Early Childhood Research Quarterly 19 (2004) 375–397

The early childhood classroom observation measure
Deborah Stipek∗ , Patricia Byler
School of Education, Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-3096, USA

Abstract This study assesses a new measure of early childhood classroom practice in 127 kindergarten- and first-grade classrooms. The measure was designed to be appropriate for classrooms serving children from the age of 4–7 years. It assesses the nature and quality of instruction as well as the social climate and management of the classroom. Two separate scales assess the degree to which constructivist, child-centered and the degree to which didactic, teachercentered instructional practices are implemented. Findings indicate that the measure produced reliable scores and meaningful, predictable associations were found between scores on the observation measure, on the one hand, and teachers’ self-reported practices, teaching goals, relationships with children, and perceptions of children’s ability to be self-directed learners, on the other. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Early childhood; Classroom observation; Teaching; ECCOM; Measure

1. Introduction Political and public concerns about improving education have been fueled recently by reports highlighting the number of students, particularly from economically disadvantaged homes, who fail to achieve minimum academic standards. The National Center for Educational Statistics (2002), for example, reported that over half of fourth graders in urban districts are unable to read at a basic level. In response to data on both the overall level of American children’s academic skills and the significant gap between economically disadvantaged and middle-class children, the “no child left behind” federal legislation and other state accountability policies have created considerable