OT - Educational Practice of Looping

[Ratatosk]

This school year has been a tad stressful. DS is in 2nd grade and we've had issues with him getting fairly good grades, scores on his spelling & social studies tests, completes his homework, great behavior marks on his daily calendar. But then we get blindsided at school conferences. Despite good marks, his teacher has concerns. The one spelling test where he got letters mixed up and did poorly was brought up as an example during conferences --- 99.9% of the time he's been getting them all right. And then I was asked if we'd ever spoken to his pediatrician about his "anger issues". Apparently the day before he got annoyed with a little girl telling him to pay attention and he snapped at her.
Our response has been, we can't address any issues or concerns if we aren't made aware of them.
His teacher has been absent quite a bit -- lately spelling tests that we practice for on Fridays end up getting delayed until she returns the following Monday or Tuesday...
Anyway, we've been counting the DAYS until we're DONE with this teacher, only to receive a letter from the principal about looping. Oh, joy do we want to continue with her in 3rd Grade. And of COURSE she mentioned it to the students so DS is BEGGING us to let him stay with her. Bleah! If it was his 1st Grade teacher -- I'd be all for it. LOVED her!
DH and I are of the opinion that he needs to start over with a different teacher. She's got him labeled... While I worry that most if not all of his classmates will remain with this teacher, he does make friends fairly easily, doesn't have issues with anybody, and is generally a happy go lucky individual. So he'll do fine. I just dislike the position his teacher has put us in. End of rant. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

This school year has been a tad stressful. DS is in 2nd grade and we've had issues with him getting fairly good grades, scores on his spelling & social studies tests, completes his homework, great behavior marks on his daily calendar. But then we get blindsided at school conferences. Despite good marks, his teacher has concerns. The one spelling test where he got letters mixed up and did poorly was brought up as an example during conferences --- 99.9% of the time he's been getting them all right. And then I was asked if we'd ever spoken to his pediatrician about his "anger issues". Apparently the day before he got annoyed with a little girl telling him to pay attention and he snapped at her.
Our response has been, we can't address any issues or concerns if we aren't made aware of them.
His teacher has been absent quite a bit -- lately spelling tests that we practice for on Fridays end up getting delayed until she returns the following Monday or Tuesday...
Anyway, we've been counting the DAYS until we're DONE with this teacher, only to receive a letter from the principal about looping. Oh, joy do we want to continue with her in 3rd Grade. And of COURSE she mentioned it to the students so DS is BEGGING us to let him stay with her. Bleah! If it was his 1st Grade teacher -- I'd be all for it. LOVED her!
DH and I are of the opinion that he needs to start over with a different teacher. She's got him labeled... While I worry that most if not all of his classmates will remain with this teacher, he does make friends fairly easily, doesn't have issues with anybody, and is generally a happy go lucky individual. So he'll do fine. I just dislike the position his teacher has put us in. End of rant. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Jenica]

Looping is great when the teacher and your kiddo work well together, but it doesn't sound like this is the case for you guys. We have a couple of teachers at our elementary school that loop, from 2nd to 3rd, then back to 2nd and so on, and most of the time I've heard really positive things about it. But I also know a family down the street that opted out this year, and they've been really happy about that. The great thing about 3rd grade is that you can make new friends in one day! I love that! If it's not the right match for your son, I'd move him.

We're on the opposite side of things over here ... Ellie's 1st grade teacher worked as a child life specialist for seven years with CF kids(!!), so it was a HUGE blessing for Ellie to be placed in her class this year! She has been so above and beyond understanding and helpful to Ellie's needs. For example, after a couple of low weight checks, she initiated a "lunch bunch" crew, where kids take turns (because they ALL want to be involved in this) starting their lunch early, at a special table, with Ellie. If Ellie isn't finished with her lunch, her teacher will give her own lunch hour to hang out with the lunch bunch crew until Ellie's eaten enough. She's phenomenal!

She wants to loop to 2nd grade, and I can't imagine a better piece of news for our family, but the principal hasn't given her the okay as yet. We are praying she will, because Ellie's life is all the better for having this particular teacher in it. We won't always be so fortunate, that's for sure, but I would love a second year with her.

I Hope it works out for your son!

 

[Jenica]

Looping is great when the teacher and your kiddo work well together, but it doesn't sound like this is the case for you guys. We have a couple of teachers at our elementary school that loop, from 2nd to 3rd, then back to 2nd and so on, and most of the time I've heard really positive things about it. But I also know a family down the street that opted out this year, and they've been really happy about that. The great thing about 3rd grade is that you can make new friends in one day! I love that! If it's not the right match for your son, I'd move him.

We're on the opposite side of things over here ... Ellie's 1st grade teacher worked as a child life specialist for seven years with CF kids(!!), so it was a HUGE blessing for Ellie to be placed in her class this year! She has been so above and beyond understanding and helpful to Ellie's needs. For example, after a couple of low weight checks, she initiated a "lunch bunch" crew, where kids take turns (because they ALL want to be involved in this) starting their lunch early, at a special table, with Ellie. If Ellie isn't finished with her lunch, her teacher will give her own lunch hour to hang out with the lunch bunch crew until Ellie's eaten enough. She's phenomenal!

She wants to loop to 2nd grade, and I can't imagine a better piece of news for our family, but the principal hasn't given her the okay as yet. We are praying she will, because Ellie's life is all the better for having this particular teacher in it. We won't always be so fortunate, that's for sure, but I would love a second year with her.

I Hope it works out for your son!

 

[Ratatosk]

I just spoke with a coworker whose son was in 1st grade with DS and she said his teacher isn't doing looping, so I'm a bit relieved that it's not the entire 2nd grade at school. We're planning to opt out of the looping.

 

[Ratatosk]

I just spoke with a coworker whose son was in 1st grade with DS and she said his teacher isn't doing looping, so I'm a bit relieved that it's not the entire 2nd grade at school. We're planning to opt out of the looping.