Patterns in how pre-service elementary teachers formulate evidence-based claims about student cognition

Large-scale, robust implementation of teacher data-driven decision making (DDDM) is a challenging endeavor, impeded by numerous organizational, and teacher, factors. One well-documented barrier to teacher DDDM is underdevelopment of teacher data literacy. This study examines common errors made by pre-service elementary teachers in the formulation of evidence-based claims about student cognition (e.g. student strengths and weaknesses relative to content mastery) in a United States of America context. Teachers in the sample commonly made several errors in the articulation of evidence-based claims based on classroom assessments, including providing nonspecific, irrelevant evidence for claims, and misinterpreting statistical evidence. Specific implications for pre-service teacher education and future research are discussed.     

Measuring teachers’ content knowledge of language and reading

In the context of a longitudinal, four-year study of reading instruction in low-performing, high-poverty urban schools, we surveyed teacher knowledge of reading-related concepts, and established a modest predictive relationship between teachers’ knowledge, classroom reading achievement levels, and teachers’ observed teaching competence. There were significant associations among these variables at the third and fourth grade levels. To obtain this result, measures of teacher content knowledge in language and reading were refined in a three-stage process. Our purpose was to explore the type and level of questions that would begin to discriminate more capable from less capable teachers, and that would have a predictive relationship with student reading achievement outcomes. After experimenting with measurement of K-2 teachers’ content knowledge (Form #1), we piloted a Teacher Knowledge Survey with 41 second and third grade teachers in one study site (Form #2). We then refined and expanded the Survey (Form #3) and administered it to 103 third and fourth grade teachers in both project sites. Teachers’ misconceptions about sounds, words, sentences, and principles of instruction were pinpointed so that professional development could address teachers’ needs for insight and information about language structure and student learning.     

Teacher Evaluation and Teacher Effectiveness in the United Kingdom

An outline is given of the UK research situation for the knowledge bases of school effectiveness and teacher effectiveness, and the UK policy situation in terms of school and teacher evaluation, improvement and development. It is argued that the UK has seen a much greater use of school-level policies, reflecting its substantial school effectiveness research base, rather than teacher-level interventions, although there are currently some attempts at policy and practice level to focus upon teacher effects, teacher evaluation and related issues of professional development. Speculations are given concerning future policy and research needs.