Classroom Assessment Scoring System Research Articles

Profiles of Teacher-Student Relationships and Classroom Management Practices: How They Relate to Self-Efficacy, Work Stress, and Classroom Climate

<p style="text-align:justify">Teachers' classroom practice encompasses diverse facets of teacher behavior. Understanding teachers’ classroom practice is important as the literature has been well documented its association with student, teacher, and classroom outcomes. Positive teacher-student relationships and proper classroom management, both are important aspects of teachers’ classroom practices, have been empirically linked to increasing student academic performance and reducing problem behaviors. This study explored patterns of teacher classroom practices across teacher-student relationships and classroom management and validated them using a person-oriented approach, k-means clustering, on three sets of data with over 600 participants. Using indicators of classroom assessment scoring system (CLASS), three distinct teacher profiles were identified: supportive, intermediate, and detached. Supportive teachers demonstrated high levels of teacher-student relationships and classroom management, while detached teachers showed low levels of both. Intermediate teachers fell between these two groups. The study also compared these profiles based on teacher self-efficacy, work stress, and classroom climate. Supportive teachers had the highest classroom climate scores, followed by intermediate and detached. Work stress was comparable for intermediate and supportive teachers, but both were lower than detached. No group differences were found for self-efficacy. This study contributes to the understanding of teacher behaviors with students in the lower grades.</p>

Variation in the Quality of Teacher–Child Interactions in Chinese Toddler Classrooms

Variation in the Quality of Teacher–Child Interactions in Chinese Toddler Classrooms

Scoping review of kindergarten research involving the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) in Mainland China

AbstractLike many countries, Mainland China is committed to improving process quality in kindergartens (children aged 3 to 6), specifically the quality of teacher–child interactions. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS; Pianta, 2008, in Classroom Assessment Scoring System™: Manual K-3, Paul H Brookes Publishing, Baltimore) is a widely used tool to assess and potentially improve interactional quality. While CLASS has been increasingly used by researchers in China, much of the literature has been published in the Chinese language and, thus, is inaccessible to international readers. To overcome this barrier, this scoping review analyzes existing empirical research involving CLASS in Chinese kindergartens. Publications in English and Chinese were considered. Fifty-five peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2023 were included. Most studies were conducted in public kindergartens in urban areas and developed regions of China, adopting quantitative research designs with relatively small sample sizes. We identified six different types of research purposes. Many of the available studies did not follow established CLASS procedures. We conclude that the evidence available for enhancing teacher–child interactional quality and supporting policy reforms in China remains somewhat weak. We encourage Chinese researchers and policymakers to implement CLASS in large-scale teacher performance evaluations and professional development studies.

Validation of the French version of the classroom assessment scoring system infant and toddler in Quebec

<span lang="EN-US">The objective of this study is to validate the French version of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) infant and toddler, as employed to assess the quality of interactions in groups of children under 3 years old, in childcare centers in Quebec where French is the official language. Indeed, when using a different language version of a standard-based tool outside its original context, an important step is to verify that it remains reliable and valid for measuring the research construct. This validation study was conducted in Montreal area (Quebec, Canada). The subjects were 154 classrooms (46 infant, 108 toddler) located within a representative sample of 68 childcare centers. Live classroom observations were conducted in the fall 2018 with the CLASS and other measures of process quality. Results replicate the factor structures of the original versions of the CLASS tool and provide evidence for the good reliability (inter-rater reliability, internal consistency) and validity (criterion and construct) of the French versions. The discussion highlights cross-cultural differences in the classrooms, childcare centers, and regulations that could explain some differences obtained in this research and, therefore, needs to be considered when using the CLASS in French to have a reliable and valid tool to measure the quality of interactions.</span>

Dialogue-interaction-respect as Key Elements of Pedagogical Partnership and Their Significance for the Development of Teachers' Competence

