Hello, my name is Erin Ramos and I am CLASS Observer and certified Coach. I think the main challenges I face when conducting observations and coaching sessions with my Montessori classrooms is that the teachers often lack in language modeling and quality of feedback in these classrooms. I have seen teachers talk and engage in back and forth exchanges with children at times-but often these interactions are interspersed with more independent time where the children are not engaged with the teacher but rather exploring and learning and scaffolding on their own. I also have a center who has recently scored lower in these areas in particular on their CLASS observations, due to the fact that, as the center Director describes it, Montessori philosophy is to allow the child to fail and self correct several times, sometimes completely, without the assistance of a teacher.
What advice would you give for these classrooms and teachers who are simply following their Montessori philosophies in the classroom, but yet seem to be lacking in Instructional Support areas because of their refrain from interfering with children's self-engagement and less use of language to guide the children in these classrooms?
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
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Erin Ramos
Orlando, FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-04-2024 11:42
From: Emily Rouge
Subject: CLASS in Montessori: Share Your Insights!
Observers, what challenges do you face when conducting CLASS observations in Montessori settings? For those familiar with both the Pre-K (2008) and 2nd Edition tools, which do you prefer for Montessori classrooms, and why?
I'm working on a crosswalk between CLASS and Montessori and would love to hear about your experiences and any insights you can share to help address common challenges.
#Montessori
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Emily Rouge
Sr. Research and Evaluation Specialist
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