Reply #6: Teachers keep the same class for more than one year. [View All]

[LWolf]

I spent about 7 years looping 2nd and 3rd graders; they came to me for 2nd grade, I kept them until it was time to send them on to 4th.

I did the same thing with 5th and 6th graders for a few years.

Now I do something similar with 6th - 8th, except that they aren't self-contained.

The first year is spent getting to know each other. Teachers learn student's strengths, weaknesses, and styles. Students learn the same about the teachers. A good working relationship is established.

The 2nd year, everyone knows each other, everyone knows procedures and expectations, and we're back in gear from the first day of the year.