DIANA G. FIELDING EDU-671 FUNDAMENTALS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASHFORD UNIVERSITY DR. A. VALLEY DECEMBER 13, 2013

 TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM (CLASS) AT THE CSRA EOA HEAD START PROGRAM

 Classroom Assessment Scoring System Implementation Guide By: Robert C. Plante  Using Classroom Observation to Gauge Teacher Effectiveness By: Bridget K. Hamre  Teachstone: The Class Tool By: Bob Planta  Observations of Teachers-child interactions in classroom Assessment Scoring System in diverse settings By: Jason Downer, Michael Loped, Kelvin J. Grime and Robert Planta

 Head Start staff and students at the Floyd Head Start Center of CSRA EOA Head Start Program  Directors, Teachers, Teachers Assistant and Class Monitors.  Children ages 3-4

 Are the strategies that are being implemented in the classroom being used on a daily basis?  What are the issues teachers will encounter when the three domains of CLASS are introduced: Emotional support, Classroom organization, and Instructional support?  How well are teachers prepared to implement the classroom scoring system? Are they certified observers?

 The CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System is an observation instrument that assesses the quality of teacher-child interactions in center-based preschool classrooms. CLASS is currently used to improve teaching across schools districts. I would like to determine the effectiveness of CLASS at my local Head Start program. I believe when CLASS is put into practice using the required techniques, students and teachers will benefit from the system. CLASS includes there domains: Emotional support, Classroom Organization and Instructional Support. Once they are implemented and utilized daily, I believe the CSRA EOA Head Start will score high in all three domains.

 Surveys  Questionnaires  Assessment  Anecedotal notes from observation  Interviews  Lesson Plans  Parent Consent

 Parents will be informed of any and all changes pertaining to their child.  The research will be conducted with pre- school age students 3 and 4 years old.  The Majority of the Head Start Centers are located in low poverty areas. Some potential ethical concerns would be that I am targeting children in a particular category.  I would handle the concern of any by respecting the participants’ and making sure no harm is done to them.

 TEACHERS OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES  SOME ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS  TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS  COLLABORATIONS  STUDENTS’ PROGRESS

 Ongoing observation of CLASS  Ongoing teaching of Class  Creating strategies that will improve the system  Motivation

 Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.  Pianta, R.C., LaParo, K.M., & Hamre, B. K. (2008) Classroom Assessment Scoring System Manual: Pre-K. Baltimore: Brookes.