Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI) and the Florida Early
Learning Performance Funding Project (ELPFP)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many participants can I have in my MMCI sessions?
You can have up to a maximum of 20 participants.
How many hours is the MMCI course?
The MMCI course is 10 sessions for two hours each – 20 hours total. Participants receive two hours
per attended session on a completion certificate. The participant certificate is available after all 10
sessions have been completed.
Should toddler teachers participate in MMCI?
MMCI is a Pre-K course; however, toddler teachers who are participating in Tier 1 of the Early
Learning Performance Funding Project must participate in MMCI. Staff attending the 20-hour
MMCI course will learn more about teacher-child interactions and the dimensions within a CLASS
observation. Participants working with toddlers can receive a complete CLASS Video Library
subscription through their local early learning coalition. The complete CLASS Video Library contains
videos that illustrate effective interactions within each CLASS dimension, with text that enhances
observation skills for each CLASS age level. Additionally, subscriptions to Toddler Introduction to
the CLASS are available through the coalition.
What is the minimum time needed to schedule MMCI training?
The Teachstone system requires a two-week minimum to schedule MMCI training; however, after
we approve your training, you may update the training dates to be earlier than two weeks.
Can I edit my session dates after I have begun the training?
Yes. You may edit your session dates until you complete your training. If you do not know your
session dates, we recommend putting in an accurate start date and an end date of June 30, 2017.
What if I don’t know how many participants will be in my sessions when I request the
training?
If you do not know the number of participants in your sessions, we recommend that you request
the maximum number of slots, which is 20. On the day of your training, you can enter the
participant names and email addresses. Note: We highly recommend asking participants if they
already have a Teachstone account and to provide the email address associated with their existing
account. This will avoid generating two separate accounts for the same person.
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What if Pre-K does not appear as an option on my Request Training form in the trainer panel?
Teachstone requires MMCI Instructors to be currently certified on the tool to deliver MMCI
training. If you are not able to select the “Pre-K” option when requesting a training, it may that
your certification has expired or that you are requesting an end date that is later than your
expiration date (e.g., certification expires Jan. 15, but requesting to deliver a training ending on
Jan. 30).
Please check your Pre-K certificate or CLASS account to see when your certificate expires. If you
must request a training, but also need to recertify, we ask that you please contact your MMCI
specialist for guidance. It may be possible to request an earlier end date, complete your
recertification on the Pre-K measure and then adjust the end date at a later time; however, you
may not deliver the training if you are not currently certified.
I don’t know who will attend my training until the first session. How do I enter my
participant information?
You may enter your participant names and email addresses on the date of the first session.
Do I need to complete delivery of my first course before beginning the second course?
To earn your instructor certification, it is important that you deliver two MMCI courses within the
first year. It is acceptable to begin delivery of a second course before you have completed the first
course. We suggest you complete the first phase of instructor support before starting to deliver
your second course.
MMCI MATERIALS FAQs
Where is my Toddler MMCI participant kit?
MMCI is a Pre-K program. We do not offer a Toddler MMCI participant kit. However, toddler
teachers who are participating in MMCI have access to Toddler Introduction to the CLASS, a
Toddler Dimension Guide and the Toddler Video Library to supplement their MMCI experience.
I bought the MMCI participant kit. Where’s my product key code for the Video Library?
The Video Library subscription begins when participants are entered into the panel and the
training is moved to “in progress.” We do this to ensure that participants receive a full six months
of Video Library access throughout the entire MMCI training period.
I would like to order additional materials for MMCI participants. How can I do this?
The MMCI Participant Kit is available through the Teachstone store using a special order link.
Where can I purchase Spanish MMCI Participant Kits?
Teachstone does not currently offer the MMCI course in Spanish. Due to intellectual property
reasons, organizations may not translate the MMCI materials into Spanish. Some Spanish-speaking
instructors have facilitated sessions using a combination of English and Spanish in order to meet
the needs of their participants. This is acceptable.
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Regarding videos, instructors may assign Spanish-language videos from the Video Library as
homework videos in place of the suggested video, provided they focus on the same dimension.
One video in each face-to-face session can be substituted for a Spanish-language video, but
suitable substitutes for long and less effective videos will not be found in the Video Library.
I would like to order the Spanish version of the Pre-K and/or Toddler Dimension Guide. How
can I do this?
The CLASS Dimension Guides are available in Spanish through Teachstone. To purchase these as a
supplemental resource for participants, call 1-877-401-8007.
