1. LOOPING *This presentation was used in 2009 to introduce looping to elementary parents.*

2. What is Looping?  Looping is a term to describe the educational practice in which a single- grade class remains with the same teacher for two or more years!  Other names: continuous learning, continuous progress, multi-year grouping.

3. What are the advantages?  Socially  Reduced apprehension of the new school year.  Increased self-confidence.  A stronger sense of community (parents, students and teachers.)

4. Advantages Continued  Academically  A gain of almost a month of teaching time.  Increase of teacher knowledge about students intellectual strengths and weaknesses.  More opportunities for individualized instruction.

5. Why West Deptford Township?  We hope to achieve: more integrated, continuous curriculum, improve students independent learning, increase instructional time, increase student daily attendance, and reduce special needs and remediation referrals.

6. Why are we here?  Remember we are building “community” atmosphere and partnership for the next two years. We want everyone to be informed and involved.  The program officially starts NOW!!

7. Student Selection  Principals are dedicated to continuing to keep all classrooms as balanced as possible, looping rooms do not have any exceptions. Administrators look at:  Gender, Ability Levels, Strengths, Weakness and Conflicts.  We take personal pride in making the right fit for our students.

8. How was the Pilot Program Evaluated?  Interviews, surveys, school records, special education referrals, and general observations.

9. What about the disadvantages?  Both parents and teachers become TOO ATTACHED.  Student/Teacher Personality Clash.

10. OPT OUT PROGRAM  Parents will have the chance at the end of the school year to opt out of the program, due to conflicts with the class.  Teachers will have the chance to opt a student out of the program if there are continuous problems involving a particular student.

11. Parent Opinion  The bond between parents, teachers and students is strong. I am pleased my child had the opportunity to be with the same teacher for both years.  I can not imagine classrooms any other way.

12. Student Opinion  We became close to our friends, we will all miss each other next year.  Having the same teacher for two years was really cool, we were never surprised with anything she had to say to us.

13. Teacher Opinion  We were able to see what worked from each year. I did not have to spend the second year trying to analyze students and abilities.  The first day of the second year, we started where we left off. Now, I was able to pace the classroom for individual levels without getting behind in the curriculum.

14. QUESTIONS!!!!