'Looping' Catches On as a Way To Build Strong Ties

By Linda Jacobson

Naples, Fla.

Naples, Fla.

Atop the dark-green cabinets in Pat Sanford's classroom sit large, rectangular boxes labeled "sea life," "farms," and "dinosaurs." But the 2nd grade teacher at the Manatee Education Center hardly ever pulls them down to hunt for reliable old lessons that were a hit with last year's class.

That's because last year's class is also this year's class--an arrangement that has forced Ms. Sanford to look continually for fresh and creative teaching materials. At least, she's...