At J. Alfred Laird, we are always exploring ways to build relationship with our students and their families. We do this because we know that there can be no learning until students feel safe and cared for within their learning environment. As the First Peoples Principles of Learning remind us, learning is relational and built on connectedness and reciprocal relationships. To that end, we will be intentionally implementing a research-based practice known as looping, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
What is looping?
Looping is the practice of a teacher remaining with the same group of students for more than one school year. Looping can take place across two years or more. It can take several forms, such as a grade 4 teacher moving with his or her students into fifth grade the following year. In multi-age classrooms, such as a grade 4/5, it may mean that students remain with the same teacher for both grades, and when the oldest students transition to a higher grade, younger students move in to fill their spots. Looping has long been considered "best practice" in educational settings that employ Waldorf or Montessori principles.
Why looping?
Research has shown that looping benefits students for a number of reasons:
- Looping provides opportunity for the teacher to build strong, lasting relationships with students and their families;
- Looping allows teachers time to really get to know the learning needs of their students, and how best to address those needs;
- Students benefit from knowing the routines and expectations of the classroom;
- Instructional time is increased because students and teachers “hit the ground running,” rather than spending the first 6-8 weeks of school getting to know each other;
- Students have less anxiety about who their next year's teacher is going to be;
- Most students, and especially struggling students, show significant improvements in academic performance, attendance and behaviour when they remain with the same teacher for more than one year.
Possible disadvantages of looping:
From time-to-time, there may be a personality clash between a particular teacher and student, or between two students. We will endeavor to match students to a “best fit” teacher whenever possible. Looping is not “written in stone” and decisions can be made to move a student to another class when it benefits them socially, emotionally and/or academically.