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3 attempts

  • 1.  3 attempts

    Posted 08-20-2021 12:22
    Edited by Allison Bloomfield 08-23-2021 09:39
    Hi. I just failed my 3rd attempt for the certification and am so frustrated. Any adivce??

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    Kate Ottow
    Madison WI
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  • 2.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-20-2021 12:24
    And I spelled attempt wrong in the heading...:(

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    Kate Ottow
    Madison WI
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 12:00
    Kate,
    I hear you!!  (I hate spelling things wrong too).  I passed on my 2nd try the first time, the 3rd time last year (ooh, I was angry), and the 2nd time I attempted this year.  I only coach FCC, so I don't CLASS coach at all - don't really get much practice at it!  There was a lot of advice from people, I think the two most helpful things for me were,: don't get too hung up on "doing math," - I would give a numerical score to each sub-category, then try to get the number to where it felt right.  The Teachstone person told me not to do that.
    The other was, create note-taking sheets that make sense to you.  I did best when the categories were laid out, and I could put what I was seeing where it should go - but if I didn't know right away, I'd leave a space on the paper for notes, then move them once I figured out where they belonged. (And I'm pretty slow sometimes, it took me a while to get comfortable with that.)  Writing the evidence notes in each category helped me NOT to pay attention to the bias I may have felt toward the teacher - for example, I struggled early on with "grumpy" teachers, they could still score high in other areas.
    I don't know if any of that will help, but I really just wanted to say - I understand.  It SUCKS when you can't get it right.  All the best to you, going forward.

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    Karen Bradley
    Burnsville MN
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 12:48
    Thank you all for your support and advice. It helps so much!

    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-20-2021 12:43
      |   view attached
    Did the same a year ago.  You may suffer from test prep exhaustion which causes you to overthink everything.

    Less prep.  More mindfulness and meditation.

    Forgive yourself.

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    Susan Hinman Waldman
    Practice Based Coach
    Communities United Inc.
    Lexington, MA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: 3 attempts

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 08-23-2021 10:25
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    I have to say that "more mindfulness and meditation" just doesn't do it for me as far as a request to better understand how to effectively use this tool.
    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-24-2021 10:47
    First, do not get discouraged. Pace yourself when you go through training again. Stay calm and do not reflect on the past failures; if you do it is not to repeat it.  Utilize the resources and watch the videos. I have been CLASS certified since 2011 and I have failed once in my recertification. It is stressful but you have to pace yourself and follow your manual.  It is going to be okay. You just have to find your comfort place in coding and trust yourself. Again, follow your manual;  and if there is something missing in a level, it is not coded on that level. It must be a consistent observation of an interaction. 


    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 09:43
    Hi Kate,

    I am glad you posted here in the CLC, so many people have been in your shoes and it can be so frustrating. I would recommend giving yourself a little time before you re-attend the training and would highly recommend checking out the resources on our reliability support webpage. Once you've re-attended training and are preparing to test again, I would recommend doing the practice video to get you in the mindset, and then would recommend only coding 1-2 videos per day to minimize coding fatigue. I hope this helps, and please don't hesitate to reach out here in the CLC for support again before you test next time. Wishing you the best of luck!

    Best,
    Allison

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    Allison Bloomfield
    Charlottesville VA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 10:26
    1st, do not be discouraged, 2nd, go over why you think the test was not passed, 3rd, revisit the information, then look at your method of studying.  You might need a different approach, like being tutored.  Lastly, Never Give Up.  You will succeed in your endeavours!!!



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 11:10
    I'm sure that is so frustrating for you! When I have to re-certify, I review the domains and do the practice videos for a couple of days. Then, I wait a day or two, and do a video a day first thing in the morning when I am fresh. I find I have a tendency to overthink my coding so one thing that has helped me, is to do my coding and not go back over it. When I used to go back over my coding, I found I was second guessing myself and that is when I didn't do well on my re-certification. I just finished re-certifying and I am proud to say I passed on my first attempt with a 96%. I really believe, for me, is not to allow myself to overthink it and go with my first responses.

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    Trish Snyder
    Craig CO
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: 3 attempts

    Posted 08-23-2021 12:33
    HI
    It was many years ago, but I too failed a couple times.  I didn't understand why.  I have learned that I didn't use the CLASS lens when rating.  I had my own biases that clouded my assessment of the situation.   I found it difficult to measure.

     For example.....more then a decade ago, I was trained in ERS by Thelma Harms, and I found that much easier, because the requirements are very specific.   "3 items in each of the 5 groups"   50% of the art work displayed.  It is very measurable and specific.  

    I find that CLASS isn't so measurable....Examples
    few, some, many
    no, sometimes, consistently
    absent, maybe clear, are clear
    rarely, occasionally, often.  

    It wasn't until I was applying CLASS to my center, and working with coaches, that I felt that I had a better handle on ratings.   I do not have the time or $$ to go through the training again, however, I am more confident in helping my staff talk through the tool and applying ways to improve.  

    If you want it, don't give up.

    Mindy Camacho
    Director-Intercomunal Preschool




    Original Message


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