1st Edition
Creating a Culture for Learning in the Classroom (CCLiC) Scale An International Self-Reflection and Quality Improvement Tool for Educators Working in Primary and Elementary Schools
1. Introducing the ‘Creating a Culture for Learning in Classrooms’ (CCLiC) Scale
i Why use the CCLiC scale?
ii Who is the CCLiC scale for?
iii The purpose of the CCLiC scale
iv. Why is creating a culture for learning important?
v How do we know the CCLiC scale works?
vi What is included in the CCLiC scale?
vii How to use the CCLiC scale
viii Why is the scale called ‘Creating a Culture for Learning in the Classroom’?
vii How was the CCLiC scale developed?
2. Underlying Principles of the CCLiC scale
i Understanding children’s ‘behaviour for learning’
ii What does and does not work in the classroom
iii The child-responsive approach in the CCLiC scale
iv Pedagogies and practices to create a culture for learning?
3. Intentional thinking, language and actions and proactive teaching
i. Understanding Self-regulation/executive functions
ii. Teaching self-regulation/executive functions and brain-based approaches
iii. Infusing play and fun into the classroom – Brain breaks and/or energisers
iv. Pretend play and game play
v. Proactive teaching: Morning Meetings (and responsive meetings)
vi. Interactive Modelling
vii The Importance of communication and language
viii. Using language to model behaviours – the ‘think aloud’ strategy
ix Using the language of thinking
x. The physical classroom environment
xi. The instructional environment
xii. The importance of assessment for learning, or formative assessment
xiii Effective use of Questions
xiv. Effective use of feedback
xv Why use the term ‘mistaken behaviour’
xvi Understanding mistaken behaviour
Levels of Mistaken Behaviour
Interpreting mistaken behaviour according to its motivations
Mistaken behaviours and their interaction with the teachers’ responses
xvii. Developing a behaviour for learning support plan for children with strong unmet needs
Behaviour hypotheses or purpose of the behaviour
Prevention strategies
Replacement skills
Responses to mistaken behaviour
4. Research Background to the CCliC Scale
5. Content of the CCLiC scale
i. How the scale is structured
6. Using the CCLiC scale as an observer
i How to use the scale as an observer
ii Timing
iii Contextual Information on the Centre
iv Conducting the Observation
7. How to use the CCLiC scale as a self-assessment tool
i Getting started
ii Your reflections and responses to the scale
iii Being as objective as possible
iv Reflecting on an item and the profile of quality it shows
8. Scoring the CCLiC scale
i The Score Sheet, Joint Observation Sheet, and Profile
9. THE CCLIC SCALE
SECTION 1: The positive and caring classroom: supporting self-regulation and PSED
Item 1: Building trust and relationships with and between children
Item 2: Supporting behavioural self-regulation and promoting children caring for themselves and others
Item 3: Supporting emotional self-regulation through fostering children’s social and emotional well-being
Item 4: Supporting cognitive self-regulation: giving choice and autonomy
Item 5: Understanding and responding to mistaken behaviour (sometimes called challenging behaviour)
Item 6: Fostering staff self-care, building resilience and self-regulation
SECTION 2: Effective practices and routines in the classroom
Item 7: Developing and supporting children to follow expectations, rules and routines
Item 8: Supporting transitions in class
Item 9: Engaging whole group/circle time activities
Item 10: Promoting collaborative small group work
Item 11: Supporting transitions into and between class/school and other major life transitions
SECTION 3: Effective teaching and learning processes
Item 12: Supporting high quality interactions through encouragement, questioning and feedback
Item 13: Creating a culture for learning using play and playful activities
Item 14: Using assessment for learning/formative assessment
Item 15: Engaging all children in learning
Item 16: Supporting collaboration and planning for teaching
Item 17: Supporting the improvement process
Item 18: Building collaborative reflective practice
CCLiC score sheet (contextual information)
CLICC Score sheet
Joint observation / inter-rater reliability for the CLICC Scale
The CLICC Scale Profile
10. Glossary of terms
Appendix A: The progression of play from birth to five years
Appendix B: Children’s dramatic and socio-dramatic play development
Appendix C: Morning meetings – some examples of practice
Appendix D: Examples of language to use in the classroom to guide children’s behaviour and support learning
Appendix E: Behaviour for learning support plan
Appendix F: Child Self-Regulation and Behaviour Questionnaire (CSBQ) results in TEEMUP evaluation
REFERENCES
Biography
Denise Kingston is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Sussex and an educational psychologist, trainer and consultant.
Iram Siraj is Emeritus Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford and Research Professor at the University of Maynooth, Ireland.
Judy Barrett (PGCE) is a former primary school teacher.
As a school leader working in a challenging educational landscape, I understand only too well how vital children’s happiness, behaviour for learning, sense of belonging, and teacher wellbeing are to building a successful and thriving school. I have also experienced first-hand how challenging it can be to embed wellbeing consistently into classroom practice. Grounded in research, the Creating a Culture for Learning in the Classroom (CCLiC) Scale provides staff with the tools to foster wellbeing and create the conditions in which every child can flourish academically, personally, and socially. It delivers a consistent approach that has the potential to transform classroom culture, positively impacting pupil outcomes and teacher retention. I strongly endorse this book as an invaluable resource for school leaders committed to building environments where happy, healthy pupils and staff can thrive.
Lousie Muller, Head teacher, Westrise Primary School, East Sussex
Educators who are technicians teach as they always have taught, often as they were taught themselves as schoolchildren. Educators who are professionals learn as they teach. As a continuing effort they endeavor to incorporate guiding principles of the profession into their viewpoints, approaches, and practices. In the guidebook, Creating a Culture for Learning in the Classroom (CCLiC) scale, Kingston, Siraj, and Barrett provide a clear statement of key education principles integrated with a self-reflection tool for making progress toward the competent and kind professionals all teachers want to be. Through the book, the authors present a concise and useable guide for teacher self-improvement, valuable in Great Brittain and other countries as well.
Dr. Dan Gartrell
Professor Emeritus
Minnesota State University - Bemidji
(Noted author in the field of early childhood education)
The authors have succeeded in creating a versatile self-evaluation tool that supports schools and individual teachers in developing a culture for learning. Through the 7-point scoring method, the scale provides a comprehensive profile of practice that captures both strengths and areas for development and enables effective action planning. The CCLiC scale is a very welcome addition to the field of school improvement.
Simon Ellis, Education Consultant