The current educational environment should be conducive to the students' development, open to innovation, interactive, and stimulating the active participation of all participants in the educational process. However, in this context, it is important to design such an environment that would be developmental not only for students but also for teachers. Therefore, this study aimed to check how the observance of the principles of pedagogical partnership in the educational process affects the development of the teachers' competence. The Marzano Teacher Evaluation Model (2017) and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) were used to identify the professional competence level. The implementation of the Pedagogy of Partnership program in general secondary education institutions had a positive effect on the development of teachers' methodological professional competence, namely: it increased by 10% among teachers of the English language, by 14% among teachers of the Ukrainian Language and Literature, and Mathematics — by 9%. It was also determined that there is a statistically significant relationship between the teachers' experience and their level of competence: the highest correlation is observed between the level of competence and experience from 5 to 10 years (0.988). The study revealed that teachers working according to the principles of the Pedagogy of Partnership use new forms of interaction and teaching methods, which helps to improve their methodological competence. Future research could focus on analyzing the use of information and communication technologies to support pedagogical partnerships.

A meta-analysis of teacher–child interaction and early child outcomes from the perspective of CLASS

ABSTRACT This meta-analysis aims to clarify the relationship between teacher–child interaction and children's outcomes in language, mathematics, literacy, social development, and self-regulation based on the perspective of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). A total of 24 studies with 139 independent effect sizes and 67,919 participants were included through literature search and screening. The results show that CLASS is moderately correlated with children's outcomes in language, mathematics, self-regulation, and correlated with children's literacy and social development to a low degree. Apart from within-domain links to children's outcomes, most CLASS domains have cross-domain links to children's outcomes. These links are also influenced to varying degrees by the level of economic and social development, children's commonly used language, child outcome measurement tools, and the emotional support domain score of CLASS. Future studies should standardize the presentation of key information and explore the interaction of multiple variables.

Teacher-child interaction quality in early childhood education: the impact of teacher beliefs

ABSTRACT This study examines the status of teacher-child interaction quality, the nature of teacher beliefs, and their relationship in the context of preschool classrooms in a metropolitan city in Turkey via a mixed-methods research design. Quantitative data were collected from 47 preschool teachers through teacher survey and structured classroom observation methods using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). In the qualitative dimension, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four preschool teachers, purposefully selected based on their CLASS scores. The results revealed that the overall quality of teacher-child interaction was ‘average’ in the classrooms. Preschool teachers were generally positive about their capabilities to teach and tended to espouse developmentally appropriate practice to a great extent, but these beliefs did not consistently align with the teacher-child interaction quality observed in their classrooms. The study highlights the critical need to bridge the gap between teachers’ beliefs and practices to improve the quality of early childhood education.

Examining the child observation in preschool and teacher observation in preschool in community-based child care centers

Previous research indicates that the Child Observation in Preschool (COP) and Teacher Observation in Preschool (TOP), a companion set of observational tools used to assess the quality of preschool classrooms, capture important aspects of the preschool environment that are associated with children's growth (Farran et al., 2017; Nesbitt et al., 2015; Spivak & Farran, 2016). This study is the first to assess the convergent and predictive validity of these tools in community-based child care centers and compare the tools to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System Pre-K (CLASS Pre-K), a widely used classroom observation tool. We collected COP-TOP and CLASS Pre-K data in 138 classrooms in Georgia as part of a validation study of Georgia's Quality Rated and Improvement System. We also collected child assessment data from 583 preschool-aged children in those same classrooms. Over half of the COP-TOP classroom processes were moderately correlated with at least one of the three CLASS Pre-K domains. COP-TOP classroom processes related to time spent in transition, time spent engaging in sequential activities, involvement in learning activities, and opportunities for math learning were associated with children's math skills, preliteracy skills, and socioemotional development at the end of the year, after controlling for their scores at the start of the year and demographic characteristics. All three CLASS Pre-K domains were significantly associated with children's socioemotional development. We discuss the implications of these results for assessing quality in early care and education programs.

