5.2.7
Environment Rating Scale
What is the ITERS Rating Scale?
- Rating Scales (both revised)
- ITERS-R = Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale, Revised (EHS)
- Used in Infant and Toddler programs
- Mandatory for Infant and Toddler state programs
- To ensure that Performance Standards are met
Purpose
- To ensure that we’re providing a high-quality learning environment for all children
- The Child Development Department uses the rating scale when observing the teaching staff and provide feedback to the staff on their strengths and areas for improvement
- The Teaching staff uses the tool and resources associated with the tool to set up their environment at the beginning of the year and on a daily basis to maintain a high-quality environment
ERSI – Environmental Rating Scales Institute
There are four Environment Rating Scales (ERS), each designed for a different segment of the early childhood field. EHS uses the Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS-R) rating scales.
- Each one of the scales has items to evaluate: Physical Environment; Basic Care; Curriculum; Interaction; Schedule and Program Structure; and Provisions for Parent and Staff.
- The scales are suitable for use in evaluating inclusive and culturally diverse programs.
- The scales have proven reliability and validity.
Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale, Revised (ITERS-R)
A thorough revision of the original ITERS, designed to assess center-based child care programs for infants and toddlers up to 30 months of age.
This scale consists of 39 items organized into 7 subscales:
- Space and Furnishings
- Personal Care Routines
- Listening and Talking
- Activities
- Interaction
- Program Structure
- Parents and Staff
For more information, refer to the ITERS Introduction.
ERS Resources for Teaching Staff
The following resources are used by EHS Education staff members at the beginning of the year and throughout the year as they setup and maintain classroom environments, and develop lesson plans and daily schedules.
ITERS-R Resources
- ITERS Material Guide – list for Infant Toddler that tells Teaching staff how many of each type of material is needed for each scenario/room. Used for weekly planning.
- ITERS-R Materials Checklist – This is a checklist that Teaching staff would use to ensure they have correct types and variety of materials for the different areas (Using books, Fine Motor, Active Physical Play, etc.)
- Much of the Day (ITERS-R) – This document explains what “Much of the Day” means in regards to ITERS-R and outlines the items that should be available in classrooms throughout the day for Preschool/Infants & Toddlers. . In most items, “much of the day” is associated with the children’s access to materials typically used indoors (e.g., books, art materials, fine motor, or dramatic play toys). It means most of the time that any child may be awake and able to play.
- ITERS Scoring Guidance – This document provides an overview of how the Education team comes up with ratings
- EHS Outdoor Material Guide – This document gives teaching staff guidance on materials that need to be on the playground daily. It is a combination of ITERS and Creative Curriculum.
Monitoring Procedures
ITERS monitors are completed by authorized Child Development Department staff for the following purposes;
- Ensure that we’re providing a high-quality learning environment for all children
- Ensure Performance Standards and Title V regulations are met
- Education Department uses the rating scale when observing the teaching staff and provide feedback to the staff on their strengths and areas for improvement using the Child Development Monitoring Report
- Child Development Monitoring Report (ITERS-R)
Score Sheets
Can be used by Site Supervisors or Head Teachers for self-monitoring purposes.
The Score sheets are used to take notes and complete ratings.
CLASS Environment
Classroom interactions, as described by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS®), are at the heart of children’s learning and development. By focusing on materials, displays, and arrangements that most directly influence teaching and learning, CLASS Environment™ can support educators in designing early learning settings to better support meaningful interactions. In this way, CLASS Environment seamlessly integrates with the CLASS measures.
CLASS Environment is a required tool to be used for State Classrooms and will be used in all Shasta Head Start preschool classrooms. The monitor will be completed by reliable observers at least one time per program year.
The CLASS Environment Measure
CLASS Environment was developed to describe and measure specific features (called “items”) of learning settings that can support effective interactions and enhance children’s development and learning. CLASS Environment focuses on elements of the learning setting that can be reliably and efficiently measured at the same time as a CLASS observation. The measure is flexible enough for informal CLASS Environment observation as well.
CLASS Environment Items
CLASS Environment aligns with the three domains in CLASS, Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support. Each domain consists of the following categories: Arrangements, Displays, Materials, and Multi-Category. The domains, categories, and items are listed below.
Emotional Support – Arrangements
- Space for Cooperation
- Sightlines
- Adult furniture
- Space for child privacy
Emotional Support – Displays
- Child level displays
- Displays of children or their work
Emotional Support – Materials
- Child-accessible materials
- Adaptions for all children’s participation
- Representation of diversity
- Materials for all children’s verbal expression
Classroom Organization – Arrangements
- Purposeful spaces
- Tidiness
- Freedom from background noise
Classroom Organization – Displays
- Visual community expectations
- Displays of routines and transitions
Classroom Organization – Materials
- Condition of materials
- Quantity of materials
- Sensory materials
Instructional Support – Displays
- Displays of children’s writing and dictation
Instructional Support – Materials
- Effectiveness of screen time
- Open-ended materials
- Materials for imaginary real-world play
- Art, music or dance materials
- Real-world multicultural materials
- Recycled materials
Instructional Support – Displays and Materials
- Materials from nature
- Literacy materials
- Math materials
- Social and emotional learning materials
Scoring
Scoring is done on a 1 to 3 rating scale. A rating of 1 is scored when there is no evidence. A rating of 2 is scored when there is some evidence. A rating of 3 is scored when there is much evidence.
CLASS Environments along with Creative Curriculum is used to ensure high quality learning environments. Preschool education staff will learn more about class Environments through a free self-paced course on the Teachstone website. An Invitation to enroll in CLASS Environments will be sent to you through Paycom. You will receive an email to notify you to log into Paycom and follow the steps to enroll. You have 3 months to complete the course and send the certificate of completion to Human Resources. You will have access to the course for 12 months for continued exploration.
References
- Environment Rating Scales Institute
- ITERS Introduction
- ITERS Supplementary Materials
- Education Team would print these and have with them for observations
- Teachers, Site Supervisors and Primary Caregivers can view these
- ITERS Additional Notes for Updated ITERS-r
- *Everyone has access to these sites.