CLASS® Goes to Norway

Norway has long been recognized for its progressive approach to early childhood education. The country places a significant emphasis on creating nurturing environments for its youngest citizens, offering a glimpse into a system where the well-being and development of children are of utmost importance. In this episode, we invite Ståle Gerhard of FUS Kindergartens to shed light on the pioneering strategies Norway employs in their kindergartens. 

In our conversation today, Ståle shares his expertise on CLASS and its remarkable impact on Norwegian kindergartens. We also examine the impact of CLASS on teacher-student interactions, the cultivation of young minds, and the overall quality of early learning experiences that are shaping the future of education in Norway. 

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:00:58] Ståle Gerhard and the work he does
• [00:01:36] Norway’s stat and private groups of kindergartens 
• [00:02:04] The age range for kindergartens in Norway 
• [00:02:35] The values that guide Ståle’s work and whether they’re typical for Norway
• [00:03:40] The implementation of CLASS in Ståle’s program
• [00:06:40] Who has the responsibility for collecting data 
• [00:08:16] How 18 implementation teams were formed
• [00:09:47] Communicating with educators in the weeks leading up to observations
• [00:10:42] The process after the observation
• [00:12:06] The coaching and ongoing support that’s available for educators 
• [00:14:53] How the educators Ståle works with feel about CLASS
• [00:17:27] How parents feel about CLASS and how they’re impacted
• [00:19:57] What the age group ratio looks like in Norway’s kindergarten classrooms
• [00:21:18] Barriers to adapting CLASS for Norway kindergartens 
• [00:23:03] How CLASS helps support values
• [00:27:19] Challenges faced by the workforce in Norway 
• [00:31:38] Ongoing supports that address stress and burnout from
• [00:33:27] How CLASS-informed data influenced specific decisions in Norway
• [00:37:32] Final takeaways from Ståle’s work using CLASS at FUS

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Ståle Gerhard