The factor structures of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System Pre-K and mature play observation tool in multi-ethnic Norwegian early childhood centers

The use of standardized assessment tools for the evaluation of quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is on the rise, yet a greater understanding of the applicability of these tools across contexts is still needed. This study investigates the factor structure of two assessment tools, the Classroom Assessment Scoring System Pre-K (CLASS) and Mature Play Observation Tool (MPOT) in a free-play focused context serving high numbers of children with diverse language backgrounds in Norway. The study also evaluates the extent to which these tools complement each other to create a more comprehensive understanding of children’s experiences in ECEC in this context. Using confirmatory factor analyses, our results from a sample of 125 multi-ethnic ECEC groups in Norway show a good fit for the two-factor (i.e., adult- and child-focused) model proposed by the authors of MPOT. In line with previous research, the three-factor (i.e., emotional support, classroom organization, and support for learning) model of CLASS required post hoc modifications, resulting in a marginally acceptable model fit. Overall, our findings provide evidence that the original factor structures of these tools can be modeled in urban ECEC centers in Norway, and using these tools provides different insights into children’s ECEC experiences.

Individual toddlers' interactions with teachers, peers, and the classroom environment in Danish and Dutch childcare: First validation of the inCLASS Toddler

Toddlers' interactions with teachers, peers and the classroom environment are critical for their academic and social development. The newly developed measure – Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System for Toddlers (inCLASS Toddler) – evaluated the quality of toddlers' interactions in two European countries. This first validation study examined the structural, construct and criterion validity of the inCLASS Toddler. Using observational data of Danish and Dutch toddlers (N = 211) across 58 classrooms, the hypothesized four-domain structure showed an adequate and marginal fit to the Danish and Dutch data, respectively. Construct validity indicated within-country differences for children's age, but not for gender. Criterion validity was evidenced by small to large relations with children's social-emotional, language, and math skills. These results support the applicability of the inCLASS Toddler for observing toddlers' situated skills in interacting with their environment, which can be useful for practitioners and researchers to evaluate toddlers' interactions in an ecologically valid way.

Examining the Psychometrics and Characteristics of the Assessing School Settings: Interactions of Students and Teachers

This article focuses on the psychometric properties and characteristics of the Assessing School Settings: Interactions of Students and Teachers (ASSIST), an observational assessment administered by trained external observers of teacher practices, classroom context, and student behaviors at the classroom level. Study 1 examines variability, reliability, and convergence between ASSIST scores with data from 3,298 classrooms nested within 185 elementary, middle, and high schools. We report school-level intraclass correlations (ICCs), standard deviations, means, and reliability estimates of ASSIST scales; investigate the correspondence among ASSIST-measured constructs with multilevel correlations; and explore school-level predictors of ASSIST global scale scores. Study 2 further examines reliability over time and convergent validity using repeated ASSIST and Classroom Assessment Scoring System–Secondary (CLASS-S) observations in classrooms of 335 teachers in 41 middle schools. The ASSIST global measures exhibited moderate to good reliability across three same-teacher observations (ICCs ranged from .69 to .82). Associations between all ASSIST and CLASS-S scales suggested close correspondence of the measures, especially at the teacher level and school level. Together, these findings highlight the utility of the ASSIST observational measure, both as a research and practice tool, across multiple school types and classroom contexts, and with potential to inform coaching to improve teachers’ classroom management.

Defining early education quality using CLASS-observed teacher-student interaction.

In this paper we argue that the quality of early education programs or classrooms can be defined in terms of features of teachers' interactions with students observed using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System, or CLASS. We present evidence suggesting that dimensions of teacher-student interactions can be described, observed, and measured consistently across cultures and countries and that such dimensions also have modestly positive influence student development and learning. Evidence is summarized indicating that interactions can also be improved systematically through professional development interventions. The paper relies on a framework that describes core features of effective teacher-student interactions present across countries' highly varied settings and cultural contexts. Limitations of the study include exclusive reliance on the CLASS and that most countries were not low or middle income. We discuss the cross-cultural applicability of the framework and outline suggestions for education policy and practice and future directions for research.

