All Things CLASS

First off allow me to say that I understand the reason that my county has decided to use the CLASS standards of teaching for the Pre-K Program(s). I wholeheartedly agree with the accountability that CLASS has brought to our field since its introduction. 

That said, I do not believe that all of the CLASS standards lend favorably to ABA and Discrete Trial Teaching methodology used in the ABA Classrooms. For example, through the CLASS model teachers are encouraged to expand language. So, an example being during snack not just talking about how the chips are "crunchy" but asking what other foods may be "crunchy" or "what's the opposite of crunchy" or even asking "how else would you describe your food". Or a pre-reading activity would be to show students the cover of the book and ask them to make predictions.  Of course there is nothing wrong with these practices, however it could represent meaningless talk to our earlier learners (which make up the majority of ABA Classrooms) and isn't what is equitable for all students. 

Just my opinion, I am curious if other teachers have run into the same concerns, and if anyone has found a practical way to balance the CLASS standards with classroom level expectations. 

Hello @Richard Johnson

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful perspective and for recognizing the value that CLASS brings to supporting quality teaching and learning. We truly appreciate hearing from educators who are applying the framework in specialized settings like ABA classroom

CLASS is designed to be flexible across settings and not prescriptive about how interactions occur, but rather focused on the quality of connection, support, and responsiveness within each teacher–child exchange. Many programs have found success by aligning CLASS dimensions (like Positive Climate or Teacher Sensitivity) with existing ABA practices to highlight strengths in emotional and instructional support.

You can reach us anytime at support@teachstone.com or by calling (866) 998-8352.

Thank you again for your commitment to equitable, high-quality teaching for all learners.

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