Looping

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Home : 2002 : August : 31

Looping
By Elaine

Grumpy,

I don't think you should refer to yourself as grumpy. It's always difficult when things are appear to be unfair. Life's not fair, but it's still difficult to deal with.

I loop with my 4th and 5th graders,
however, before we started our program we went to seminars to learn all about the positives and negatives in a looping program. We were told that looping classrooms and teachers must be treated just like other teachers and classrooms. If enrollment increases and all the classes are bulging at their seams, then all teachers add new students -- plain and simple -- looping or not looping.

Others who have said that looping is to keep the same kids together for two years are right but only to a certain extent. Kids move out, and kids move in. The ones who stay are the ones who stay together for two years. It would be ridiculous to say, "You can't move away this year because you are in a looping class, and that means you have to stay with us for two years." It is just as ridiculous to say, "You can't join our classroom because it is a looping class, and you were not here last year."

Administrators should do as much as is possible to create a caring, sharing staff. To make decisions that divide faculty and cause hard feelings is like shooting him/herself in the foot. It is very destructive to the climate of the whole school.

As far as the poster who referred to the looping teacher who has to learn/teach/adapt to a whole new curriculum for the second year -- he/she is correct too but again only to a certain extent. Sure I have to go back and forth between two very different curricula and it is very hard work. But understand that I already know my kids, we have already laid the groundwork for classroom management, expectations, etc. It's a trade-off between having to work harder to learn/teach and having it easier when it comes to dealing with student.

So, Grumpy, my point is we all work very hard! We all have challenges to face daily! We need to feel valued and be treated like professionals! We need fairness! We need sooooooo many things, but life's not fair. Don't make yourself sick yourself grieving over what's happening down the hall. Just enjoy your students, teach them to the best of your ability, and let the rest go. And remember, if it makes you feel any better, most of us have waaaaaaaaaaay more than 20 or so students and max is waaaaaaaaaaaay higher than 22! Relax and let the good times roll!!!!!!

Elaine