Teachers’ occupational well-being in relation to teacher–student interactions at the lower secondary school level

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relation between teachers’ occupational well-being and the quality of teacher–student interactions in lower secondary schools in Finland. Teachers (N = 48) self-rated their occupational well-being in terms of engagement, stress, job demands, and emotional exhaustion. Teacher–student interactions in classrooms were video-recorded and coded with the Classroom Assessment Scoring System. The results of multivariate regression analyses showed that teachers who reported higher work-related stress were observed with a lower quality of emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support when controlling for background factors. It is proposed that the observed quality of teacher–student interactions is related to teachers’ work-related stress in lower secondary schools.

Classroom interaction and metacognition by ‘enculturation’ of thinking in early education

ABSTRACT This case study explores the impact of a thinking-based teacher training and professional development programme on the quality of classroom interactions and on students’ metacognitive capacity in early childhood education and elementary first-grade classrooms. The study was conducted in a Spanish school, and the sample comprised 13 educators and 117 students aged 4 to 7 years old. The self-assessment scale of cultural forces for the promotion of thinking was used to analyze the change in the self-perception of teachers after the completion of the thinking-based training programme. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) was used to assess teacher–student interactions, and the drawing-telling technique was used to analyze students’ metacognitive capacity. The results reveal that the thinking-based teacher training improved their self-assessment as teachers that promote thinking, enhance the quality of classroom interactions (organisation and learning support), and develop children’s metacognitive processes. These findings indicate that a culture of thinking helps to develop key skills for twenty-first-century teachers and students.

The importance of structural characteristics for interaction quality in Austrian preschools

ABSTRACT Many studies have found associations between structural characteristics and interaction quality of children in ECEC settings. However, findings are inconsistent and since previous research has been conducted outside Austria, transferability to the Austrian country context is limited. By addressing this gap, the study aims to identify relations between structural characteristics and interaction quality (measured with the Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System, inCLASS) of 161 three- and four-year-old children from 55 preschools in Austria. After including control variables, main findings revealed positive relations between adequate equipment and teacher interactions and negative relations between child-staff ratio, proportion of children with immigration background per preschool class, preschool teachers’ work experience and peer interactions. Preschool teachers’ job security was positively related to task orientation and poorer child-staff ratio corresponded with more conflict interactions. Higher work experience led to fewer conflict interactions. The results indicate that specific structural characteristics are associated with a higher interaction quality in preschools in Austria.

Early childhood teacher workplace stress and classroom practices

ABSTRACTTeaching is a stressful profession given teachers’ competing demands. Due to COVID-19, teachers struggle to balance maintaining a safe classroom environment and the traditional child-directed focus of early education. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an adaptation of Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) on reducing teachers’ stress and examine associations between teacher stress and classroom practices. Measures were collected at baseline (T1) and 6-months post-intervention (T2) using the Childcare Worker Job Stress Inventory, an observational measure of classroom practices (Health Environment Rating Scale), and teacher-child interaction quality (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). Regression analyses revealed that teacher-reported Job Resources were associated with higher Classroom Organization at T2. Findings suggested that providing mental health consultation may be an important first step in improving quality classroom practices, particularly those practices that support children’s social-emotional and behavioral development.

Associations among teacher-child interaction, children's executive function and children's comprehensible vocabulary.

To understand the working mechanism and the relationships among the quality of teacher-child interaction (TCI), children's comprehensible vocabulary (CV) and executive function (EF). Using stratified sampling, 900 children (boys 50.2%) and 60 preschool teachers were recruited from 4 places in China for testing, and five measurement tools, including the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-R), the Stroop test, a card sorting task, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), were used. For every additional unit of TCI, EF increases by 0.55 units; For every additional unit of EF, CV increases by 0.55 units; For every additional unit of CV, EF increases by 0.55 units; For every additional unit of CV, TCI increases by 0.38 units; For every additional unit of TCI, CV increases by 0.38 units. In the Model of TCI-EF-CV, the estimated value of TCI and the total effect of comprehensible vocabulary is 0.18; Z = 9.84, which is significantly greater than 1.96 at the bias-corrected 95% confidence interval and at the percentile 95% confidence interval (0.15, 0.23), both of which do not contain 0. The direct effect of TCI and CV is significant and indirect effects account for 39%. In the Model of TCI-CV-EF, the total effect of TCI on executive function is 0.09 (Z = 6.14), the direct effect is not significant with bias-corrected 95% confidence interval and 95% confidence interval (-0.01, 0.03), both of which include 0. There are two-way effects among children's EF and CV, TCI and CV. EF plays a mediating role in the influence of TCI on CV. TCI positively predicts children's EF, but this mainly depends on CV. Therefore, TCI plays a positive role in the development of children's CV and EF.

