CLASS – Infant Version
The Classroom Assessment Scoring System™ (CLASS™) is an observational tool that provides a common lens, metric, and language to identify and describe the classroom interactions that promote children’s development and learning. Data from CLASS observations are used to support teachers’ professional development needs as well as provide system-wide data on the interactions children experience. Versions of CLASS currently exist for toddler to high school classrooms. This project focuses on developing the infant version of CLASS, with the intention of systematically identifying the types of teacher-child interactions that promote young children’s development.
The research team recently completed a pilot study on a version of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System™ - Infant Version, which provides a much-needed means for objectively describing the quality of interactions between caregivers and infants and the extent to which caregivers enable infants to learn about their environment.
The “CLASS-Infant” has been under development for the past two years. This version of the CLASS is based on an extensive review of the literature on infant development and effective teaching practices, as well as national guidelines, existing observation instruments, and expert review.
This version of the CLASS tool measures only one domain, focusing on verbal and physical interactions between infants and caregivers, including during periods of routine care. Dimensions included in the CLASS-Infant include Relational Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Facilitated Exploration, and Early Language Support.
Funding Source: Teachstone
Start/End dates: 2010 - 2011