anyone familiar with "looping" in schools? pros vs. Cons?

[mbw12]

I got a letter from the school today saying that my daughter was randomly chosen to participate in this program this year. They are testing it, so only one 1st grade class will be doing it as sort of a pilot program. Basically, it means that she will have the same teacher and same classmates for both 1st and 2nd grade. The letter said that tests show that students excel in a familiar environment and that it alleviates alot of those first few weeks of the next grade of getting used to a new teacher, kids, and routine. It says that the first day of school for these kids picks up right where they left off on the last day of school. I can see some pros and cons about it and was just wondering if any of you are familiar with it. Obviously the big con would be if the teacher and student just don't click....but I also thought what about in third grade when they do switch to a new teacher and new classmates....won't that be a much harder transition than doing it every year? I also don't see how it helps socially....I mean, in every day life things change constantly....you have to be able to work through things. But maybe it helps academically in some way. I guess I really don't know how I feel about it and I just wanted to get some feedback from any of you, if you were familiar with it. I will definitely ask the principal questions about it before school starts next week.....but since I just found out today I wanted to get any first hand opinions from any of you.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My younger DD looped all through elementary. She did very well, but she really got on well with the teachers. It's true, the teachers don't have to get to know each student all over again, or their progress. One thing our principal noted was necessary to ensure the kids 'felt' like they were in the next grade was switching the teachers' classrooms. Kids got the feel of a new environment and still remained familiar to the teacher. She looped 1st to 2nd, 3rd to 4th, and 5th to 6th. I think she got the most out of the last loop. The distractions are so much greater at that age.

Good luck!

I got a letter from the school today saying that my daughter was randomly chosen to participate in this program this year. They are testing it, so only one 1st grade class will be doing it as sort of a pilot program. Basically, it means that she will have the same teacher and same classmates for both 1st and 2nd grade. The letter said that tests show that students excel in a familiar environment and that it alleviates alot of those first few weeks of the next grade of getting used to a new teacher, kids, and routine. It says that the first day of school for these kids picks up right where they left off on the last day of school. I can see some pros and cons about it and was just wondering if any of you are familiar with it. Obviously the big con would be if the teacher and student just don't click....but I also thought what about in third grade when they do switch to a new teacher and new classmates....won't that be a much harder transition than doing it every year? I also don't see how it helps socially....I mean, in every day life things change constantly....you have to be able to work through things. But maybe it helps academically in some way. I guess I really don't know how I feel about it and I just wanted to get some feedback from any of you, if you were familiar with it. I will definitely ask the principal questions about it before school starts next week.....but since I just found out today I wanted to get any first hand opinions from any of you.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My kids never did this, but I can see that it could be good if you like the teacher and the group of kids. Sure, the kids have to get used to new situations throughout life, but why every year when they are little? As long as it's explained to them that they will have a new teacher and classmates the following year, they should do fine. My son is in first grade and I think that he would understand that concept just fine. I can't say I mind him being with different kids from his kindergarten class, but it would be nice not to be starting over with a teacher (even though the new teacher will get to know him and that will work out fine).

 

[CEDmom]

This isn't a new concept. I had the same teacher/classmates for 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th and that was in the mid 70's. Some of the positives are having a larger developmental range so that 2nd graders at the high end of the spectrum can join 3rd graders for some lessons and 3rd graders at the lower end of the spectrum can join 2nd graders. There's a lot more peer to peer help than in a traditional classroom.

I guess the only drawback is if your child and teacher don't mesh but that could happen in a regular classroom. It's also something you have to learn to cope with in real life. I suppose if there's real conflict you could ask to have your DD moved into a regular 2nd grade room.

 

[paigevz]

Parents are generally offered to "opt out" if they want.

I have been thinking of doing it myself, and proposed it to my principal. I would actually like to triple loop K-2..............those are the big "fundamentals" grades, and if there is a poor teacher in any of those, it can really hold the child back.

I felt as a strong teacher, I'd like to see what would happen if a child has quality teaching all the way up in those very formative grades. I'm sure some have, but it's hard for me to tell, not being in their rooms.

There are some distinct advantages, I think, including home/school connection and rapport, which I have enjoyed somewhat myself by teaching many siblings from the same household.......it really does help if they know you and you know them. Also, academically, the teacher will have a strong sense of where your child is, vs. taking time to get to know the child's strengths and weaknesses at the beginning of the year.

