The interactions between a teacher and a child are vital to a child’s learning and development. Research and developmental theory indicates that these interactions in early childhood classrooms, along with the overall learning environment, is foundational to learning. The quality of teacher-child interactions is assessed using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS).
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observation instrument which considers three categories, or domains, that support a child’s learning and development. The three umbrella domains are Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support.
Dimensions and Domains
Each of the three domains contains features, or dimensions, that look at detailed aspects of classroom interactions. Let’s take a quick look at the dimensions of each domain.
The dimensions of Emotional Support
This domain, often has been described as the heart and feeling of the classroom, focuses on creating a positive and nurturing environment.
Positive Climate
Reflects the emotional connection between a teacher and students demonstrated by verbal and nonverbal communication, such as smiles, warm verbal exchanges, and supportive gestures, which foster an environment of trust and positivity.
Negative Climate
Observes the overall expressed negativity from student to teacher and peer to peer. This dimension measures occurrences such as harsh discipline, expressions of anger, and hostility, which can undermine a student’s sense of security and well-being.
Teacher Sensitivity
Captures the teacher’s awareness of and response to the academic and emotional needs of their students. This dimension assesses how well the teacher notices when students are struggling or need emotional support and responds appropriately to help.
Regard for Student Perspectives
Focuses on the extent to which the teacher incorporates students’ interests and viewpoints into the lesson planning and classroom activities, thus promoting autonomy and enhancing motivation among students.
The dimensions of Classroom Organization
Described as the skeleton of the classroom environment, this domain provides the structure necessary for learning to occur efficiently.
Behavior Management
Measures the effectiveness of strategies used to organize, direct, and monitor student behavior to create a smooth flow of activities and interactions within the classroom. Effective behavior management is crucial for reducing disruptions and maximizing learning time.
Productivity
Evaluates how well the classroom time is managed, with specific focus on the efficiency of transitions, routines, and the pacing of lessons, which contributes to maximized learning opportunities.
Instructional Learning Format
Assesses the degree to which the teacher uses diverse instructional strategies and adapts activities to engage students actively. This dimension looks at how effectively the teacher maintains students’ interest and attention throughout instructional activities.
The dimensions of Instructional Support
This domain, seen as the brain of classroom activities, promotes cognitive and language development through effective teaching practices.
Concept Development
Involves the use of instructional discussions and activities that promote students’ higher-order thinking skills and cognition. This dimension is crucial for encouraging students to make connections, analyze information, and engage in creative problem-solving.
Quality of Feedback
Measures the responsiveness of the teacher to students’ ideas and performance. High-quality feedback is specific, expands learning, and provides scaffolding, which helps students understand and internalize concepts.
Language Modeling
Evaluates the teacher’s efforts to stimulate and support students’ language development through open-ended questions, restatements, and frequent conversations that introduce advanced vocabulary. Effective language modeling is essential for developing students’ expressive and receptive language skills.
Integration and Application of CLASS in Various Settings
The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is broadly integrated across diverse educational and child care settings, including public schools, private preschools, and Head Start programs. Its comprehensive approach to evaluating the quality of teacher-child interactions makes it an essential tool for these institutions.
Head Start programs, known for providing comprehensive child development services, utilize CLASS assessment scoring system extensively to ensure high-quality interactions between teachers and children. These programs focus on fostering the educational, social, and emotional development of children from varied socio-economic backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of effective educational and emotional interactions as core components of CLASS evaluations.
CLASS scores are also integral to many Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) across the United States. QRIS, like QSSB, are systematic approaches to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education settings. CLASS provides a standardized measurement of key aspects of teacher interactions and classroom management, which are critical metrics within QRIS for improving educational quality and outcomes.
Training, Professional Development, and Support
Educators looking to enhance their classroom practices can benefit from a variety of training and professional development opportunities. These programs are designed to equip educators with essential skills in observing and improving teacher-student interactions based on the CLASS framework. Alongside training, comprehensive support including coaching and access to a wealth of resource materials is available to ensure effective implementation and ongoing improvement. For detailed information on the latest training schedules and certification programs stay tuned to our professional development calendar. Teachstone’s official website is also a great resource for support services.
How Does Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Impact Student Success?
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) benefits programs by helping them improve their teacher-child interactions and therefore improve the overall quality of the classroom. It can help equip teachers with skills and knowledge to support students in a new way and prepare them for school. Teachstone research shows that children in classrooms with high CLASS scores experience stronger educational and social outcomes including: increased listening comprehension, stronger vocabulary and math skills, improved social-emotional awareness, reduced problem behaviors, positive attitudes towards learning and more!
How Does Quality Start Utilize Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)?
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is used in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), like QSSB, across the country. In California, CLASS is an element on the state matrix and is used to determine a site’s overall quality rating. QSSB determines and communicates a participating site’s rating. To prepare participants for the assessment, QSSB offers trainings throughout the year. Trainings include an overview of how the tool is utilized in early environments to more extensive observation trainings in which attendees have the opportunity to become reliable observers. Reliable observers gain an in-depth knowledge of the tool and are able to informally and formally observe teacher-child interactions and collect meaningful data. All of which helps to improve an environment’s overall quality. For those participating programs that are on the receiving end of a Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observation, the outcome helps support the formation of a Quality Improvement Plan and coaching services.
Additional Resources:
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- All Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) trainings will be posted to our QSSB calendar.
- Proving CLASS Effectiveness- A Research Summary
- Use of CLASS in Head Start