In this article, the author shares her experience with a student whose parents had immigrated from China. One parent spoke English, but the other parent did not--which led to them sometimes feeling isolated from their child's educational experience. This understanding enabled the author to adapt her school's communication methods to better meet…

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…

Looping may be defined as a teacher remaining with a group of students for multiple academic years. In this quantitative study, looping was examined as a factor on science achievement. State-wide eighth grade school level 2010 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) data were used. By responding to a mailing, school administrators…

Looping, a school structure where students remain with one group of teachers for two or more school years, is used by middle schools to meet the diverse needs of young adolescents. However, little research exists on how looping effects the academic performance of students. This study was designed to determine if looping influenced middle school…

The current qualitative study, using a grounded theory approach, explores the benefits of looping as an instructional practice by comparing the success of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in looping classrooms to the success of hearing students in looping classrooms. Limited information is currently available about the success of looping as an…

Defines practice of looping teachers and describes its history in American education. Details a looping project instituted in a middle school, including the initial planning, customization of instruction, and structure of classroom instruction. Evaluates the looping process by presenting advantages and disadvantages encountered, and offers…

The Back on Track Program, a partnership among a Cincinnati middle school, Miami University, and Procter and Gamble, provided team teaching for at-risk students. In an adaptation, Bridge Builders, five teachers looped with seventh graders for 2 years with Miami student teachers' involvement. Improvements in achievement and social development…

Discusses the advantages and problems of multi-year instruction or "looping." Looping improves relationships, increases student achievement, strengthens school-home partnerships, increases parental support, promotes discipline, and increases academic time. Briefly describes Tolland Middle School's implementation of multi-year…

Increasing numbers of middle school educators believe that the education of young adolescents can be enhanced when teachers and students are members of classrooms and small team groups characterized by long-lasting relationships. This book describes how to offer students the benefits of smallness within increasingly larger schools by ensuring…

Looping, or multi-year teaching, is the pedagogical practice of allowing students and teachers to remain together for 2 or more years. This 2-year case study investigated looping practices and perceptions of looping among eighth-grade middle school students, teachers, and parents. Data from two middle schools were collected in the second year of…

The Delta Project involves an interdisciplinary team of 4 middle school teachers and their approximately 100 students working together throughout grades 6, 7, and 8 for the 1990-91, 1991-92, and 1992-93 school years in Elberton (Georgia). The relationships between the classroom structures used by the Delta Team teachers and the motivation of their…