Chapter 5 Knowledge Check

Chapter 5

Quiz yourself using the following chapter review questions to check how well you can recall the material.

Review Questions

1. Which of the following is an example of an anti-bias approach in early childhood education?
   1. Avoiding discussions about identity and diversity can reinforce biases rather than prevent discomfort.
   2. Encourages children to explore, appreciate, and celebrate diversity while addressing stereotypes and injustices
   3. Differences matter and should be acknowledged in a way that promotes respect and inclusion.
   4. Educators should not proactively engage children in discussions about diversity rather than waiting for them to ask.
2. What is a key reason educators must move beyond an anti-bias approach and also be anti-racist in their teaching?
   1. Because all children naturally view everyone equally, regardless of what they are taught.
   2. Because BIPOC children are disproportionately impacted by education systems and internalize messages from their environments.
   3. Because textbooks and stories should only reflect one cultural perspective to maintain consistency.
   4. Because racism no longer exists in educational settings.
3. According to Zaretta Hammond (2014), which of the following is NOT a culturally responsive teaching strategy?
   1. Encouraging interactive games that focus on social and verbal interactions.
   2. Allowing children to engage in conversations during lessons and storytime.
   3. Providing only pre-selected books from the dominant culture for classroom reading.
   4. Inviting families and elders to share or record stories for children to hear.
4. According to theories and brain research, what is happening during the first eight years of a child’s life?
   1. Children primarily focus on meeting developmental milestones and do not yet engage in social learning.
   2. Children experience exponential cognitive growth and are actively learning about themselves and others.
   3. Children only learn from their families, and classroom experiences have little influence on their development.
   4. Children learn at a slow and steady pace, gradually picking up cultural and social norms over time.
5. What is an important step educators should take when a child notices and asks about differences in others?
   1. Ignore the comment to avoid making the child or others uncomfortable.
   2. Respond with a positive acknowledgment and affirm the difference.
   3. Quickly change the topic to prevent further discussion
   4. Tell the child it’s not polite to talk about differences.
6. According to Derman-Sparks, LeeKeenan, and Nimmo (2023), culturally _______ care goes beyond cultural responsiveness by actively integrating and honoring the cultural strengths, knowledge, and practices within educational and caregiving settings
7. To create culturally responsive and equitable learning opportunities, educators must understand the lived  _______ of the family and the child outside of the classroom.
8. According to Dr. Shullman, President of the American Psychological Association, we are living in a  _______ pandemic,  which leads to psychological and physical issues, as well as historical trauma.
9.  _______ goes beyond “fairness” and provides us with a framework to understand the impact of our biases and oppression on children and families and how we can address them.
10. The concept of  _______ was developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how social identities overlap, leading to unique experiences of discrimination and privilege.
11. True or False. Culture plays a significant role in shaping how we understand, learn, and interact with the world around us.
12. True or False. The opportunity gap exists because some children inherently lack the ability and capacity to learn.
13. True or False. Throughout the history of public and early childhood education, all children have had equal access to education regardless of race.
14. True or False. In the United States, the dominant social groups set the standards for appropriate and acceptable behavior, while marginalized groups often experience systemic disadvantages.
15. True or False. Biases are learned through cultural upbringing and socialization, and while explicit biases are conscious, implicit biases influence our actions unconsciously.

Answer Key

1. Encourages children to explore, appreciate, and celebrate diversity while addressing stereotypes and injustices. The Anti Bias approach requires teachers to explore with children and teach about diversity and learn about stereotypes and injustices based on one’s identities
2. Because BIPOC children are disproportionately impacted by education systems and internalize messages from their environments. The Anti-racist approach requires teachers to critically examine the materials they use, the perspectives they teach from, and the implicit messages being conveyed, and being anti-racist can create learning environments that affirm all children’s identities and experiences.
3. Providing only pre-selected books from the dominant culture for classroom reading. Culturally responsive teaching encourages diverse storytelling and perspectives rather than limiting children to books from the dominant culture. Including family stories and different cultural narratives helps children connect with their learning in meaningful ways.
4. Children experience exponential cognitive growth and are actively learning about themselves and others. The first eight years are a time of rapid brain development. During this stage, children are not only reaching developmental milestones but also actively learning about their identities, cultural norms, and social expectations from their families, teachers, and communities.
5. Respond with a positive acknowledgment and affirm the difference. When children notice and ask about differences, it’s important to acknowledge them in a positive way. This helps affirm diversity and ensures that children understand differences are valued and welcomed in the classroom.
6. Sustaining. Cultural sustaining care is not just about being responsive or inclusive—it actively sustains and perpetuates cultural strengths, knowledge, and practices, ensuring that historically marginalized cultures continue to thrive.
7. Experiences. Understanding lived experiences helps educators recognize the unique challenges and strengths of each family, allowing them to create more equitable and culturally responsive learning environments.
8. Racism. Dr. Shullman describes racism as a pandemic to highlight its widespread and harmful impact on individuals’ mental and physical well-being, as well as the historical trauma it perpetuates.
9. Equity is more than just fairness—it requires actively addressing systemic barriers and ensuring that all children and families receive the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
10. Intersectionality helps us understand that people experience discrimination and privilege in complex ways based on the combination of their social identities.
11. True. Culture is a powerful force in shaping our perspectives, values, and ways of learning. It influences how we interpret information, communicate, and interact with others. Recognizing this helps educators create more inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.
12. False. The opportunity gap is not about children’s inherent abilities but rather about the structural inequities that prevent all children, especially BIPOC children, from having the same access to learning opportunities. Teachers play a crucial role in creating equitable opportunities for all children.
13. False. Historically, children of enslaved people were denied access to education, and Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools. These systemic inequities continue to impact education today. Understanding this history helps us work toward a more equitable system.
14. True. Dominant social groups in the U.S. shape societal norms and expectations, while marginalized groups often face systemic barriers and inequities. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for fostering equity and inclusion in education and beyond.
15. True. Biases develop through cultural and social influences. Explicit biases are those we are aware of, while implicit biases operate unconsciously, shaping our decisions and interactions without us realizing it. Recognizing both types of bias is essential for fostering equity and inclusivity.