All Things CLASS

I may be observing elementary classes (pre-k - 5th) in a Montessori setting.  How useful is a CLASS tool when so many children are working independently or in small groups and the teacher may act as a guide.  The 2nd Edition pre - k -3rd on p. 6 recommends not observing during "work- time".  Should we set up appointment - though the CLASS tool is not usually set up that way.

Thanks,

Karen

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Karen Scheer
Arlington, VA
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I'm actually seeing that CLASS 2.0 says "Montessori work periods.....are codable." This is on page 9 of the 2023 version of the manual.

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[Ellen] [Frechette]
[Professional Development Specialist]
[Early Educator Support, LLC]
[Dorchester] [Massachusetts]
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Hi Karen, thanks for the question! I actually just saw a research paper about the CLASS tool in a Montessori program and it showed that the Montessori preschool classrooms scored similarly, even though they had larger class sizes, higher child-adult ratios, and more independent work time.

You might also find this blog post interesting.

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Liz Savage
Sr Program Manager
Teachstone
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