OSAT Early Childhood Education flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight; develops in Piaget's sensorimotor stage, typically between 8 and 12 months of age.

Zone of proximal development

Vygotsky's concept describing the gap between what a child can do alone and what the child can do with adult or peer guidance; instruction targets this zone.

Initiative versus guilt

Erikson's psychosocial stage for ages 3–6 in which children assert power and purpose through play and choices; overcontrol produces guilt.

Conservation

Piagetian understanding that quantity, mass, or volume stays the same despite changes in appearance; typically absent in preoperational children and achieved in concrete operations.

Phonemic awareness

The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual phonemes, the smallest units of spoken sound; a strong predictor of later reading success.

Alphabetic principle

The understanding that letters represent sounds and that these sounds combine to form words; the foundation of decoding and spelling.

Invented spelling

Children's phonetic spellings that represent the sounds they hear, such as 'fon' for phone; a developmental stage that predicts conventional spelling growth.

Dialogic reading

An interactive shared-reading approach using PEER (prompt, evaluate, expand, repeat) and CROWD prompts to build vocabulary and comprehension in young children.

Cardinality

The counting principle that the last number named in a count tells how many objects are in the set; a key early number concept.

Subitizing

The instant, accurate recognition of small quantities without counting, usually up to four or five objects; supports early number sense.

Scientific inquiry

The process of observing, questioning, predicting, investigating, and drawing conclusions about the natural world; young children learn it through guided hands-on exploration.

Nonstandard measurement

Measuring with everyday objects such as paper clips, cubes, or hands before introducing standard units; builds comparison and unit concepts.

Elements of art

The basic visual components-line, shape, color, texture, space, form, and value-that children explore and use to create and describe artwork.

Process art

Open-ended art experiences focused on exploration and expression rather than a predetermined product; supports creativity and fine-motor development.

Lowenfeld stages

Developmental stages of children's drawing: scribble (2–4), preschematic (4–7), and schematic (7–9), moving from random marks to representational figures.

Creative drama

Improvised role-play and storytelling without scripts or props; builds language, empathy, and social understanding in early childhood classrooms.

Cephalocaudal development

The principle that motor control develops from head to toe, so infants gain head and trunk control before leg and walking skills.

Pincer grasp

Use of the thumb and index finger to pick up small objects, emerging around 9–12 months and foundational for self-feeding and early writing.

MyPlate

USDA nutrition guide dividing a plate into fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy; used to teach balanced meal planning to children and families.

Preschool activity guideline

Preschoolers need at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily, including 60 minutes of structured active play, according to national health recommendations.

Formative assessment

Ongoing collection of evidence during instruction to adjust teaching and provide feedback; examples include observations, questioning, and exit tickets.

Validity

The degree to which an assessment measures what it is intended to measure; a test can be reliable without being valid.

Running record

A detailed, shorthand record of a child's oral reading, including errors, self-corrections, and strategies; used to analyze reading behaviors and guide instruction.

Criterion-referenced test

An assessment that compares a child's performance to a defined standard or set of skills rather than to other children's scores.

Learning centers

Defined classroom areas with materials for specific activities, such as blocks, dramatic play, art, and books; support choice, independence, and integrated learning.

Visual schedule

A sequence of pictures or words showing the day's events; reduces anxiety, supports transitions, and builds time and sequencing concepts.

NAEYC space guideline

NAEYC recommends at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child and 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child.

Open-ended materials

Materials with no single correct use, such as blocks, sand, and paint, that invite exploration and creativity across developmental domains.

Mandated reporter

A professional legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to designated authorities; teachers must follow state reporting procedures promptly.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the confidentiality of student education records and gives parents rights to inspect and amend them.

NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct

A framework of core values, ideals, and principles guiding early childhood professionals' responsibilities to children, families, colleagues, and community.

Family engagement

Two-way, culturally responsive partnership between educators and families that supports children's learning and development across home and school settings.