In today’s fast-paced educational environment, professional development must be flexible, practical, and impactful. Teachstone’s latest offering, CLASS® Connect, revolutionizes how Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) educators engage in learning, bringing professional development directly to their fingertips. Designed with busy educators in mind, this subscription-based service provides a comprehensive and user-friendly approach to continuous growth and classroom success.
We asked recent learners about their favorite parts of CLASS Connect.
1. Designed for Busy Educators
One of the standout features of CLASS Connect is its bite-sized, 15-minute modules. These self-paced learning sessions are designed to fit into an educator’s busy schedule, allowing them to learn without stepping away from the classroom. This approach ensures that professional development doesn’t interfere with instructional time, making it more accessible and less daunting for educators to pursue ongoing growth.
Plus, with every self-paced course, educators earn about 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), recognizing their valuable time and effort. CLASS Connect empowers educators to advance their careers on a schedule that works for them, giving them agency over their professional development. Additionally, all courses are available in both English and Spanish, making the tool more accessible for your team.
2. Blended Learning Experience: Self-Paced and Expert-Led
CLASS Connect offers more than just independent learning. Educators can access regular workshops led by Teachstone’s experienced and certified coaches. These sessions provide opportunities for hands-on practice and real-time feedback, addressing common classroom challenges in a collaborative environment. Whether it's tackling school readiness skills or managing challenging behaviors, the workshops provide educators with the tools and strategies they need.
One learner added, “Most of my kids are on the spectrum and nonverbal. [This training] really reinforced that we have to give them concrete examples to engage in the learning and not just talk at them.”
Another educator highlighted a feature where you can record yourself rehearsing new teaching techniques. “You won’t know it until you try something, and then you can reflect on yourself. We don’t often get to see ourselves being recorded. You can see yourself and say wait, maybe I wouldn’t ask it like that; maybe I would do it this way."
3. Practical, Classroom-Tested Strategies
Many professional development programs focus on theory without offering practical application. CLASS Connect flips the script by providing real-world strategies that educators can immediately implement. By observing these methods in action through authentic classroom examples, educators can see firsthand how to apply new techniques effectively.
Claire, an educator who recently took a course in CLASS Connect, added that she liked that the topics were centered on a recurring theme. “You have to actually connect it back to where they live and what they see. It’s so easy to just teach a concept and leave it there, but if you keep bringing it back, they have it for life, and then they come to conclusions themselves rather than us just telling them everything.”
Another learner shared her biggest takeaway from the content, “Something that really shifted for me from taking the course was taking that to that deeper meaning and understanding. You can actually extend the learning. At first, I thought you just praise them and move on. But actually sticking with what they are saying—not moving on but going deeper—that was new and something I could really use.”
4. A Community of Learning
CLASS Connect isn’t just about learning in isolation. Educators are part of a broader learning community where they can collaborate, share insights, and solve problems together. This peer-based approach encourages the exchange of ideas and reinforces best practices, further enriching the professional development experience.
One California educator with more than 10 years of experience in the classroom was so energized by the resources she made her supervisor look at the training offerings!
Teachstone’s CLASS Connect redefines what professional development can be—flexible, practical, and responsive to the everyday needs of educators. By combining self-paced learning with expert-led coaching and continuous peer support, it equips educators with the tools they need to thrive.
Ready to transform your professional development approach? Learn more about how CLASS Connect can support your program.