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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the name of the neighborhood in which Kelly School was located?

2. What was unusual about Pedro's uncle who lived with him?

3. When was Kelly School built?

4. What was the Highland Dingle?

5. What was the "cafetorium?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the subject of Kidder's story? Is it fiction or non-fiction? How does he go about learning about his subject?

2. What was math class like for Mrs. Zajac? Why did they provide a particular challenge for her? How did she meet the challenge?

3. What happened in the 1970's to the town of Holyoke? How did this affect the town and its economy? What plans did the state and local governments come up with to renew Holyoke?

4. Where was Mrs. Zajac born, and where did she grow up? What did her father do for a living? What was a unique quality about the town in which she was born?

5. Why were Fridays good days in Mrs. Zajac's fifth grade class? How did they compare to Mondays?

6. How was Robert's behavior in class? What were Mrs. Zajac's concerns about both his work and his behavior? What new behaviors had Mrs. Zajac noticed?

7. What were Mrs. Zajac's concerns about Pedro? What was his behavior like in class? What plan did she come up with learn more about Pedro?

8. What were the demographics of Kelly School? Were they in line with the demographics of the community? What else do we know about the families attending Kelly School?

9. What was Mrs. Zajac's favorite saying, or mantra, to her students? What does she want her students to understand about learning?

10. Who was Alphonse Laudato? What kind of job did he have at Kelly School? Did Mrs. Zajac like him? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who were some of the leading people in the history of the philosophy of education? What did each of them believe public education should be in America? Have any of their visions come true? Discuss.

Essay Topic 2

At the Science Fair, Mrs. Zajac decided to speak to Al about rethinking the fair because it may not be appropriate for Kelly School. Later, when she saw the disappointment and frustration of the students who did not receive an award, she told herself to remember to give all students awards next time. Why did she think a science fair might not be appropriate for the school? Explain how Mrs. Zajac could feel both things simultaneously. What does this say about her as a teacher?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Mrs. Zajac and her student teacher Miss Hunt. Are there traits they share in common? What are some of the ways the two women contrast each other.

(see the answer keys)

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