Teaching Children of Poverty

Teachers Do Make a Difference

Learning OutcomesUnderstanding the nature of Poverty

Understand how poverty affects behavior and academic performance

Know teaching strategies and techniques proven to work with low SES children

Resources Used

Check these guys out!Dr. Pedro Noguera Dr. Jeff Duncan-

Andrade

Types of PovertySituational

Is caused by a sudden crisis or loss and is often temporary.

GenerationalAbsolute

Risk Factors of Poverty Students are likely to experience…Emotional and social challengesAcute and chronic stressorsCognitive lagsHealth and safety issuesfather absence/single parent householdmaternal depressionlow parental educationliving in a poor neighborhood exposure to violence

Continuedless social support for families than in other

neighborhoods.Stressful parent-child relationshipssocial isolationshamepoor neighborhoods low-quality child careinadequate health care inability to provide a rich and stimulating learning

environment in the homepoor parental mental health.

Poverty at SchoolFamily income significantly influences

children's academic success…especially during preschool, kindergarten and the primary years.

High tardy rates and absenteeismAttend poorly maintained schoolsLess-qualified teachers (less experience)Day care facilities (if available) are less

adequate

The Teacher Matters“Kids raised in poverty are more likely to lack-and need-a caring, dependable adult in their lives, and often it’s teachers to whom children look for that support.”

•Jensen 2009

3 Letters from Teddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xkQHh0HUxU

Teachers can…Build Positive RelationshipsThis is the MOST important strategy

Building relationships can significantly affect:

When positive relationships are maintained:

What can YOU do to build this relationship? (TTN)

Teachers can…Conduct Formative and Summative AssessmentsAccurate assessment of students skills and

abilities are critical to the teachers understanding of how to support and guide instruction.

Feedback that feeds forward

Analysis of assessments to determine learning progress and quickly address areas of need.

“Consistent use and analysis of assessments of learning will clearly help us know when our students are learning and when they’re not.”

• Howard 2009

What Types of Assessment Should I Use?Formal/Summative

Informal/Formative

Teachers can…Integrating Learning ExperiencesLinking the Known to the Unknown

Gives students a “hook” to hang their new knowledge

Ways to do this:

Int. Learning Experiences Con’t.Promoting Discovery Learning“Aha!” “I get it!” “Oh, I get it now!”

Problem based learning/Discovery learning

Ask probing questionsSuch as:

Allow students to employ higher level thinking

Int. Learning Experiences Con’tIntegrating InstructionHelp students develop study skills across all content

areasTeach students how to learn using specific skills

Listening to directionsAsking clarifying questionsIdentifying similarities and differencesDrawing conclusionsUsing mnemonic devicesVerbalizing what they learned

Link learning from one area to another Thematic units

Teachers can…Create a Positive ClimateCreating a Positive Climate for Learning“The goal is to ensure that every child who

enters our classrooms feels safe, validated, individually important, and successful.”Create a User-Friendly Classroom

Supplies Seating arrangements

Create a Democratic Learning Environment Students are engage and active participants in the

learning process Provide choices

Creating a Positive Climate for LearningProviding Positive Feedback Early and Often

Providing Verbal and Nonverbal CuesCues helps students to understand the

message you are trying to send.

Creating a Positive Climate

Creating a Positive ClimateCreating a Positive Climate for LearningStructuring Time Effectively

Create a Positive ClimateCreating a Positive Climate for LearningEmploy a Sense of Humor

“A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down.”

Celebrate Students’ Success