LOGISTICS FAQs
How do I show my participants’ attendance prior to completing all 10 sessions?
MMCI Instructors will use their MMCI Instructor Trainer Panel to mark the attendance of
participants after each session has been conducted. For the PFP, accurate and timely input of
attendance records is essential to ensure the most up to date information is reflected on
participant certificates.
What do I do if a teacher misses a session?
You may conduct a “make up” session with participants who miss a session. If you plan on holding
a makeup session with the participant, do not take attendance for them on the day of the missed
session. You can take attendance for all other participants in attendance for that session. When
the participant attends the makeup session, mark the participant present.
If you do not plan on holding make up sessions, mark the participant absent in your MMCI trainer
panel.
What should I do if participants do not complete the homework? Do they still receive credit
for attending the session?
This is a choice you make as the instructor and/or the organization for which you are delivering the
training. We recommend investigating why participants did not complete the homework in an
effort to support them. Some participants may not have internet access. Sometimes one-on-one
encouragement can support homework completion.
NOTE: For the ELPFP, homework is required.
Why is it important to take attendance in the Teachstone MMCI panel?
Attendance records are used to calculate the number of hours represented on your participant’s
automatically generated certificate of completion; therefore, the number of hours spent in training
will not be correct on their certificates if attendance has not been provided. Some organizations
also receive reporting on MMCI attendance, which is pulled from these attendance records.
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Where can my participants find their certificate of completion?
Participant certificates are available upon completion of all 10 training sessions. When participants
log in to teachstone.com after completing their training, they will see a link for professional
development certificates on the right-hand side of their screen. They can download certificates
from that location.
Can MMCI participants print a certificate that verifies their hours in MMCI to meet the ELPFP
benchmarks?
Yes, participants who need to print a certificate for certain benchmarks in the ELPFP can access this
information in their CLASS account. Participants can log in to their account and click on the “My
Training” link. They should see the MMCI Training listed on the next screen, with a link to
“Download Certificate.”
Many of my participants have not received a pre-training email leading them to access the
Video Library. Why is this and how can I help them?
We move trainings to “in progress” two weeks prior to the training start date. Any participants
added after the training is moved to “in progress” will not receive a pre-training email. They are,
however, added to the system and can enter their email address as their username and use the
“forgot password” link to gain access to the system.
Instructors may also want to confirm the email address of the participant and ensure it was
entered correctly into the trainer panel.
Please note some Teachstone automated messages may be located in a junk/spam folder in a
participant’s email account.
I don’t have enough teachers in my organization to fill the two cohorts needed to complete
certification. What should I do?
There is no minimum number of participants for MMCI. We have had instructors conduct MMCI
with three participants. Thus, conducting the training with small groups may help you to fulfill the
requisite number of sections. Co-teaching can also be a solution for small organizations with
multiple instructors.
INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT FAQs
When are implementation and debriefing calls held?
This information is in the post-training email that we send out to all instructors following the
training. Please contact your MMCI Specialist for dates, times and call-in information.
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I would like to co-teach with another instructor. How should we handle the video recording in
this situation?
When co-teaching MMCI, we request the following strategy:
1. In phase one, for Emotional Support (sessions 2, 3 or 4), each instructor needs to send
in a two-hour video. The instructor recording the session should take the lead during
that session, meaning instructing the majority of the indicators and facilitating most of
the video discussions. The other instructor should take the lead and record the next
session.
2. In the latter two phases, instructors can choose to again record separate sessions or
each record their own portion of the same session.
Can I co-teach with an instructor who has already gone through the first year of support and is
a certified instructor?
Yes. Please refer to the answer above for co-teaching strategies.
What advice can you offer regarding how to schedule the 10 MMCI sessions?
− The sessions are intended to take place one per week over 10 weeks.
− Some organizations using MMCI have implemented two sessions on the same day. While
this was successful, they have also indicated that it was a bit overwhelming for
instructors and participants. Plan for a break and time for homework between sessions.
− There is some homework for each session and each session begins with reviewing
homework from the previous session; therefore, logistical challenges in conducting
sessions back-to-back have occurred, but we have found ways to work around the
challenges in other organizations.
− Required homework should not take participants more than half an hour per session,
although they have the option to spend as much time in the Video Library between
sessions as they like and this is encouraged.
− Between sessions, instructors will provide written feedback to participants on
submitted, in-class assignments; therefore, be sure to consider instructors' time
availability for this activity as well.
