For CLASS® Observers
Build skills and confidence to measure educator–child interactions and capture meaningful data that helps early childhood organizations improve outcomes for children.
Why Become a CLASS® Observer?
CLASS Observers enable programs to gain reliable data and help educators improve interactions that matter most for children’s development and social-emotional learning.
- Learn reliable, consistent measurement: Learn to code observations with confidence and accuracy across classrooms and programs.
- Practice with real-world materials: Work with actual classroom footage and clear feedback to understand what effective interactions look like across learning settings.
- Get access to reliability support: Reduce coder drift with coding support and on-demand resources.
- Join a growing community: Connect with peers and experts to discuss unique cases, share experiences, and strengthen your foundations.
Choose Your Observer Path
Every observer’s track looks a little different — whether you’re learning to observe interactions for the first time or strengthening your reliability year after year, you’ll find guidance and support that help you continue to improve the quality of interactions for every child.
Begin Your CLASS® Observer Journey
Build a strong foundation in observing interactions through the CLASS® lens and see how meaningful interactions drive better outcomes for every child. Observer certification helps you collect comprehensive, reliable data that supports program improvement and educator growth across learning settings.
- Gain an in-depth understanding of effective educator–child interactions.
- Strengthen the consistency and accuracy of observation data.
- Contribute to systemwide quality improvement and better outcomes for children.
Conducting your first Observation?
Every observer starts somewhere, and your perspective has the power to make a real difference. When you first enter a classroom with your CLASS® lens, it can feel exciting and a little uncertain. These tips help you stay focused and ready to observe interactions that promote joyful, engaged learning for every child.
- Plan your setup: Arrive early, understand the day’s rhythm, and choose a spot that lets you see the full classroom while staying neutral and focused.
- Follow the flow: Notice transitions and less-structured moments — they often show how educators and children connect and how routines support engagement.
- Capture what you see: Write clear, specific notes about what happens, not assumptions about why. Objective evidence helps tell a more complete story of classroom interactions.
- Stay present, not noticeable: A calm, steady presence helps classrooms stay natural and supports more authentic observation data.
- Reflect while it’s fresh: Soon after each cycle, review your notes, notice patterns, and connect what you saw to the CLASS® dimensions that describe effective interactions.
Renew Your Observer Certification
Keep your foundation strong and your observation skills sharp. Renewing your certification each year keeps you compliant and confident. It ensures your observation data stays meaningful, and your coding reliable, so programs can make confident decisions that improve the quality of interactions across classrooms.
- Stay aligned with current CLASS® indicators and coding practices.
- Maintain consistency and accuracy across observations.
- Strengthen the link between observation data and continuous improvement efforts.
Stay Reliable All Year
Reliability isn’t a one-time milestone but an ongoing practice. Teachstone offers resources, learning opportunities, and community connections that help you stay confident and consistent in every observation you conduct.
- Reinforce your skills through continuous learning and reflection.
- Stay connected with experts and peers for real-world guidance.
- Keep your observations consistent and trusted across time and learning settings.
FAQs
How do I choose my age level(s)?
Select the age group—or a combination of age groups—that reflects the classrooms or programs you observe. If you support multiple age settings, you can certify in more than one age level to ensure consistent, accurate data collection across your settings.
How often do I need to recertify?
Observer certifications must be renewed annually to maintain reliability. Each renewal includes practice opportunities and a reliability test to confirm consistent, accurate coding year after year.
What happens if my certification lapses?
If your Observer certification expires, you’ll be required to attend the full certification process again to ensure your reliability meets current CLASS® framework guidance. Renewal before expiration keeps your certification active and saves time.