Book excerpt: With the infant version of the trusted, widely used CLASS® tool, early childhood programs have an accurate and reliable way to assess teacher-infant interactions, a primary component of positive early experiences. Developed for use with children from birth to 18 months, the CLASS® Infant tool specifically focuses on how teachers engage with infants and support their learning and development during everyday routines and activities. With clear guidance and background information, this manual gives you a comprehensive introduction to the CLASS® Infant tool and how to use it effectively. Youâe(tm)ll see how this standardized tool Assesses 4 dimensions of teacher-child interactions: relational climate, teacher sensitivity, facilitated exploration, and early language support Establishes an accurate picture of interactions through repeated observation and scoring cycles Highlights areas of strength and areas for growth useful for guiding professional development efforts Comprehensive and reader-friendly, this manual provides helpful information on infant development, the theoretical and empirical foundations of the CLASS® Infant tool, an overview of procedures for using the tool, and detailed descriptions and examples for each dimension the tool assesses. Learn more about the entire CLASS system.