CLASS TOOL

The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observation instrument that assesses the quality of teacher-child interactions in center-based infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. CLASS includes three domains or categories of teacher-child interactions that support children's learning and development: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support. Within each domain are dimensions that capture more specific details about teachers' interactions with children.

Following their observations of teacher-child interactions, CLASS observers rate each dimension on a 7-point scale, from low to high.

• Scores of 1-2 mean the quality of teacher-child interactions is low. Classrooms in which there is poor management of behavior, teaching that is purely rote, or that lack interaction between teachers and children would receive low scores.

• Scores of 3-5, the mid-range, are given when classrooms show a mix of effective interactions with periods when interactions are not effective or are absent.

• Scores of 6-7 mean that effective teacher-child interactions are consistently observed throughout the observation period.

Emotional Support: Emotional Support assesses the degree to which teachers establish and promote a positive climate in their classroom through their everyday interactions.

Classrooms that score well in this domain have teachers that are responsive to children, acknowledge children's feelings or emotions, help children resolve problems, redirect challenging behavior, and support positive peer relationships. Observations provide evidence that teachers and children support and respect one another. Teachers are aware of and respond to children's academic and emotional needs and consistently provide comfort, reassurance and encouragement. There is an emphasis on children's interests, motivations and points of view.

Classroom Organization: Classroom Organization assesses classroom routines and procedures related to the organization and management of children's behavior, time and attention in the classroom. High-scoring classrooms feature consistent schedules, well-designed learning centers, established routines, and sensitive and appropriate guidance strategies. Staff work together as a team. Classrooms with these characteristics give children a sense of stability and predictability that supports exploring, thinking about, and learning new things.

Instructional Support: Instructional Support assesses the ways in which teachers implement the curriculum to effectively promote cognitive and language development. This domain measures how teachers support and extend children's thinking, problem solving and conversational skills, and vocabulary. Effective teachers support children's engagement by making concepts and skills relevant to their everyday lives, asking questions that encourage children to analyze and reason, providing the right amount of help and offering feedback that acknowledges children's attempts.