Chapter 8: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Question 1

in middle childhood, children’s physical growth _______ from the frantic pace of early childhood

Answer 1

slows

Question 2

during middle childhood, children typically acquire the motor skills that will foster _______________, ____________ _________, and a sense of ________________

Answer 2

independence, academic success, and a sense of competence

Question 3

adrenarche

Answer 3

the first hormonal changes preparing the body for puberty, typically occurring between ages 5 and 9

Question 4

secondary sex characteristics

Answer 4

the physical markers of what makes people look like adult males or females after puberty. Secondary sex characteristics include pubic hair, facial hair, the adam’s apple and breasts

Question 5

primary sex characteristics

Answer 5

the physical markers that babies are typically born with, like genitals

Question 6

experts recommend that children aged 6-12 get ___ and ___ hours of sleep at night

Answer 6

9 and 12

Question 7

concrete operations

Answer 7

Piaget believed that children’s logical thinking abilities gradually improve throughout middle childhood

Question 8

seriation

Answer 8

the ordering of objects in a series according to an abstract rule

Question 8

selective attention

Answer 8

their ability to control their focus, improves dramatically over middle childhood, but it is still not at adult levels

Question 9

semantic memory

Answer 9

the mental store for facts and information

Question 10

rehearsal

Answer 10

a memorization technique that involves repetition, either out loud, in your head, in front of someone else, or on paper

Question 11

elaboration

Answer 11

adding information to the facts you need to remember so that they become more detailed and easier to recall

Question 12

metamemory

Answer 12

the awareness of the process of remembering

Question 13

metacognition

Answer 13

awareness of how you are thinking and reflecting on it

Question 14

IQ

Answer 14

a person’s score on a standardized intelligence test which, for most people, is between 85 and 115

Question 15

theory of multiple intelligences

Answer 15

Gardner’s idea that intelligence is a broad set of discrete abilities and that all children have components of all these intelligences

Question 16

theory of successful intelligence

Answer 16

Sternberg’s idea that intelligence can best be measured by how you create a successful life through three types of intelligence

Question 17

pragmatics

Answer 17

knowing how to talk with other people including, what is appropriate to talk about, and how to interpret tone of voice, gestures, and other cues

Question 18

literacy

Answer 18

reading and writing skills

Question 19

numeracy

Answer 19

the ability to manipulate numbers and do arithmetic

Question 20

phonics-based instruction

Answer 20

instruction that builds children’s reading skills by reinforcing the links between letters and their sounds

Question 21

whole-language approach

Answer 21

instruction that is based on the idea that children will learn how to read more effectively in an environment that weaves literacy into everything they do

Question 22

self-efficacy

Answer 22

the belief in one’s ability to make a change or have an impact

Question 23

grit

Answer 23

the ability to persevere in order to achieve a long-term goal

Question 24

specific learning disorders

Answer 24

difficulties with language development, reading, or arithmetic that lead to problems functioning in school or at home

Question 25

intellectual disabilities

Answer 25

difficulties with academics, practical skills, or social relationships

Question 26

gifted education

Answer 26

an academic program for children who may need advanced or specialized education in order to meet their potential

Question 27

classification

Answer 27

the categorization and grouping of objects according to multiple dimensions