Sometimes people want the CLASS tool to be something it isn’t. They want it to be a checklist, perfect, or easy. Some people in observation training want to get all of the answers or codes “correct” (you know who you are). When I remind them that we focus on observers being reliable, or within one point of the Master Code, rather than being perfect, some people get frustrated (yes, you know who you are) and reply, “Yeah, but I want to be RIGHT, not reliable.” And this is my usual reply...
There is no way different people can see things with the same eyes. We all have different experiences we draw from when observing. We all have different ways of perceiving our environment. That is why we ask trained observers to make standardized, professional judgments using the Manual. There is no possible way for any two people to see the exact same thing. We cannot leave a classroom with the exact same photograph in our mind of the interactions as another person, due to our different life and professional experiences and our different ways of seeing the world.
But we can come away with a similar image.
We may have seen things slightly differently, but the overall image is the same. It's as if a group of art students was painting the same still life – a bowl of peaches, or an evening of Wine and Design with your best friends. The paintings would be different– there might be heavier brush strokes in one area, maybe a slightly brighter yellow used on another canvas, but if the participants followed the instructions (or in CLASS language, used the Manual) the paintings would be of the same image– a still life of a bowl of peaches. That is how I see observing with the CLASS tool. You may have caught an example of physical affection on one side of the room while another observer caught back and forth exchanges at the snack table. Because of this, we will never come away with the exact same photograph of a classroom, but if we are reliable and use the manual to guide our observations, we can come away with a similar image of the interactions.
So for those people who still are looking for perfection, (you know who you are), keep it up, the world needs over-achievers... but be kind to yourself in the process. And remember, you’re still reliable if your score is within one.
How do you respond to trainees who focus on always being "right," instead of on being reliable?
When I first learned about CLASS Group Coaching—a training for early childhood professionals about building relationships with children—I was more than a little interested. This, I thought. This is what teaching is all about. It seems to be an obvious concept, but once we dig deeper, we are able to identify the whys and hows of our interactions. CLASS Group Coaching allows us to identify the benefits of our classroom relationships with our students and helps us be intentional in our daily practices. It allows us to utilize each moment we have with our students to deepen our understanding of their perspectives and genuinely connect with them as people. It helps us see the world from their view and guide their learning in a way that is relevant to them.
As a CLASS Group Coaching (MMCI) instructor, the sections of any given two-hour session may feel, at times, very goal driven. These sections titled "Know," "See," and "Do” are interconnected. In particular, it is possible to consider "Do" within "Know," and "See." When an instructor supports in-the-moment experiences that connect new knowledge to current practice, they make the CLASS dimensions more relevant to the educators' daily work. But how can we infuse more “Do” into “Know” and “See?” First, let's re-cap what happens in each section.
Of course every CLASS Observation Training covers the same material, but every trainer puts their unique spin on it. Find out what your strength is as a CLASS trainer. Take our fun quiz to find out what yours is!
I have a confession to make. Recently, I used vacation time to stay home and watch Season 6 of The Walking Dead. I know, I know. How could I have let myself miss a whole season? Oh, and I feel a little bad about taking the time off from work too, but this was very nearly an emergency! I mean it was only weeks before Season 7 of the season premiere. I had to do something. Don’t judge.
While I was watching, I had the strangest feeling of deja vu. I felt like I had actually walked through a herd of zombies, but couldn’t quite place why it felt so familiar. Then it hit me—I had unknowingly created zombie-like participants during at least two of my previous CLASS trainings.