GACE Elementary Education (P-5) (702) cheat sheet

Phonemic awareness = manipulating individual sounds in spoken words; phonics = mapping sounds to letters in print.

Five essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Fluency is measured by words correct per minute (WCPM); it bridges word recognition and comprehension.

Dolch/Fry lists are high-frequency sight words; sight-word recognition supports automatic reading.

Running records and miscue analysis measure accuracy rate, error type (semantic, syntactic, graphophonic), and self-correction.

The writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing; revising addresses ideas and organization, editing addresses conventions.

Six Traits of Writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.

Narrative, informational/explanatory, and opinion/argument are the three text types emphasized in elementary writing standards.

Text complexity is judged by quantitative (readability), qualitative (structure, knowledge demands), and reader/task factors.

Place value is base-10: each position is 10 times the value of the position to its right.

Commutative property: a + b = b + a and a × b = b × a; associative property regroups without changing the result.

Distributive property: a × (b + c) = (a × b) + (a × c), the basis for multi-digit multiplication strategies.

Area of rectangle = length × width; perimeter of rectangle = 2(l + w).

Fractions are equivalent when numerator and denominator are multiplied or divided by the same nonzero number.

A fraction a/b is a division of a by b; dividing by a fraction is multiplying by its reciprocal.

Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division (left to right), addition/subtraction (left to right).

Mean = sum ÷ number of values; median = middle value when ordered; mode = most frequent; range = max − min.

Volume of a rectangular prism = length × width × height; area of a triangle = ½ × base × height.

Scientific inquiry sequence: question, hypothesis, controlled experiment, data collection, analysis, and conclusion.

Independent variable is changed by the investigator; dependent variable is measured; constants are held fixed.

States of matter: solid (fixed shape and volume), liquid (fixed volume, variable shape), gas (variable shape and volume).

Water cycle stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection/runoff.

Food chain order: producer → primary consumer → secondary consumer → decomposer; arrows show energy flow.

Photosynthesis: plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and release oxygen.

Earth's layers: crust, mantle, outer core (liquid), inner core (solid); the Sun is the center of the solar system.

Force = mass × acceleration (F = ma); an object at rest stays at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

Conductors (metals) allow heat/electricity to flow; insulators (rubber, wood, plastic) resist flow.

Three branches of U.S. government: legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces laws), judicial (interprets laws).

Checks and balances let each branch limit the others; the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments.

Five themes of geography: location, place, human–environment interaction, movement, and region.

Map tools: legend/key, scale, compass rose, and grid coordinates; latitude runs east–west, longitude north–south.

Supply and demand: when supply is low and demand high, price rises; surplus supply tends to lower price.

Primary sources (letters, diaries, artifacts) come from the time period; secondary sources interpret them.

Ancient river civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China) developed near rivers for farming and trade.

Economic sectors: primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services).

Five health-related fitness components: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, body composition.

FITT principle: Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type-the framework for designing fitness plans.

Target heart rate range is commonly estimated as 60–85% of maximum heart rate (220 − age).

MyPlate groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy; half the plate should be fruits and vegetables.

Communicable diseases spread via pathogens (bacteria, viruses); handwashing and vaccination reduce transmission.

Elements of art: line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space.

Principles of design: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity.

Primary colors (red, yellow, blue) mix to form secondary colors (orange, green, purple).

Piaget's stages: sensorimotor (0–2), preoperational (2–7), concrete operational (7–11), formal operational (11+).

Vygotsky's zone of proximal development is the gap between independent performance and assisted performance; scaffolding supports it.

Bloom's taxonomy (revised): remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, create-ordered by cognitive demand.

Formative assessment guides ongoing instruction; summative assessment measures learning at the end of a unit.

Differentiation modifies content, process, or product based on readiness, interest, and learning profile.

IEPs provide individualized special education services; Section 504 plans provide accommodations for disabilities.

Maslow's hierarchy orders needs from physiological and safety up to belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Classroom management: establish clear routines and expectations early; positive reinforcement increases desired behavior.