Assessing Critical Thinking in Elementary Schools

Meet the AuthorRebecca Stobaugh has been a principal and middle and high school teacher. While serving as a teacher, she was named Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the Kentucky Council for Social Studies in 2004. In her position as a middle school principal, she focused on aligning curriculum, increasing the level of critical thinking in assessments and instruction, and establishing a school-wide discipline plan. She is the author of Assessing Critical Thinking in Middle and High Schools. She received a PhD from the University of Louisville. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor at Western Kentucky University, teaching assessment and unit-planning courses in the teacher education program. She supervises first-year teachers and consults with school districts on critical thinking, instructional strategies, assessment, technology integration, and other topics.

• Introduction: Engaging in Critical Thinking 1. Importance of Critical Thinking 2. Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy in Your Classroom 3. Misconceptions, Challenges, and a Solution 4. Interpretive Exercises: Scenarios and Real-World Applications 5. Interpretive Exercises: Visual Materials6. Interpretive Exercises: Quotations 7. Establishing a Culture of Thinking 8. Conclusion References