However, if there are problems between the teacher and parents, the teacher and the child socially, or if the teacher doesn't do well teaching the academics, it could really be a detriment to have them for that long, especially in the early grades.

The make-up of the class/friends wouldn't even come into my consideration, UNLESS my child was extremely shy (the kind that get physically ill) and I thought having familiar children would help, or there was a bully or extreme disruptive element. My child was in a class with one of those, and I would not have wanted him to be with the same child the next year........to me, it affected the entire class's academic and emotional growth.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We have looping in 1st & 2nd grades only. Our parents are begging for the rest of the grades to do it, too. So - it must provide some good feelings for kids and parents both.
I teach music, and I notice the difference in our 2nd Grade students compared to my other school where they do not loop. They really are ahead. There is no adjustment period.
I hope your child has a great experience with this.

 

[RitaZ.]

My DS#2 was in the multi-age class (1st and 2nd graders) when he was in 1st grade, he is now in 5th grade. He had a wonderful teacher, one of the best we've ever had. He completed 1st grade and the following year the program was discontinued. It was a good experience for DS, so I was very disappointed when they made the decision to end it.

 

[mom2kazkids]

My son is semi-looping this year. He will be in a 1/2 combination class with the teacher that he had last year in kindergarten. 8 of the 10 1st graders are from his kinder class (8/16 from kindergarten into 1st grade). I am fine with it as I really like his teacher.

Barb

 

[janette]

My 14yo did it in 1st / 2nd grade. I really liked it, these are the years they are learning so much and it really seemed to help with their comfort level and also helped that they teacher knew where they were from the previous year. No lost time when making the transition to 2nd grade. They did send a letter with an opt out at the end of the 1st year but we were very pleased with the teacher so stayed with it.

 

[Julia M]

My youngst ds was in a modified looping class called multiage. His class had 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders (about 6-7 of each) in one class. Every year, about 6 or 7 first graders joined, as the 3rd graders left.

There was a fast learning curve to the routines, because only 1/3 of the kids were new. It was like a family.

I loved it, and my ds learned so much!

Julia

 

[ChristmasElf]

2 of my children looped in elementary school and it worked out wonderfully!
The school sent home a letter with the option of "opting out". We absolutely loved the teacher and were thrilled that our child would have another year with her.

 

[shortbun]

Our school loops except in 4 and 5. We keep the same 4th grade teachers due to testing and it works out well. The 5th graders like it too. As a parent, I can speak only favorably to looping. Our principal is always open to a class change if the teacher and student are not clicking or something else makes it necessary. Looping's biggest pro in my opinion is that the 2nd year...learning begins immediately, no transition, no getting to know each other. They just dig right in.

 

[tkd lisa]

My kids looped in 4th and 5th grade. It worked well for us. But with the amount of new teachers, it can kind of defeat the purpose. And we were in a military area, so many of the kids moved anyway.

For my family, 4th and 5th grade was tough socially, and having the same structure around them allowed them to focus more on the class work!

 

[Lynn CC]

My DS's 1st and 2nd grade class did this (he's in college now). I think it can work it just didn't work for him because the two teachers were "nature" teachers". They just taught about the rain forest, cultures, art etc.
They had parties for culture day, a lot of field trips, drawing murals on the walls and desks, drama etc.
No reading, writing and arithmetic, science etc.

So if you recognise the signs that your child is going to be behind when 3rd grade rolls around you can do something about it. I knew there was a problem at the end of 1st grade, so I took him to Sylvan Learning Center and had him tutored on the side for 3 years until he was ahead of where he was supposed to be.
His 3rd grade teacher helped him a lot with cursive writing and everything else in between that he was supposed to know already. When I asked her what she thought about the looping, she just rolled her eyes. I think she's seen those students before. She said most of them come out not having a brain in their head. She said my son really needed to continue with Sylvan and she got him extra help at the school as well.
Thankfully, he pulled through and was able to take AP classes in High School and Honors in College!

I have a girlfriend who later had twins one went into the looping with the same 2 teachers and the other didn't. You can guess the outcome, I warned her and she's so sorry she didn't listen to me. Her daughter is going into 8th grade and still struggles. She has 4 kids and can't afford outside help.

