Multi-year teaching in a Waldorf grade school allows teachers to take the time to make deep connections with students. Keeping the main lesson class teacher as a steady authority in a child’s life is beneficial to social and intellectual learning.

Research on teacher "looping," as it is often called, shows that rich and deep student / teacher relations really matter in a world of academics. According to the American Psychological Association, six different studies done between 1997 and 2010 show, “Positive teacher-student relationships — evidenced by teachers’ reports of low conflict, a high degree of closeness and support, and little dependency — have been shown to support students’ adjustment to school, contribute to their social skills, promote academic performance and foster students’ resiliency in academic performance.”

Read More at The Waldorf School of Philadelphia Blog, Love Learning.
Photo Credit: The Waldorf School of Philadelphia