− We do not have experiences with offering three sessions in one week. Three back-toback sessions may be too much information for participants to take in and might require
a lot of time on the instructors' part to provide feedback. The level of success in
implementing it this way may depend on participants’ and instructors' other obligations
during the time period. For example, will they be teaching full-time during this time
period? Will they be allotted time on the job to complete homework/feedback?
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− We have no evidence to demonstrate that any implementation model works better
than another in regard to learning outcomes, but from talking with instructors using
various implementation models, distributing the sessions across as long a time period
as possible, and ideally with one session per meeting, leads to greater enjoyment and
less burnout for instructors and participants.
NOTE: For the ELPFP, there must be an hour break between sessions and no more than two
sessions in one day.
I would like to conduct two sessions back-to-back. What considerations do I need to be
thinking about?
Teachstone permits MMCI instructors to complete up to two back-to-back sessions in one
day; however, providing written, individualized feedback is an essential component of the
MMCI program. If two sessions are conducted back-to-back, five hours need to be scheduled
for the training.
Instructors should practice the following:
− Play the independent videos for the first session of the day, while participants make
observation notes. Collect these. Assign homework as usual.
− At the beginning of the one-hour working break, play the homework video for all
participants to watch. This video can be located at the beginning of the next session.
− During the one-hour working break, participants will take notes on the video, read the
assigned pages in their Dimensions Guide and generate examples by reflecting upon
their classroom practice. The instructor will utilize the working break to review
Independent Video Observation notes and provide written feedback.
− As the next session begins, the instructor will distribute his/her written feedback and
deliver the new session as normal.
− NOTE: Several organizations using MMCI have implemented two sessions on the same
day. They have been successful in this, but have also indicated that it was a bit
overwhelming for instructors and participants. One solution is to provide two sessions
in one week, but not back-to-back. For example, instructing on Monday and Thursday.
Some participants do not have internet access. What should I do?
Some organizations have access to a computer lab and we have worked with instructors who
make this computer lab available to participants between sessions in order to complete
homework. Some instructors choose to stay after class or arrive early to show homework
videos to those participants without Internet access.
Do I need to recertify as an MMCI instructor?
Yes. You will not be fully certified until the end of your first year as an MMCI instructor so
you will not need to recertify until the end of year two. You will be asked to pay a relicensing
fee of $250 at the completion of year one to maintain Video Library and MMCI panel access
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for the next year. MMCI instructors may receive free recertification through Teachstone’s
contract with the Office of Early Learning.
Can I receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for my MMCI Instructor Training course? Can
my participants receive CEUs for their work on MMCI?
Teachstone is in the process of becoming accredited to offer CEUs. At this time, we provide
certificates that instructors and participants can use with accrediting agencies to obtain
CEUs. In many cases, the contracting organization may arrange for this.
Can I deliver MMCI remotely?
No. Remote learning necessitates specific instructional strategies designed to optimize the
experience for learners attending off site. MMCI has not been designed in this way and so
participants attending remotely may not benefit from the full learning experience. In
addition, because remote learning has not been integrated into the program, attempts to
facilitate this could impede group learning and instructor-participant interactions for local
learners; therefore, we request that this specific accommodation not be made.
What happens if I do not complete all support components within the year of support time
allotted?
This question can be answered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact your MMCI specialist
if you will not complete all three support components within one year.
Last time I led MMCI, my participants were pretty burnt out by the time we got to the
instructional support sessions and those are the most important ones. Do you have any
suggestions?
MMCI follows a predictable pattern to help ensure a smooth delivery; however, this pattern
can also present a challenge in maintaining interest as the course progresses. Instructors are
encouraged to utilize CLASS strategies as they deliver MMCI sessions to help engage
participants and keep the activities fresh. Helpful strategies can be found in the PC, ILF and
QF dimensions. Please speak with your MMCI Specialist for additional engagement tips and
suggestions.
As instructors complete the certification requirements, do they get a certificate? How long are
they certified and from what date? (I.e., from date of training or from date of completion of
certification requirements?)
Instructors receive a provisional instructor certificate from their Teachstone trainer upon
completing the three-day MMCI Instructor training.
Instructors’ certification date will remain tied to their training completion date rather than
the date that they completed certification requirements. Following the instructors’ one-year
anniversary of training completion, a coordinator will check for completion of certification
requirements and email certificates to those who have been successful.
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