Currently, a significant number of states are in the process of implementing a high-stakes teacher evaluation (HSTE) system. In many ways, Louisiana’s teacher evaluation system, Compass, is typical of the models that many states have adopted. This article reports the experiences of 37 elementary teachers from five districts across Louisiana after their first 2 years under this system. It is through the multiple lenses of teacher support, autonomy, self-efficacy, and satisfaction that we sought to understand how Compass has shaped teachers’ motivation for improvement as well as their continued commitment to the teaching profession. Analysis of longitudinal interview data reveals a widespread lack of support for change in the form of self-efficacy building experiences—particularly vicarious experiences—for teachers. As a result, many teachers experienced, by the second year, significant negative arousal events and profound losses of satisfaction and commitment to the profession—this despite most being rated as “highly effective.”

No abstract

Critical thinking is not a new concept in the world of education. However, teaching it to university students in teacher education programs can be difficult. Teaching these skills to students in grade school, especially in the early childhood classroom, comes with its own set of challenges. This chapter outlines strategies for teaching critical thinking skills in interesting and innovative ways, both at the university and early childhood level. Of particular interest is the project approach. During the three phases of this approach, children act as young investigators and apply critical thinking skills in their daily work. Future trends in both teacher education and the education of young children are also identified.

Research into young children’s leadership skills is sparse and focuses on leadership in early childhood classroom contexts. Understanding of leadership development in young children can be expanded by studying parents’ perceptions of children’s leadership development as it is enacted in contexts outside of the school. This qualitative study examined beliefs, practices, and contextual relationships of families with young children who were identified by teachers within their schools as having strong leadership skills. Student leaders were identified according to the Leadership subscale of the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students, 3rd ed. Four mothers and three fathers of identified first graders who met gender and ethnic selection criteria participated. Interviews were conducted with structured and unstructured open-ended questions, and parent journals were collected from participants. Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development as a guide, parental perceptions of contextual influences on young children’s leadership development were investigated. Findings indicate that parents were intentional in trying to develop characteristics and dispositions in their children to help them become good citizens but did not necessarily consider their actions as also building early leadership skills. Information concerning contextual situations, relationships, tools, and characteristics of early leadership development is shared. As parents discussed opportunities for their first graders to develop leadership skills, an unexpected theme emerged regarding benefits of rural living for young leadership development.

Critical thinking is not a new concept in the world of education. However, teaching it to university students in teacher education programs can be difficult. Teaching these skills to students in grade school, especially in the early childhood classroom, comes with its own set of challenges. This chapter outlines strategies for teaching critical thinking skills in interesting and innovative ways, both at the university and early childhood level. Of particular interest is the project approach. During the three phases of this approach, children act as young investigators and apply critical thinking skills in their daily work. Future trends in both teacher education and the education of young children are also identified.