Looping is a term that is used to describe the educational practice in which a single-grade class remains with the same teacher for two or more years. It is not to be confused with the practice of mixed-aged grouping, in which there are students from more than one grade level in the same classroom. The practice of keeping students and teachers together for two or more years has been used for many years in some schools in the United States and has been commonly used in Europe. For example, Rudolf Steiner founded the Waldorf Schools in Germany for the education of the children of the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory workers. Teachers with multi-year assignments with the same group of students have identified several social and academic advantages to looping.
Academic benefits are also numerous.
Experts suggest that it is a good idea for schools to anticipate and plan for social interventions that might be needed ahead of time, and to make a commitment to being supportive of individual children and teachers as they adapt to the social environment. Teachers should try to balance the potential advantages of looping with the needs of an individual student in unusual circumstances. While moving an unhappy student to another class is likely to be rare and a last resort, it should not be ruled out. Experienced educators see looping as a way of making large high schools less anonymous, meeting the needs of the changing American family, and creating more continuity and fostering social constructivism in learning. For More Information Chapman, Janet.