Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)

ECFE/Family Learning/RSK staff--at the end of the all staff meeting last Wednesday, I gave you a packet of handouts from CLASS. Thinking backwards, I should have hung on to those until we had time to talk more about what the CLASS is, what it provides for you and what the expectations for your using the CLASS are. As the old saying goes, hind sight is always 20/20.

SO: here is the background on the CLASS and how we will be using it during our winter-spring semester.

The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observation instrument developed at the University of Virginia to assess classroom quality in preschool through third-grade classrooms. CLASS dimensions are based on developmental theory and research suggesting that interactions between students and adults are the primary mechanism of student development and learning. The dimensions are based solely on interactions between teachers and students in classrooms.

At the broadest level, interactions between teachers and student can be grouped into 3 domains: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization and Instructional Support. We will start by exploring and examining 3 aspects of the Emotional Support domain--positive climate, teacher sensitivity and regard for student perspective.

The aspects of Classroom Organization, which you have in your packet, are behavior management, productivity and instructional learning formats. The aspects of Instructional Support are concept development, quality of feedback and language modeling. It would be a good idea to read through these at this time. All 3 domains contribute to classroom quality.

The CLASS is designed as a scoring assessment tool. At the training I attended, the group was introduced to that concept but we were not trained as CLASS scorers or assessors. The training was sponsored by the state and the state is interested in seeing how the CLASS could be used to help improve preschool program quality for all. One of the state concerns is that the yearly School Readiness report continues to show that approximately 50% of the children entering school are not ready for kindergarten. If the CLASS can help positively impact the critical component of teacher-student relationships, then this may be something the state will pursue more vigorously.

As I look at Emotional Support, I see many ideas that you all implement regularly. I think there are a few that you can 'up the ante' with and pay special attention to or emphasize more. I wonder if there are some that you think are overlooked in your classrooms and what you might do about that.

Please come prepared to our next staff development meeting to talk about these. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks!