Hot Topics for Teachers of Poverty Stricken Students
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Tips to Deal with Hunger in the Classroom:
Tips to Help Impoverished Students do well Academically:
Tips to Assist Families in Distress:
- Inquire about Backpack food programs in the local area. Food Pantries are increasingly getting involved with youth hunger problems by stuffing the backpacks of poor students weekly with easy to prepare and ready to eat foods such as granola bars, fresh fruit, and microwavable soup. Students often take these items home on Fridays to keep themselves fed over the weekend. More information is available at Feeding America.
- Encourage parents to apply for the free and reduced lunch program. If students qualify they can also get a filling, nutritious breakfast if your school has a breakfast program.
- Encourage donations from parents and community members of healthy snacks to feed students during the school day.
Tips to Help Impoverished Students do well Academically:
- Be thoughtful when assigning homework. Some students may not have an appropriate environment to complete homework. If this is the case, you may want to provide time at school to complete assignments.
- Have high expectations of all students, regardless of socio-economic status.
- Be wary of assigning work that requires Internet access or a computer to complete. Some students may not have access to technology.
- Give plenty of notice before field trips or other activities/events that require the students to bring money to school. Try to have a back up plan in case some students cannot come up with money to purchase a 100 Day T-Shirt, or go on a field trip, etc.
- Keep in mind that some students may not have books at home. Encourage library checkouts and consider having a lending library in the classroom.
- Offer support for students doing special projects such as dioramas or other projects that require a large amount of parent involvement. The child's parents may be working odd hours, or may not have skills and/or supplies to complete the project.
- Take notice of students that may not have the required supplies. Try to help by "lending" supplies that you have on hand, or suggest school supply assistance programs that may be available in the community.
Tips to Assist Families in Distress:
- You may be the only adult outside of the family that a poor student has interaction with on a daily basis. Encourage open communication with your students and their parents, and watch for signs of hunger, abuse, or other indications that there may be crisis within the family.
- Refer the family to the school social worker if you suspect that there may be problems at home.
- Send home handouts with all students with helpful information such as food pantry location and hours and other community social assistance programs. Some of the families struggling financially may be the ones that you least suspect.
Teaching About Poverty
There are many useful lesson plans, handouts, and worksheets relating to poverty that can help you teach your students about poverty. Here are a few that can be helpful in your classroom: