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Great article! This is the type write my essay reviews of information that are meant to be public around the internet.

Thank you for educating me on this topic. I have come to understand how it is to quickly form a judgement on children from poverty families without really understanding their way of life and how it influences their behaviors, attitudes and world-view. I think that as Early Childhood Educators, it is important to develop an in-depth understanding of the effects of poverty and its influence on children. I think that is essential to building a much stronger relationship with children based on mutual trust, respect and understanding.

Working with children in a lower income area myself, one might see or know what each child is facing. Rather it be living in a house with 8 other people or the family being homeless. When teachers think that children can’t meet their expectations then students are set up to fail just by the teacher not giving them the outcome before even working with them, it’s sad to see and know that no matter what children economic status is that children are treated differently and or not healed with the same expectations and given the same guidance. All kids should be given the same kind treatment and encouragement. Giving them the greatest gift of all is time to each child. Thank you for this article as it will help my staff look at teaching children in a lower income area some guidance to help and support them on a different level.

I really enjoyed reading this article. When I first thought about becoming a teacher I imagined an idilic classroom where students had the resources and stability they needed both at home and in the classroom. However, in reality, many children are living in poverty all over the country and it is likely that the classrooms we teach in will be far from idilic. As teachers, we have the power to create a nurturing classroom where children feel safe, understood and inspired no matter what is happening outside of the classroom. They deserve the best education possible but many time that depends on the teacher they have. We should all strive to be the kind of teacher that we would have wanted to have as a child for ALL of the children in our care.

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UnknownMarch 16, 2019 at 7:44 PM
I really enjoyed reading this article. When I first thought about becoming a teacher I imagined an idilic classroom where students had the resources and stability they needed both at home and in the classroom. However, in reality, many children are living in poverty all over the country and it is likely that the classrooms we teach in will be far from idilic. As teachers, we have the power to create a nurturing classroom where children feel safe, understood and inspired no matter what is happening outside of the classroom. They deserve the best education possible but many time that depends on the teacher they have. We should all strive to be the kind of teacher that we would have wanted to have as a child for ALL of the children in our care.

Hello,
I really enjoyed reading this article! I teach at a Head Start in Los Angles, California. All children deserve a high quality education, no matter what. I love what I do and have learned so much from my students and the community. During a home visit, I had to hold back my tears because their trailer was so small that I myself couldn't fit inside. We had to do to the home visit outdoors. Thus, it is so important to be an advocate and provide the best resources for children and their families. This is why we have to know our students and not just assume what they are going through!

Such a great article with valuable information! Sometimes we can forget the experiences and challenges that our young students can face outside of the classroom and how they can have an impact inside of the classroom. This article is a great reminder of that, and that we must always be aware and take notice in order to help our students succeed throughout their educational journey.

Hello, I chose to read this blog post, because I work in a low income community myself and reading others experiences and or advice in the matter is always helpful to become a intentional teacher. I learned so many new valuable information, many times we forget that many of our students and their families are currently dealing with difficulties and it is our jobs to be supportive.

Hello, I chose to make a comment on this blog due to constantly working with the thought that as an educator, you never know exactly who is going to end up coming into your classroom. It is so crucial for all educators, not only early childhood educators to be mindful of the children they are working with. Every child is different and not one of them is going to come from the same background, as their educator it is so important to recognize them as individuals and see them for who they truly are outside of where they come from. Young children will regress and pull away from those who do not accept them for who they are, teachers must be open and up front with these children to make them aware that they are cared for and accepted despite their backgrounds.

Professor: That was a very touching and insightful post which really made me think about being an inspiring teacher. As teachers we encounter so many different students with diverse and varied background and socioeconomic statuses. As was described in the post, the educator and her tips are premised on empathy -- a skill fundamental to engaging children who may face difficulties outside of their own control and feel different about things when compared to their peers. Moreover, the empowerment of these students is critical to their success in the classroom -- often they need to develop independence to develop some type of control over a situation they cannot control. The tips further highlight the integral elements to be an effective inspiring educator - especially knowing the students, giving the gift of time and being the teacher you wished you had as a child. It is about placing ourselves in their shoes -- our hindsight is always 20/20 as we reflect on our life experiences. By following these tips we can avoid playing Monday Morning Quarterback and make the most decisive and best decisions during the game. A teacher’s presence, partnership, and active caring are essential to help your students and their families, and engaging in actions that are fundamental of inspiring teachers can help lift the children and their families to improve their situation as well as give them something everyone needs - HOPE. ---- Heather K.

I chose this blog post because my mentor works with many children who can be considered impoverished. We do not know each child's situation and we should get to know their situations. For children in poverty, I often see a lot of single mothers and that means half the support system is gone. As others have said, there is a lot of emphasis on empathy which can help with a child's social and emotional development.

