In April, Teachstone and Brookes Publishing will release the Infant CLASSTM tool! It’s been a little over a year since I provided a series of pilot trainings to learn about the validity of the measure and how best to train observers. We are now busy compiling that data and putting the final touches on resources to help you learn about the Infant CLASS tool, measure interactions using the Infant CLASS measure, and ultimately, improve these interactions. Expect to see observation trainings, Video Library clips, a Dimensions Guide, and other professional development opportunities related to the Infant CLASS tool.
Infants learn how to interact with the world based on their primary relationships, and these relationships offer many teachable moments through interactions with adults. The Infant CLASS tool focuses on the verbal and physical interactions between infants and caregivers, as these early experiences stimulate curiosity, exploration, communication skills, and lay the foundation for subsequent development. The Infant CLASS tool is constructed of a single domain with four dimensions:
- Relational Climate represents the overall relationship quality of the caregiver interactions with the infants and other adults in the classroom.
- Teacher Sensitivity encompasses the caregivers’ awareness of, and responsibility to, infants’ verbal and nonverbal cues, availability to provide comfort, and resolve distress.
- Facilitated Exploration considers how the caregiver facilitates the experiences and interactions that support infants’ cognitive development and engagement.
- Early Language Support considers caregivers’ efforts to provide language-facilitation techniques that encourage infants’ early language acquirement.
The Infant CLASS tool determines the effectiveness of the critical moment-to-moment interactions and how they impact the experience of the child, leveraging what we know from research to support child outcomes.
To learn more about the Infant CLASS tool, check out our recent webinar recording.