Description
Looping -- when a teacher moves with his or her students to the next grade level rather than sending them to another teacher at the end of the school year -- is a phenomenon that is growing in popularity in the United States. Among the advantages touted by looping teachers are students' easy adjustments to the second year with the same teacher; teachers' awareness of students' interests and needs; and the ease of communication between teachers and parents who are familiar with one another. Among the possible drawbacks is that teachers will have difficult students two years in a row; for students, they might have a more difficult transition to the next grade after having the same teacher for two years. For many reasons, students with special needs stand to be the biggest beneficiaries of looping.
Learn More About Looping
In the Loop: Teachers and Students Sticking Together for a Second Year, or More!
Seeking to make more of an impact on students, some educators are choosing to remain with their classes a second year -- or longer. They find that knowing students well leads to more productive learning. Included: Tips from teachers who have the scoop on the loop!
In the Loop: Students and Teachers Progressing Together
Looping was initially advocated by early 20th-century Austrian educator Rudolf Steiner. Despite success in European schools, looping is still considered innovative in the U.S. Included: Looping research, plus comments from kids -- pro and con -- about looping.
Looping
