The Power of Looping, Mentorship and ESPs
At Iron Village Preparatory Academy, we are always looking for the best ways to help our students succeed and grow. We use innovative strategies, like looping classrooms and mentorship, to create a supportive and effective learning environment. As we prepare to launch our Microschool in August 2025, we’ll be using Education Success Plans (ESPs) instead of traditional Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to focus on the strengths and needs of every student. Let’s take a closer look at why these methods are so valuable for your child’s education.
Looping: Creating a Stronger Connection
Looping means that the same teacher stays with a group of students for more than one year. At Iron Village Prep, our students experience this in two special learning communities: the Innovators Room for kindergarten through 4th grade and the Trailblazers Room for 5th through 8th grade. This approach allows teachers to really get to know their students and understand their learning styles, strengths, and challenges.
With looping, there’s less time spent adjusting to a new teacher and classroom at the start of each school year. Instead, students build a deeper relationship with their teacher and classmates. This stability helps them feel safe and supported, which is especially important as they tackle new and challenging subjects. Parents often notice that their children are more confident and willing to take academic risks when they have a familiar teacher and peer group.
Mentorship: Learning and Leading Together
In addition to looping, we use a mentorship model where older students help guide younger ones. This is especially powerful in our Trailblazers Room, where students in higher grades assist their younger peers with projects and lessons. This setup benefits everyone involved. Younger students get the help they need to improve their work and develop skills, while older students reinforce their own knowledge and build leadership skills.
For example, a 7th grader might help a 5th grader with a math problem, which not only strengthens the younger student’s skills but also helps the older student remember and apply what they’ve learned. This dynamic creates a collaborative learning environment where students of all ages feel valued and capable.
Education Success Plans (ESPs): Supporting Every Student’s Growth
At Iron Village Prep, we believe every child deserves a personalized approach to learning. That’s why we use Education Success Plans (ESPs) instead of traditional IEPs. While IEPs are often designed for students with specific learning disabilities, ESPs are for everyone. They focus on the whole child, including academic goals, personal development, and social-emotional growth.
ESPs are flexible and can be updated as your child grows and changes. They help us track not only where your child might need extra support but also where they excel and how we can encourage those strengths. This allows us to create a more engaging and effective learning experience tailored to each student’s unique needs.
Why ESPs Instead of IEPs?
We choose to use ESPs at Iron Village Prep because we want to focus on what each student can achieve, not just their challenges. Here’s why ESPs work better for us:
1. Inclusivity: ESPs are for all students, not just those with learning disabilities. This makes personalized learning available to everyone, without any stigma.
2. Flexibility: ESPs can be updated as needed to reflect a student’s changing goals and progress, offering a more responsive approach to education.
3. Strength-Based Approach: ESPs emphasize a student’s strengths and use them as a foundation for overcoming challenges.
4. Whole-Child Development: ESPs include academic, social, and personal goals, helping students grow in all areas of their lives.
At Iron Village Preparatory Academy, we’re committed to creating an environment where every student can thrive. By using looping, mentorship, and Education Success Plans, we provide a nurturing and dynamic learning experience that helps students become confident, curious, and capable members of their community. We believe that every child is unique, and our approach ensures they are seen, supported, and encouraged every step of the way.
