Month: April 2017

Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®)

Learn more about CLASS®, an observational assessment tool that’s used to assess classroom quality.

The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) is an observational assessment tool designed to assess classroom quality.

The CLASS®, developed at the University of Virginia, focuses on teacher-child interactions. Such interactions contribute to a student’s academic achievement. Results of the CLASS® help educators understand and improve their teaching practices and classroom environments.

The CLASS® measure includes 10 subscales organized into three domains:

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

Each subscale is scored on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 and 2 considered to be low-range; 3, 4, and 5 are mid-range; and 6 and 7 are high range. A typical cycle for the CLASS® involves about 20 minutes of observing followed by 10 minutes of scoring.

Learn about our CLASS®-related services and in-person trainings.

Impact of a Theater Arts Program on the School Readiness of Low-Income Preschoolers

We’re examining how a preschool theatre arts program impacts a child’s storytelling, play, and social skills.

For this project, we will use a wait-list control design to document the potential direct and moderated impact of a preschool theatre arts program on the school readiness of ethnically diverse, low-income preschoolers, including English language learners (ELL).

The program, called Early Bridges, aims to build the storytelling and theatre arts skills of preschoolers in underserved communities.

For the project, we’ll examine the Early Bridges’ impact on oral language (storytelling), play, and theatre arts and learning-related social skills. We’ll also examine whether different groups of pre-K students benefit from Early Bridges differently than other groups of pre-K students (e.g., ELL vs. non-ELL).

Funding

Brady Education Foundation

Measuring Oral Narrative and Theater Arts Skills of Preschool Children

We’re working to determine whether two new tools that we developed with the Children’s Theatre Company are psychometrically sound.

This project aims to determine whether two new tools that we developed with the Children’s Theatre Company – the Preschool Theatre Arts Rubric and the Preschool Storytelling Rubric – are psychometrically sound.

Psychometrically sound measures can be used by theatre arts programs, early childhood teachers, and researchers to explore the potential impact of early childhood theatre arts programming on young children’s school readiness.  

Funding

National Endowment for the Arts