class of four-year-old children wants to create a learning experience that will promote the children's interpersonal skills in recognizing the needs and wants of others.

  • Describe one learning experience the teacher could use to promote the children's interpersonal skills in recognizing the needs and wants of others; and
  • explain why this learning experience would be effective for this purpose.

Sample Strong Response to Constructed-Response Assignment #1

   The teacher could design brief role-playing activities in which children enact classroom and playground situations containing realistic social conflict. These conflicts could include a child being excluded from a game, a child accusing another child of stealing, a child being bullied, or a child unable to find a seat at snack time. The children would role-play one of these scenarios, and then the class would discuss how each person in this scenario might feel, what they might want, and what they might need.
   This learning experience would be effective because the children would be active participants in the learning process, and it would help them think about how it feels to be one of the people in each side of the scenario. It would help children develop the empathetic skills that are needed to recognize other peoples' needs and wants. It would also give them practice for using appropriate and effective language in particular situations.

Sample Constructed-Response Assignment #2

Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows.

A teacher working with three-year-old children wants to promote their cognitive skills by having them describe the physical properties of objects.

  • Describe an activity that would promote the children's skills in describing the physical properties of objects; and
  • explain why this activity would be effective for this purpose.

Sample Strong Response to Constructed-Response Assignment #2

   One activity that the teacher could use with three-year-old children would be creating a 'touch box.' A 'touch box' is simply a box into which an object is placed. A hole in one side of the box allows children to reach their hands in to touch and feel the object without being able to see it. Children are then asked to describe the object inside the box.
   Having children describe what they feel inside the 'touch box' would help build their expressive language skills. Children most often use information from visual cues to describe the world around them. This activity would help them focus on other properties of objects and prompt them to use new ways to describe objects.

Performance Characteristics

Responses are scored holistically based on the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
Content Knowledge The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
Support The extent to which the response provides relevant and specific support

Scoring Scale

The three points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
3
 The "3" response reflects a thorough understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response thoroughly achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates an accurate and effective application of relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides relevant and specific support.
2
 The "2" response reflects a general understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response largely achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a generally accurate and generally effective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides some relevant support.
1
 The "1" response reflects limited or no understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response partially achieves or fails to achieve the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a limited, inaccurate or ineffective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides limited or no relevant support.
U
 The response is unrelated to the assignment, is unreadable, is primarily in a language other than English, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B
 There is no response to the assignment.