Quotes are taken from a message written by Sheila to All on 05/05/96...
SK>-> *5   LOOPING:  BENEFITS OF KEEPING STUDENTS & TEACHER TOGETHER
SK>->    Several St.Louis, Mo., schools keep children with the same
SK>-> teacher for two years.  Known as "looping," the practice has its
SK>-> origins in the one-room schoolhouse of the early part of the
SK>-> century, writes the St. Louis POST-DISPATCH (Bower, 4/22).
SK>->    "Of all the innovative concepts I've seen, this is the most
SK>-> enthusiastically embraced by teachers, principals and,
SK>-> particularly, parents," said Jim Grant, a former N.H. educator
SK>-> who helped coin the term "looping."  Grant and Bob Johnson wrote a
SK>-> book, called "A Common Sense Guide to Multi-age Practices."
SK>-> Grant also directs a teacher-training institute in Peterborough, N.H.
SK>->    The paper reports that teachers give looping high marks
SK>-> because it helps them get a "better grasp of the children's
SK>-> strengths and weaknesses."  However, keeping the same children
SK>-> for two consecutive years also demands more from teachers, "who must
SK>-> learn curriculums for two grades," notes the paper.
SK>->    "Teachers are enthusiastic about this," said Max
SK>-> Loudenslager, principal at Robinson school, where looping has
SK>-> been in effect for five years.  "Parents like it.  I think it has had
SK>-> real benefits for the kids."
We did this in our district for several years back in the 1970's.  Our 
elementary teachers disliked it *intensely* and only did it because it 
was mandated by the principal.  I'm not sure of all of the reasons they 
disliked it - they complained to me because I was involved in local 
union leadership, but there was nothing I could do at the time.  Part of 
the rationale, as I recall, was that maintaining two complete 
curriculums in all 6 or 7 subjects they reach, plus the necessary 
worksheets, reading books, manipulatives, etc. was extremely demanding.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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