I'm sure it's great if the teachers are as well!

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

I opted out of this for my boys in elementary school, because I was so familiar with the teachers and wanted them to be exposed to strong teaching styles. If they had allowed this option with the "right" teachers, I would have supported it 100%. You have to be happy with the teacher, before you are happy with the concept.

As a middle school teacher, we have looping now. Most of our teams have the same students in 7th and 8th grade. The majority due well. With the same 4 basic ed. teachers, it gives the students a good support base. We know them and their capabilities. However, coming into 8th grade, some teachers already have a preconceived notion of the students, too.

There are pros and cons. If you're happy with the teacher from last year, rest assured that things will be status quo for this year and your child will continue to thrive. If you have any doubts about last year's learning environment, opt out as soon as possible. Good luck!!!!

 

[mbw12]

There are pros and cons. If you're happy with the teacher from last year, rest assured that things will be status quo for this year and your child will continue to thrive. If you have any doubts about last year's learning environment, opt out as soon as possible. Good luck!!!!

OP here......I agree, that is where I am at right now. I figure this is the first year of the two year program so I am going to head into this and see what happens, if during the course of the year I find that she is not liking the teacher or whatever, I will opt out for next year. I thank everyone for all of their responses (keep em coming!)

 

[Disney1fan2002]

As a kid, I didn't 'loop', meaning, the teachers did not come with us to the next grade. But, I basically had the same group of kids year to year, because they grouped each class alphabetically. There were a lot of B and C last names, and we stayed together all through elementary school.

Some may think that stinks if you are stuck with a bully or two. But you know what? It kind of helped the bully situation, because they can only pick on someone for so long before thet get bored. Sure, I got picked on, but after spending years with the same "bullies" I learned how to deal with them and they eventually moved onto so someone else, who also learned how to deal with them.

When the kids get switched up each year, these bullies have "fresh meat" every year.

 

[Figment22]

My oldest son, who's now 16, looped for 4th and 5th grade. It was a great experience for him. At his elementary school the best teachers were usually the ones chosen for the looping program so it was a no-brainer. Parents were given the option of opting out for the second year if they had any problems with the teacher or the class. I think it's a win-win stiuation. Your child could end up with a bad teacher no matter what so it's probably worth taking the chance on the looping class. At worst, if it's not working after year one, you can always request that they be put in another class.

Good luck with your decision and I hope your child has a great year!

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

my younger brother did this. We had been friendly with the teacher and she really enjoyed having my brother in her class for 2 years in a row. My brother who, at the first and second grade age had trouble adjusting to new teachers and classes, it was the best thing for him. He ended up building strong relationships with others in his class and the teacher. However, he was so used to being in the same enviroment when it came time for him to switch up to 3rd grade, he had a bit of trouble. He wanted everything done the same as his first and second grade teacher. He quickly learned that he had to learn a different way. I will say, that the teacher and him were not a good match. I have seen my brother in her class (8th grade help day, he didnt know i was there) he didnt do anything, he does sit on his foot and that annoyed her and she ruined him for that. It just wasnt the right teacher for him. Thankfully he got the perfect 4th grade teacher for him it made all the difference. She really understood what he had been through because shes the "after looping 4th grade teacher" I will say for some kids its perfect and its what they need (my brother) and for others its not (my best friend who lives for change and adapting to new people...yup not good!)

it all depends on the child.

 

[nataliz]

Hi! I'm a 1-2 looping teacher. I'm now starting my 3rd loop with 1st graders this year. I really enjoy the opportunity. Here are a few benefits that I see from looping:

*The teacher knows the student and their learning style and can pick up where they need to be at the very beginning of the 2nd year. This means that your child isn't going to spend time going over information that has already been covered. The beginning of the 2nd year is quicker paced because the students know basic rules, procedures, and expectations.
*There is a great student-teacher bond. There is also a closer parent-teacher bond. I had great relationships with my parents because I got to know them so well.

I have students who just went on to third grade this year and they were so excited. Some come back to visit often, but none seemed to have a difficult transition. The third grade teachers also enjoy all the information that we can share with them because of the amount of time we spent with these students.

Our entire 1st/2nd grade team loops. Now half of the 4/5 grade loops also. I think that your child will enjoy it.

Let me know if you have any other questions.