WGU C909 PRE-ASSESSMENT EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE GRADED A+
⩥ Constructivist Theory in Practice. Answer: For example: Groups of
students in a science class are discussing a problem in physics. Though
the teacher knows the "answer" to the problem, she focuses on helping
students restate their questions in useful ways. She prompts each student
to reflect on and examine his or her current knowledge. When one of the
students comes up with the relevant concept, the teacher seizes upon it,
and indicates to the group that this might be a fruitful avenue for them to
explore. They design and perform relevant experiments. Afterward, the
students and teacher talk about what they have learned, and how their
observations and experiments helped (or did not help) them to better
understand the concept.
⩥ Cognitive-constructivist view of reading. Answer: Aim to assist
students in assimilating new information to existing knowledge, as well
as enabling them to make the appropriate accommodations to their
existing intellectual framework to accommodate that information. Ex.
Because of Winn-Dixie; from her inference, and active knowledge of the
text says that people who have things in common often become friends.
⩥ Socio-cultural theory/Ex.. Answer: Extends the influence on the
cognitive-constructivist view out from the reader and the text into the
larger social realm. Learning is viewed as social rather than individual. -
,Lev Vygotsky Ex. Understanding the zone of proximal development can
be helpful for teachers.
In classroom settings, teachers may first assess students to determine
their current skill level. Educators can then offer instruction that
stretches the limits of each child's capabilities.
At first, the student may need assistance from an adult or a more
knowledgeable peer, but eventually, their zone of proximal development
will expand. Teachers can help promote this expansion by:
Planning and organizing their instruction and lessons: For example, the
teacher might organize the class into groups where less skilled children
are paired with students who have a higher skill level.
Using hints, prompts, and direct instruction to help kids improve their
ability levels.
Scaffolding, where the teacher provides specific prompts to move the
child progressively forward toward a goal.
⩥ Reader Response Theory. Answer: The main argument of reader-
response theory is that readers, as much as the text, play an active role in
a reading experience (Rosenblatt, 1994). This theory rejects the
structuralist view that meaning resides solely in the text. Words in a text
evoke images in readers' minds and readers bring their experiences to
this encounter.
⩥ Experiential Learning. Answer: As the name suggests, experiential
learning involves learning from experience. The theory was proposed by
psychologist David Kolb who was influenced by the work of other
theorists including John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget
,⩥ Oral Language Development. Answer: The complex system that
relates sounds to meanings, is made of three components: phonological,
(rules for combining sounds) semantic, (the smallest units of meaning
that may be combined to make up words) and syntactic (the rules that
combine morphemes into sentences). Reading and talking with children
plays an important role in developing their vocabulary. The more you
talk to children, the larger their vocabulary will develop. Note:
Pragmatic is also the rules that allow us to speak appropriately in
different settings
⩥ What are the stages of writing development?. Answer:
Scribbling/drawing
Letter like forms and shapes
Letters
Letters and spaces
Conventional writing and spelling (children in this stage spell most
words correctly with a reliance on knowledge of phonics to spell longer
words, they can punctuate, can properly use capital and lower case
letters. Writing different purposes is important, handwriting and spelling
becomes easier.
⩥ What are stages of reading development. Answer: Early Emergent
Emergent (understands alphabet, phonological awareness and knows
phonics, have command of high frequency words, developing
, comprehension and word attack skills, recognize types of texts, non-
fiction and fiction, and that reading has a variety of purposes).
Early Fluent
Fluent
⩥ What are the stages of the alphabetic phase. Answer: The written
forms of spoken, alphabetic language languages which use letters
(graphemes) in a code to represent the sounds of speech (phonemes)
specific sequences of letters form words, this is the alphabetic principle.
If we obeyed this principle we wouldn't have words like to, too, and two.
⩥ Gradual release of responsibility. Answer: Teaching approach that
incorporates scaffolding (building on what the student already knows) so
that the responsibility for the content is shifted from teacher to student.
