JTET Paper 2 key terms

The difference between what a learner can accomplish independently and what they can accomplish with guidance from a more capable peer or teacher. It marks the instructional range where learning is most productive.

Temporary support a teacher or peer gives a learner to complete a task that is initially too difficult. Support is gradually withdrawn as the learner gains competence and can work independently.

A Piagetian concept describing a child's understanding that the amount or quantity of a substance stays the same even when its appearance or container changes. It typically develops during the concrete operational stage.

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development, roughly ages seven to eleven. Children begin to think logically about concrete objects and events, understand conservation, and classify and seriate, but still struggle with abstract reasoning.

Piaget's term for a young child's difficulty in seeing a situation from another person's point of view. The child assumes others perceive, think, and feel exactly as they do.

A learning theory holding that learners actively build knowledge by connecting new information with prior experience, rather than passively receiving it. Teaching therefore emphasises exploration, questioning, and meaningful tasks.

Assessment carried out during teaching to monitor learning, identify misunderstandings, and adjust instruction. It is usually low-stakes and provides feedback to both learner and teacher.

Assessment administered at the end of a unit, term, or course to judge overall achievement against learning goals. It usually results in marks, grades, or certification.

Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation is a school assessment approach that assesses learners throughout the year and covers scholastic and co-scholastic areas, reducing dependence on a single terminal examination.

An approach in which children with diverse abilities, backgrounds, and needs learn together in regular classrooms, with the school adapting curriculum, teaching, and support so that all can participate.

A persistent difficulty in acquiring or using specific academic skills, such as reading, writing, or mathematics, despite adequate intelligence and instruction. It is not caused by sensory impairment or economic disadvantage.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, guarantees free and compulsory education to all children aged six to fourteen in India and sets norms for schools, teachers, and admission.

The smallest distinctive unit of sound in a language that can change meaning, such as the /p/ in 'pat' versus the /b/ in 'bat'. Languages differ in their phoneme inventories.

The smallest meaningful unit of language, which may be a free word like 'book' or a bound affix like '-s' in 'books'. Morphemes combine to form words.

A fast reading strategy used to get the general idea or gist of a text without reading every word. Readers sample headings, topic sentences, and key phrases.

A reading strategy for locating specific information, such as a date, name, or number, by moving the eyes quickly over the text rather than reading it fully.

A mental framework or organised body of prior knowledge that helps a reader interpret new information. Activating relevant schemata improves comprehension because readers connect text to what they already know.

Communicative Language Teaching is an approach that prioritises real communication and meaningful use of language over isolated grammar drills. Classroom tasks encourage learners to interact, negotiate meaning, and use language for authentic purposes.

The ability to understand and use two languages. In school settings, a child's home language can be used as a resource to support learning and to bridge to the school language.

The practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties within a conversation or lesson. It can help learners clarify meaning and participate when their second language is still developing.

The variety of language chosen for a particular situation, audience, or purpose, such as formal academic writing versus casual conversation. Register involves choices of vocabulary, grammar, and tone.

A language assessment in which words are deleted from a passage at regular intervals and the learner supplies the missing words using context and grammar. It measures reading comprehension and language proficiency.

The value of a digit determined by its position in a numeral, such as the 3 in 342 representing three hundreds. Understanding place value underpins computation and the base-ten number system.

A number that represents one or more equal parts of a whole or a collection, written as a numerator over a denominator. Fractions can be proper, improper, or mixed.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind; a proportion states that two ratios are equal. These concepts are used to solve problems involving scale, mixing, and comparison.

A way of expressing a number as a fraction of one hundred, denoted by the percent sign. It is used to compare quantities and to calculate discounts, interest, and data.

The lowest common multiple is the smallest number divisible by two or more given numbers, while the highest common factor is the largest number that divides them exactly. Both are used in fraction operations.

Perimeter is the distance around a closed shape, while area is the amount of surface it covers. They are measured in linear and square units respectively.

The process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make glucose and release oxygen. Chlorophyll in chloroplasts captures light energy for this process.

A sequence showing how energy and nutrients pass from one organism to another through feeding relationships, such as grass to grasshopper to frog to snake. It usually begins with a producer.

The continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, land, and oceans through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. It replenishes freshwater and influences weather and climate.

A systematic way of investigating questions through observation, forming a hypothesis, experimenting, collecting and analysing data, and drawing conclusions. It emphasises evidence and repeatability.

Imaginary lines that together form a grid for locating places on Earth. Latitude measures distance north or south of the equator, while longitude measures distance east or west of the prime meridian.

A seasonal reversal of wind direction that brings heavy rainfall to parts of South Asia, especially India. The Indian monsoon is crucial for agriculture and water supply.

The supreme law of India, adopted in 1949 and effective from 26 January 1950. It establishes the structure of government, fundamental rights, directive principles, and the federal system.

Basic rights guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution of India, including equality, freedom, protection from exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and constitutional remedies.

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent states or provinces, each with its own sphere of authority. India has a federal structure with a strong centre.

A system of local self-government in rural India, with elected bodies at village, block, and district levels. It is meant to promote democratic participation and decentralised planning.

An original document or object created at the time of the event being studied, such as a letter, diary, photograph, inscription, or artefact. It provides firsthand evidence for historical inquiry.

The presence of differences among people in culture, language, religion, gender, ability, and socioeconomic background. In education, diversity is addressed through inclusive and culturally responsive practices.