Hey y'all! I haven't posted since before Christmas (surprise)... I hope you found some humor in that post, but today's post is serious. I won't get all sappy and "bleeding hearts unite" on you, but after Christmas and throughout the winter season, we can all get the winter blues. It hasn't happened here yet because we haven't had one flake of snow and life hasn't slowed down one bit... but it's coming (I think).
A couple of years ago, we had some extremely cold days... like single and below zero digits for days and days. My house is well insulated and heated, but we had to put blankets over windows and doors and keep doors of extra bedrooms closed in an effort to save some heating costs. HOWEVER, some of my students weren't as fortunate. They told me stories of little heat, pipes busting, no electricity. School was closed, so there was no reprieve from it for them. It just breaks my heart. Maybe we won't have that situation this year... but it always makes me wonder about them this time of year.
I always try to think of ways to bring awareness and keep myself aware of how to recognize and teach students in poverty. I'll be writing a few blog posts over the next few weeks that may help us all regain that focus and awareness.
This week, I just want to focus on behaviors and underlying causes that students in poverty may be dealing with. It is important to recognize these so that we don't punish or criticize behaviors that a student has no control over. Then we can try to find ways to help them with immediate needs and breaking the cycle, but that will be a later post ;)
So here are some things you might notice going on with your students and POSSIBLE underlying reasons. There could be A DOZEN reasons why, but let's give these some thought when we see these behaviors.
It's hard to focus if you are worried about where you will be sleeping tonight.
It's hard to hold your head up if you didn't sleep at all the night before.
Being irritable can come from just being hungry.
It's hard to explain that you don't understand if you don't know the right words to use.
A simple permission slip can be confusing, especially when language is an issue.
When siblings are the babysitters, they may or may not be responsible enough to make sure homework gets done.
You can download this little table to have as reference, just a little reminder. You already know what poverty looks like, and have most likely identified your students in poverty. We just sometimes need reminding of the underlying reasons. I know I struggle to not lay blame sometimes, we just have to remind ourselves to be patient and find the root of the problem.
So over the next couple of months, when it is really cold out, remember to ask your students how they slept, what they had for breakfast, and if there is anything they can think of that they need (such as gloves, coat, scarf, etc.)
Set up a little tub of inexpensive winter clothing items and allow students who need them to take what they need. You can download this image by clicking it, then print it place it on your tub! Students won't have to tell anyone that they will be cold at home :)
In upcoming posts I will share timely resources you can provide, ways teachers can help, and outside of school resources that may be available to students. If you know of any great resources (not local, but maybe statewide) that are available please email me at dirtroadteacher@gmail.com. I would love to put these together in one document to make widely available to teachers!
What behaviors have you seen as a result of student poverty? What are the reasons you have found out that are causing the behavior? Please comment and share your experiences!
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