⩥ Strategies for vocabulary/literacy development. Answer: Integration:
connecting new vocabulary to prior knowledge
Repetition: encountering/using the word concept many times
Meaningful use: multiple opportunities to use new words in reading,
writing, and soon discussion
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE GRADED A+
⩥ Constructivist Theory in Practice. Answer: For example: Groups of
students in a science class are discussing a problem in physics. Though
the teacher knows the "answer" to the problem, she focuses on helping
students restate their questions in useful ways. She prompts each student
to reflect on and examine his or her current knowledge. When one of the
students comes up with the relevant concept, the teacher seizes upon it,
and indicates to the group that this might be a fruitful avenue for them to
explore. They design and perform relevant experiments. Afterward, the
students and teacher talk about what they have learned, and how their
observations and experiments helped (or did not help) them to better
understand the concept.
⩥ Cognitive-constructivist view of reading. Answer: Aim to assist
students in assimilating new information to existing knowledge, as well
as enabling them to make the appropriate accommodations to their
existing intellectual framework to accommodate that information. Ex.
Because of Winn-Dixie; from her inference, and active knowledge of the
text says that people who have things in common often become friends.
⩥ Socio-cultural theory/Ex.. Answer: Extends the influence on the
cognitive-constructivist view out from the reader and the text into the
larger social realm. Learning is viewed as social rather than individual. -
,Lev Vygotsky Ex. Understanding the zone of proximal development can
be helpful for teachers.
In classroom settings, teachers may first assess students to determine
their current skill level. Educators can then offer instruction that
stretches the limits of each child's capabilities.
At first, the student may need assistance from an adult or a more
knowledgeable peer, but eventually, their zone of proximal development
will expand. Teachers can help promote this expansion by:
Planning and organizing their instruction and lessons: For example, the
teacher might organize the class into groups where less skilled children
are paired with students who have a higher skill level.
Using hints, prompts, and direct instruction to help kids improve their
ability levels.
Scaffolding, where the teacher provides specific prompts to move the
child progressively forward toward a goal.
⩥ Reader Response Theory. Answer: The main argument of reader-
response theory is that readers, as much as the text, play an active role in
a reading experience (Rosenblatt, 1994). This theory rejects the
structuralist view that meaning resides solely in the text. Words in a text
evoke images in readers' minds and readers bring their experiences to
this encounter.
⩥ Experiential Learning. Answer: As the name suggests, experiential
learning involves learning from experience. The theory was proposed by
psychologist David Kolb who was influenced by the work of other
theorists including John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget
,⩥ Oral Language Development. Answer: The complex system that
relates sounds to meanings, is made of three components: phonological,
(rules for combining sounds) semantic, (the smallest units of meaning
that may be combined to make up words) and syntactic (the rules that
combine morphemes into sentences). Reading and talking with children
plays an important role in developing their vocabulary. The more you
talk to children, the larger their vocabulary will develop. Note:
Pragmatic is also the rules that allow us to speak appropriately in
different settings
⩥ What are the stages of writing development?. Answer:
Scribbling/drawing
Letter like forms and shapes
Letters
Letters and spaces
Conventional writing and spelling (children in this stage spell most
words correctly with a reliance on knowledge of phonics to spell longer
words, they can punctuate, can properly use capital and lower case
letters. Writing different purposes is important, handwriting and spelling
becomes easier.
⩥ What are stages of reading development. Answer: Early Emergent
Emergent (understands alphabet, phonological awareness and knows
phonics, have command of high frequency words, developing
, comprehension and word attack skills, recognize types of texts, non-
fiction and fiction, and that reading has a variety of purposes).
Early Fluent
Fluent
⩥ What are the stages of the alphabetic phase. Answer: The written
forms of spoken, alphabetic language languages which use letters
(graphemes) in a code to represent the sounds of speech (phonemes)
specific sequences of letters form words, this is the alphabetic principle.
If we obeyed this principle we wouldn't have words like to, too, and two.
⩥ Gradual release of responsibility. Answer: Teaching approach that
incorporates scaffolding (building on what the student already knows) so
that the responsibility for the content is shifted from teacher to student.
⩥ Strategies for vocabulary/literacy development. Answer: Integration:
connecting new vocabulary to prior knowledge
Repetition: encountering/using the word concept many times
Meaningful use: multiple opportunities to use new words in reading,
writing, and soon discussion
