Theresa King

Who: Lee County Schools

What: Informative hand-out for teachers on homeless students

When: End of April

Where: In the classrooms

Why: To increase the knowledge of school staff and teachers on ways to identify their homeless

students. To provide knowledge on the different needs and expectations of those students.

Author: Eric Jensen

EFFECTS OF POVERTY
In the home

In the school setting

Time spent learning survival skills

Difficulties forming healthy

Less cognitive enrichment tools

Less sense of mastery/optimism

Less HW time / more TV time

Less interest in HW help/activities

Less resources/positive

Heightened sense of

Less caregiver reliability/

Less capacity for self efficacy / self

Development of adverse adaptive

Stress-ridden attachments with

than experiencing joys of childhood.

reinforcement

predictability
responses

attachments with peers

isolation/insignificance

determination
teachers

 Systems theory- Human behavior is analyzed in terms of complex systems. It is

believed that an effective system is based on individual needs, rewards,

expectations, and attributes among people living in the system. According to this
theory, an individuals issue is altered by those who are directly involved. .

Social Learning Theory- Albert Bandura: Learning occurs through observation and

imitation. New behavior will continue if it is reinforced. According to this theory,

rather than simply hearing a new concept and applying it, the learning process is
made more efficient if the new behavior is modeled as well.

These theories are applicable to the cause of the cycle of poverty.

1.Acting Out (blurting, acting before asking permission,

forgetfulness)

could be

CHANGE PITY TO
EMPATHY
1.

Keep in mind the factors that

cause the misbehavior.

impulsivity and short-term memory).

2.

Know cultural knowledge

2. Immigrant children are 22% of U.S.poverty rates

3.

Be attuned to risk factors

Chronic Stress Disorder (side effects include greater

3. Children who experience poverty during

preschool and early school years experience lower
rates of school completion. Risk factors include

 Brains can change for the better.

Teachers need to believe their students can succeed.
Provide positive, enriching experiences.
Utilize the SHARE factors:
1.

Support the whole child

2.

Hard Data

3.

Accountability

4.

Relationship Building

5.

Enriching mindset

 Turn standards into meaningful units.

Pre-assess to determine students background knowledge.
Adjust your lesson plans.
Implement a strong arts program

Implement an advanced curriculum