Looping

Looping, also called multiyear teaching, multiyear placement, or student–teacher progression, is the practice of having a teacher promoted with his or her students over a period of years. Most often the “loop” is two or three years in duration. This is most common in primary and preprimary education, particularly during transitional developmental periods (e.g., first–second and sixth–eighth grades). Over the years, looping has gained in popularity. This entry provides a brief overview of the origins of looping, discusses research that informs our understanding of the outcomes associated with looping, and identifies some potential challenges of looping.