Absenteeism and an ever-widening achievement gap are issues that plague school systems nationwide. The purpose of this study was to determine if having a looping teacher with the same or similar classmates for a year or more makes a difference in the number of absences that students accumulate. This study examined whether looping could be…

The researcher conducted a quasi-experimental quantitative study to determine whether there was a significant difference in reading achievement between students who looped and students who did not loop. Looping is when a group of students stay with the same teacher and classmates for two or more consecutive years. The students in this study were…

The purpose of the quantitative study was to determine if there was a significant difference in the academic performance of students at the elementary level who loop compared to those who do not. This study also assessed if there was a significant difference in academic achievement among subgroups in students who loop compared to those who do not.…

We examine the dynamic nature of student-teacher match quality by studying the effect of having a teacher for more than one year. Using data from Tennessee and panel methods, we find that having a repeat teacher improves achievement and decreases absences, truancy, and suspensions. These results are robust to a range of tests for student and…

This study compared the academic achievement and teacher-student relationship of students who remained with the same teacher for two consecutive years in so-called looping classrooms (n = 98), to their peers in traditional one-year classrooms (n = 94). Contrary to prior research on the topic, this study used a strict protocol to ensure that…

This concurrent multi-phase mixed methods study investigated whether indicators of Social Cognitive Theory could be observed in Grades 3-5 classrooms and if these indicators could be used to describe teacher effectiveness in high poverty schools. The conceptual framework drew upon Bandura's (1997) measurement of the individual self-efficacy of…

The mandates of federal and state education policies require educational leaders at all levels to select and implement research-based strategies to increase student achievement levels for all students. "Looping, a term coined by Jim Grant, author of the 'Looping Handbook' refers to the not-so-new but increasingly common practice of keeping…

A problem in many elementary schools is determining which teacher assignment strategy best promotes the academic progress of students. To find and implement educational practices that address the academic needs of all learners, schools need research-based data focusing on the 2 teacher assignment strategies: looping assignment (LA) and traditional…

The system of public education in the United States lacks responsiveness to differing maturation rates and learning styles of young children. U.S. public education focuses more on satisfying governmental mandates and a common curriculum measured through standardized tests than on addressing the individual learning needs of each student.…

The purpose of this research study was two-fold. The first purpose was to investigate the impact of looping on academic achievement of students in selected public schools in Mississippi. The students' results on the 2010 and 2011 Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2) were used to determine whether looping students score differently in…

The implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has had many positive effects on students in schools today. The results have been less positive, however, for high-achieving students. Teachers often focus their instruction on students who need the most help, leaving little time to meet the academic or emotional needs of gifted students.…

There is an increasing interest in the practice of teachers staying with a group of students for more than one year. This is referred to as looping in educational practice. The problem of constant uncertainty or change of a new teacher year to year, creates less academic time and student anxiety. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects…

Describes one teacher's experience with looping between first and second grades. Highlights responses to surveys, whereby parents and students demonstrated positive social, academic, and emotional advantages to looping, including improved student-teacher relationships, less anxiety, and improved teacher's understanding of students' strengths and…

Looping, a multi-year teaching assignment whereby a teacher remains with the same group of children for more than one grade, is designed to meet the individual needs of students and improve student learning. This booklet describes the practice of looping in American schools. The booklet details the underlying theories supporting the practice and…

Looping refers to the increasingly common practice of keeping groups of students together for two or more years with the same teacher. This booklet, first in a series of "Themes in Education" provides information on the educational practice of looping and includes selected current references on the topic. The booklet outlines the history of this…