Minnesota’s Got CLASS™: How Early Care and Education Programs Use the CLASS™ to Improve Teaching Practice

8:00am-4:30pm, Thursday, November 11, 2010
Continuing Education and Conference Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

This gathering was the first statewide conference focusing on how the CLASS™ is being used in MN! The CLASS™ (Classroom Assessment Scoring System™) is an observational tool used to measure classroom quality in preschool through third grade classrooms. The CLASS™ focuses on interactions between teachers and students and how each interacts with their environment. The CLASS™ is comprised of three general domains:

• Emotional Support
• Classroom Organization, and
• Instructional Support. 

The purpose of this conference was raise awareness, share best practice and describe classroom quality for research projects currently using the CLASS™. Feedback from featured sessions will be provided to state agencies currently supporting CLASS™ initiative.

Click on the thumbnails below to view video presentations. 

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Presenters: Amy Susman-Stillman, CEED; Michelle Leinhart, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Gayle Kelly, Minnesota Head Start Association

 

Welcome (11:40)

 

Keynote: National Trends in CLASS Usage

Dr. Bridget Hamre is a senior scientist and Associate director of the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and co-author of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System. She works on a variety of projects which relate to teacher interactions with students and how those interactions promote positive academic and social outcomes.

 

Keynote, Part 1 (16:36) |
Presentation Handout (9 pages)

 

 

 

Keynote, Part 2 (12:51)

 

 

 

Keynote, Part 3 (20:41) 

 

 

 

Keynote, Part 4 (7:43)

 

Track 1: CLASS Overview

Presenter: Yvonne Godber, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

This session provides a general overview of the domains and dimensions within the CLASS™ PreK tool. For those with little knowledge of the CLASS™.

• Presentation handout (2 pages)

Professional Development on the Reflective Practice Model

Presenter: Mary Ann Marchel, University of Minnesota, Duluth

In this session, participants learned unique ways in which the CLASS has been used as a measure in studies of reflective supervision in early care and education settings. Reflective supervision is a technique used to help providers identify challenges, thoughts and feelings which are directly connected to their work. An overview of the relation between reflective supervision and the CLASS™ was presented.

 

Reflective Practice, Part 1 (20:29) | Presentation handout (6 pages)

 

 

 

Reflective Practice, Part 2 (12:20)

 

 

 

Reflective Practice, Part 3 (17:43)

 

 

 

Reflective Practice, Part 4 (18:18)

 

 

Resources for Reflective Practice and Coaching (1 page) 

Data Driven Program Improvements: How to Use Your Data

Presenters: Vicki Hawley, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Katie Gag, Tri-Valley Migrant Head Start

In this session, participants learned how to interpret CLASS™ observation scores and make program improvements based on available program resources. Tips for how to determine priorities based on data were discussed.

 

How to Use Data (21:17)
Presentation handout (4 pages)

 

How CLASS™ is Used in Different Early Care and Education Programs

Panel: Dena Roberts, Elisha Durham, Allison Brenieger, Terry Kohlmeier, Nancy Wallace

Participants interacted with current CLASS™ users and heard how the CLASS™ is used in multiple settings. Discussion centered around useful ways to incorporate CLASS™ into your program. Panelists from Minnesota Head Start programs, St. Paul Public School’s Project Early Kindergarten, EK and local Child Care programs were represented.

 

How CLASS™ is Used, Part 1 (18:04)
Presentation handout (5 pages)

 

 

 

How CLASS™ is Used, Part 2 (15:37) 

 

 

 

How CLASS™ is Used, Part 3 (20:49) 

 

Talk with Researchers about the CLASS™: Current Trends in State Usage of CLASS™ Data

Presenters: Tracy Bradfield, Alisha Wackerle, and Nikki Kovan, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Tabitha Isner and Becca Starr, Child Trends

The CLASS™ is used in multiple ways, including practice and research. This session discussed findings from two studies which used the CLASS™ to measure quality of instructional supports in classrooms (CRtIEC) and effectiveness of overall quality indicators within Parent Aware.

Concept Development

Presenter: Jonathan Fribley, Language and Literacy Consultant

In this session, participants gained increased knowledge on the Concept Development dimension of the CLASS™. Participants learn strategies to improve teacher-child classroom discussions and promote students’ higher order thinking skills.

• Presentation Handout (11 pages)

CLASS™ Training Model in Minnesota

Presenter: Allyson Candee, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Participants learned about the CLASS™ training model for Minnesota, were given an overview of the tool, what training is available and what levels are offered. This session consisted of requirements for using the CLASS™, who can train your staff, and how to get involved.

 

Training Model in Minnesota, Part 1 (15:34)
Presentation handout (8 pages)

 

 

 

Training Model in Minnesota, Part 2 (17:36) 

 

 

 

Training Model in Minnesota, Part 3 (10:56) 

 

Closing Remarks

Presenter: Megan Cox, Project Coordinator

Closing remarks and next steps are discussed.

 

Closing Remarks (12:00) 

 

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