After receiving this "fan letter" from a student, I started to think about "looping" with my current class of 16 students. In March, I learned that two of our 1st grade teachers requested transfers to different positions, so I proposed the "looping" idea to our principal and a few of my colleagues. There are many important questions about this plan...such as whether I can quickly learn the 1st grade standards and curriculum so that I can guide my students and, more importantly, whether I am the "best fit" for some of my current students as they enter 1st grade. I want the best for my students and their families, so I need to think carefully about this plan. If my plan is approved, I need to have families think through this option carefully so that they are confident that their children are in the best learning and social environment.
I love my current job as a kindergarten teacher. My classroom is large and bright. I have studied the common core standards for kindergarten and Alaska's state standards for language arts and math (which are almost identical to the common core.) Yet, there are some key reasons why I would like to "loop" with my students:
- We have created a community, with shared experiences and books that record these experiences
- We have special routines, including our "student of the day"journals, our "question of the day" with unifix cubes, our riddle books, birthday books, clean up songs and class mascots ("Gerald and Piggie" from Mo Willem's books)
- We have developed trust in each other, so we can share our ideas, inspire each other to try new things, and enjoy an environment of laughing and learning
- I have developed trust with my students' families, so that they are able to share ideas and concerns with me. We can collaboratively celebrate successes and solve problems
- As a young student, I had the positive experience of having the same teacher for K/1st (Ms. Soo) as well as the same teacher for 4th-6th grade (Ms. Masuda)
- I have talked to four teachers who had positive experiences with "looping"and staying with the same class for 2 years
- I am a fast learner, and I can use my time over the summer to prepare how to teach "the daily 5" and the 1st grade math curriculum, as well as the FOSS science and the reading curriculum chosen by the district for next year...
- We can "hit the ground running" at the beginning of the year because we will already be comfortable with our daily routines and individual personalities
- My students who are more anxious (2 out of my 16 students) and less trusting of adults (3 out of my 16 students) will start the year with a teacher that they know and trust already
If it is best for me to remain as a kindergarten teacher, I will enjoy teaching a new group of kindergarten students about our special routines. We will create books together and develop a close community of learners. However, if it is possible for me to "loop" with my class, I think that my students and I will be able to have a very successful year in 1st grade.
I highly recommend looping! I had a looping partner for many years and looped with my 3rd/4th graders. Maybe one of the newly-hired teachers will be willing to take Kindergarten next year and loop to 1st the year after that, so you'll have a looping partner, too. I think that once you experience looping, you won't want to go back. You have really thought out the possibilities, so I think you are well-prepared for this change. I won't repeat the reasons I loved looping, since you have mentioned them, but I will tell you that the two that come to the front of my mind immediately are 1) the trusting relationship that is already developed has a huge impact on student achievement, not to mention love of school and quality of life. This takes time to develop and when it's already established, the 2nd year with the same students sees even more benefits. 2) "Hitting the ground running" is a huge benefit academically. Even if you add a student or two (and the research says not to add more than 4 new students to a looping class), the rest of your students will kindly and helpfully work with those new students as they adjust to the established routine.
ReplyDeleteI am excited for you!