For the simulation in this class, I have chosen to research Poverty. I personally have never experienced poverty, but where I am currently teaching in Oklahoma we are considered a Title 1 school whihc has to do with testing schools, which ultimately comes from the students not having the greatest home lifes. Poverty has affected these children lives in many ways. I would like to spend my career not changing their home lifes but figuring out ways to provide them with the same opportunities to succeed as though who do not have to worry about their next meal or if the light bill is going to be paid.
Some things I may need help on from my colleagues would be to learn some things you all may doin your classrooms to not eliminate the problem but work with it. Are there any insights or f.y.i's I should prepare myself for? Any and all suggestions will be helpful. If you have any resources to help out I would love to read through them. Thanks and I look forward to hear about anything you have experienced.
Keisha,
ReplyDeletePoverty is a topic that also moved me as I learned about the facts in my state. I'm not sure if you've already checked it out but The Children's Defense website is a wealth of information on childhood poverty. It floored me as I read through the stories of the new poor and realized how close we all are to being a statistic.
Hi Keisha,
ReplyDeleteThis topic is truly compelling. I have worked with families struggling with poverty (and have been there myself). I will never forget the phrase "Poverty sucks the life out of people" from the audio program we listened to in the Issues and Trends class. It is so very true.
I look forward to hearing about your research and I would be glad to share stories from my teaching experience. Childhood poverty is one of those issues that really stirs my blood!
Best of luck in your research and I admire your passion to address this issue in your work with children and families.
Keisha,
DeleteI also work in a Title 1 school in TN. I work with low SES children in our voluntary pre-k program. This is one way they qualify for our program. I am glad to be able to serve these children but I know so many that are not low SES that could also benefit. One thing I have become interested in on the poverty level is that of the working class poor. These are middle income families where maybe both parents work and do there best to make ends meet. At the same time these are also families that can not afford food and do not qualify for any government assistance. This is tragic and really hurts our developing children. There are programs in our state and I know several others where children are given meals to take home on the weekends now. Maybe these ideas will help you. I will let you know if I come across any others as my topic has to do with family involvement in the programs. This is also becoming a new passion of mine to strengthen all programs. I hope we will all be able to become a little less stress with these assignments, lean on each other and build from one another's experiences.
Ginny
I think this is a very admirable goal that you have in terms of what you hope the research will do for those that you serve in your school. I hope that you find information that really allows you to put ideas together to better serve the needs of the children you work with and I hope that your research offers me a new perspective on how to conquer such a prevalent topic.
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