Jody Beake
June 17, 2004
Guidance for Classroom Teachers
Teaching Students of Poverty without a School Counselor
In a Small Rural Junior/Senior High School
How often have you, as a teacher, been in the middle of a class lecture and a
student asked you “Did you see the Bachelor last night?” or have a student just blows off
the handle when you ask them to get to work? On another day that you have that student
who can buy a pop, but never can manage to come with a pencil or paper to class. These
are just a few traits that students in poverty can exhibit in the classroom: that time is the
present, humor and entertainment is highly valued and if you have money spend it.
(Payne, p59) There are a number of things that we, as teachers of students in poverty
can do.
We as a school staff can become more involved in helping these students succeed.
•
Design a School Store: Run by students where school supplies can be
bought for money or for credit which will in turn be paid off by providing
community service to the school.
•
Set School wide class expectations:
•
Parent-Staff Contact: Have teachers, paraprofessional, cooks, secretaries
Expect from all the students that they
will come with pencil pen and paper to class since the school store is available. This will
help students start to become more responsible.
split up the student population and use mail, e-mail or phone to be the contact
person for the school.
•
Mentor for Students with Discipline problems: Have the student, who
has gotten 3 referrals; choose a staff member they feel could be a supportive
mentor to them. The mentor would have the student check in daily to them and
be the person that teachers could contract if the student is having problems in a
class.
•
Learn There are Option for Behaviors: When a student receives a
referral or is sent to the office have them fill-out a paper asking:
1. What did you do?
2. When you did that, what did you want?
3. List four other things you could have done?
4. What will you do next time?
Student in poverty have a hard time seeing there are other choices. (Payne, 105)
For students from poverty the primary motivation for their success will be
in their relationship with a caring mentor. (Payne p146) Students in poverty need
to be taught the hidden rules of middle class to become successful in our society.
Resources:
Payne, Ruby K. (2003). A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Texas: aha! Process,
Inc.