Implementation and quality of an early childhood education program for newly arrived refugee children in Germany: an observational study

Early childhood education [ECE] can foster the social-emotional adjustment and development of young refugee children. Still, the large numbers of newly arriving refugee families challenge the ECE capacities of host countries. In Germany, state authorities have subsidized flexible ECE programs for refugee children in response to this situation. The goal of this study was to examine the implementation and quality of these programs. In the first study phase, we categorized the seemingly heterogeneous ECE programs and assembled measures to assess their ECE quality. In the second study phase, we evaluated the ECE quality of a randomly selected sample of these ECE programs (N = 42) using standardized observation procedures. The ECE programs were implemented differently in temporary setups (caravans, tents), improvised settings (parish rooms, refugee accommodations), or education settings (preschools, elementary schools). To evaluate ECE quality, we created an observation tool for structural quality and coded dimensions from the Classroom Assessment Scoring System Pre-K for process quality. Overall, structural quality was acceptable but differed between implementation settings. Process quality was consistently high, independent of the settings. Our findings suggest that adaptive ECE programs under a flexible childcare policy could support young refugee children after they arrive in host countries. Still, such ECE programs do not compensate for center-based ECE services because of their more vigorous emphasis on children’s social-emotional adjustment than pre-academic learning. Further research should consider adaptive assessment tools to assess ECE quality, taking into account heterogeneous program implementation strategies and the specific needs of refugee children.

Évaluer la qualité des relations éducatives pour favoriser le bien-être : une utilisation possible du Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) ?

La qualité des relations est reconnue comme un déterminant essentiel du bien-être des élèves à l’école. Pour tenter de l’appréhender, différentes méthodes ont été proposées, dont le Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), outil d’observation et d’évaluation de la qualité des interactions en contexte éducatif. Élaboré par l’équipe de Pianta, La Paro et Hamre et aux États-Unis depuis 2008 et largement utilisé dans le monde, il est encore peu connu en France. Le présent article décrit cet outil en se centrant sur les dimensions concernant la qualité des relations entre élèves et enseignant-e-s. Il présente ensuite une revue de la littérature internationale explorant son usage pour évaluer les relations et à des fins de formation. En tenant compte des critiques dont il fait l’objet, sont finalement discutées la pertinence et la possibilité de son utilisation pour évaluer et former à la qualité de la relation éducative, dans le contexte français.

Gains and challenges with the Classroom Assessment Scoring System in a social pedagogical tradition

IntroductionThis qualitative study explores how Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals’ perceptions of gains and challenges using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS, Pre-K and Toddler) within the social pedagogical tradition in Norwegian ECEC.MethodsFocus group interviews (n = 22), group interviews (n = 4), and in-depth interviews (n = 3) were conducted online, followed by conventional content analysis.ResultsThe findings indicate that ECEC professionals perceived CLASS as contributing to their pedagogical understanding and practice. At the same time, the introduction of CLASS enhanced ECEC professionals’ awareness regarding the pedagogical value of the social pedagogical tradition (SPT), which they wished to preserve and protect, and the specific elements of the school readiness tradition (SRT), which they wished to include in their pedagogical understanding of high-quality ECEC pedagogy.DiscussionThe findings suggest that the use of CLASS expands ECEC professionals’ understanding of the value of both pedagogical traditions. Finally, inspired by the present study’s findings regarding interaction quality, the research team proposes a hybrid model of pedagogical approaches in ECEC.