All Things CLASS

I have been using CLASS for several years now. I do not have a complete handle on it because I'm still stuck in my old school ways. That being said, I only got mid range scores this time. Part of this was due to a para that did not smile, ask questions, or generally help at all. I asked for some type of training for her because she is a new hire. She received none. After the observation, I was called into the office and tore apart by my principal. This is my question-Is the CLASS observation a tool for an administrator to beat up on a teacher and make them feel lower than low? This is the principal, not the observer. I was told that she was ashamed of me, disappointed in me, that I should have trained my para better, and on and on. This also is a para that she absolutely refused to hire last year because she was not very effective as a substitute. Only hired this year because she was desperate for a hire. I was made to feel so bad thatI cried all day at school yesterday and part of today. I truly did not want to return to work this morning. I feel like the absolute worst teacher ever.

Dear Educator,

I am so very sorry you were treated this way. Hugs!! That was completely unacceptable and highly unprofessional. Is this principal always like this or was it an "off day"? Regardless, you are a person with feelings and should not be subjected to that. I would sit down this weekend, and with a clear head, document all the times you have attempted to guide your assistant. Leave feelings out, just be factual. Briefly describe what you have attempted, if they were responsive, any concerns noted, etc. Try to list the date, time, the activity/location and who was present. Next week, request a meeting with your principal. As hard as it will be, try to leave emotions out. Tell them you did not appreciate being spoken to in a degrading manner and from here on out, all conversations need to be factual and need to provide supportive and constructive feedback. Provide a COPY of your documentation of your efforts in your classroom with the assistant. Then ask the principal how they are going to positively support you, the assistant and the students in the classroom for the remainder of the year. Put it back on the principal; training an assistant is not your responsibility, it is that of HR or another designated person. Bring a paper & pen so you can jot down notes of the conversation. Within the next 24hrs, send a recap email to the principal, highlighting the main points you both discussed. You want a paper trail!

As hard as it may be, go back into the classroom and do your best that you can. You are there for the children and they need a strong, compassionate educator. CLASS Observation is one snippet of your teaching and guiding. Use it as a resource, but do not let it define you. You know your strengths and know you are making a difference so don't lose sight of that. 

Are you in a school district? If so, I would check to see if they have a teacher's union and join it ASAP. The rep can attend meetings with you. If you do not have a union, try to find a neutral co-worker to sit in on meetings with you. I hope you have a much better week and that peace finds you soon. 

Unfortunately, if I do anything other than document my attempts of teaching CLASS to my para, then my life at school will be a nightmare.  I have been through it 2-3 times over the past 15 years, where I have been made to feel less than.  I am close to retirement, but my 33 years is up at the end of January.  I hate to disrupt my students but my mental health is taking a toll. Not to mention my physical health.  I need to do a lot of praying about whether or not I stay until the end of the year.  At the moment, I feel like she would be very happy to get rid of me.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I am sorry this happened to you. As a classroom teacher, I was observed using this tool. Currently, I assess classrooms. This is not how your CLASS data should be used. CLASS examines the quality of teacher-child interactions across several dimensions. It is a tool to guide continuous quality improvement. It identifies the strengths and opportunities for growth among the classroom staff. Both your paraprofessional and your administrator would benefit from some professional development in CLASS. However, it does not sound like that is something you have control over. I recommend focusing on what you do have control over. Review your CLASS report. Choose one area that you can focus on with your para. Once you see improvement in that area, choose something else. Use the resources available to you on this site. Small, consistent steps lead to sustainable change. Lastly, focus on what you know about yourself as a teacher. Know your worth! Too often, we let others' words and opinions negatively impact how we view ourselves. Please, take care!

First of all, any job in which you feel degraded, not appreciated, and disrespected I would leave!!! I refuse to work in that type of environment, in which there is no support for the staff or tool/resources available to help them build! Tell the principal to bring their tail in the classroom and show you how the class should be handled during a CLASS Observation. Next, let them know you need help, go above the principal! Tell them you need the help and report the principal to HR, let them know the principal is rude, unprofessional and talking disrespectfully to you. 

Going above the principal would not help in this district.  Very tight knit bunch.  Our principal couldn't do a classroom or CLASS.  I have a class of very young three year olds and they are all over the place.  We have worked very hard on behavior management but I can't change the nature of a child that has just turned three and does not have the maturaty to walk single file down the hall with numerous pieces of student artwork down the hall for them to look at and touch.  Curiousity wins over keeping up with the rest of the class and not talking.  Anyways, thank you everyone for your support.  I will keep chugging through.  Oh, by the way, now my para will be observing paras in other classrooms and we have a outside CLASS observer coming in to do training for my para.  My principal said that she would have gotten her some training if she knew that she needed it.  What?  I asked 2 or 3 times.

As a former teacher and a former certified Class Observer, I want to tell you I am so sorry you were treated that way. Your principal needs to be educated that Class is an observation NOT an evaluation!  They are 2 completely different things!  I too have been in education 30+ years and can empathize with you in not having an aide that supports what's best in your classroom.  At the end of the day, they are their own person and they may or may not choose to do things the right way.  This isn't your responsibility nor is it your fault. If you are close to retirement, I urge you to hang in there with the hopes that it will get better.  Meanwhile, what should happen is your Class observer, or their superior, should communicate with your principal what CLASS actually is!  Prayers that your year gets better...

I'm hanging in there, hopefully until May.  We just had another observation and I'm expecting to be called in any day now.The day the observer came I had one student that cried, screamed, ran around the room, and climbed on cabinets, tables etc.  Seeing this as being fun, another student did the same.  The observer made the comment that my small group instruction was too long.  I had to get up no lesson than 8 times to redirect one student, while she focused on the other.  Of course it was too long! Like I said, waiting to be called in at any time.  

Wonderful ideas on how to get the children's attention/ redirecting them in fun ways.