We must work closely with vulnerable children because they are more at risk for not succeeding. My mentor told me about a single mother of a child in her ECE program who often had various relatives such as the child's grandmother and other relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc.) who would pick the child up because the mother did not have stable working hours. In the case the mother could not attend parent-teacher conferences sometimes she had the grandmother go in her place. The Hispanic/Latino community is very supportive in that extended family will step up, but not all children are that fortunate.

I selected this blog because often times as a human you get caught up in thinking that everyone has this normal life. When you think you’re not passing judgment, you’re passing judgment do you have a child in your classroom that may not want to participate, may have some challenging behaviors, or just appears though they don’t want to learn, having zero interest. I’m always reminding myself to look at the bigger picture, and sometimes having to dig deeper. Most times when children and families are in my care I have to come there safe place, my classroom becomes the safe place. So therefore I try to remember to greet them every day with a simple hello because that could make their day. To let a parent know that you appreciate them bringing their child to school because the child can see the TV close connection with you and the parent and will want to be at school. It’s important to remember that each and every family is trying your best to be the best in to do their best for their children. It is my job to create and faster and environment that allows the child to feel comfortable and successful at the end of the day.
This blog has a lot to do with advocacy that an educator will have for a child. I resonate with the notion that every day I understand what my calling is. And I know that every day I’m going to stand tall and proud for every student in my care. I’m going to make sure that their day starts and ends on a good note.
What I found most interesting in this blog, was reading about opening up your classroom so that this child and have a safe and quiet place to study. That reminded me of when I was able to and would open up the center that I worked at to let a working mom come in a little bit early so that she won’t be late for work and continue to provide for her family.
I find that using a digital tool helps get your message and your word easily since everyone has access to some sort of technology every day in your life. Additional two is another way of creating a collaborative piece to where you sharing information with others, and other people are learning that information.

This blog is very applicable to the setting that I work in. I appreciate the genuineness of this post and really the tips are mostly things that I do in the classroom and there are other great ideas of how to connect with my group of children. Working in a high needs community which is also impacted by poverty has really helped me understand the difficulty that some children face. Knowing about children's hardships allows us to understand them better. I also grew up in a setting of poverty. I did not know I was poor until I grew up and my parents could not afford certain trends that other children had and that I wanted. One day reality hit me when all we had to eat was beans. I think this blog really had me reflect on my up bringing and how all these components really had an impact in my adulthood. This is why it is crucial to develop caring relationships with families and children. I always tell myself to provide the most nurturing and most caring relationships to my students. I always have to remind myself to take a step back and look at a much larger picture because many children face different adversities. It is our duty as educators to adapt and learn about children in order to know what type of services to provide for them and their families. This is the true meaning of being a teacher, everlasting connections and being culturally sensitive to their needs.

I choose this blog because, it is almost mirrors the children who live in the community to which I'm employed. I feel like the children from the community do not have a fighting chance if we as educators, in the community that we serve, do not advocate for them, as well as equip their parent with to tools to advocate for them as well.The children do not have a fight chance at successful without this support. Often times enough, these children come to school hungry, and their last meal being the one they had when the left school the previous day which is often the reason they have behavioral issues. I feel that we as educator have a moral responsibility to make there learning environment inviting, safe, nurturing, and free of cultural bias, that is conducive for learning to take place. The families also must be comfortable in the environment. We should be meeting each students' individual need and setting goals that are obtainable
and realistic for the children. It is extremely important to include the parents at an early stage to be involved in their child's educational path. We educator should be making a positive influence in children's lives and setting the tone for success.

Mary Waller-Moorer

Thank you for sharing the tips for working with children living in poverty.
I selected this blog because I work with children and families living in poverty. This blog provides resources for teachers and the community in general. There were many aspects in this blog that I found interesting. I really enjoyed the six tips to working with students in poverty.
As an early childhood educator, we can use these tips as we interact with the families that we serve. I agree with your first tip to not judging. I remember a single mother that will come to school looking dirty and will bring her children wearing bigger size clothes. When I tried to schedule a home visit, she always gave me excuses. Later on, I was able to find out that she was living in her car. This is why I believe that it is important to not judge. I also liked your tip of being the teacher I would love to have. I remember that I always said that, "I want to be the teacher that I wish I had". This belief encouraged me to be more patient, caring, loving, and understanding. I really believe that children living in poverty need extra caring educators that know their children and their families and are able to provide a safe place for learning.
Again, thank you for your blog and for sharing a little bit of your knowledge and resources. Digital tools help improve my practice by being able to have access to all kinds of information including research-based best practices.

Maricela Guido

Thank you for sharing the tips. I can relate to many of the tips because I work with so many children living in poverty and every time I visit their homes I can see all the struggles the parents are going through. Sometimes the homes I visit are full of children because they live with other family members so it's always loud and busy. Some of the parents are always stressed or they're always working. Some of the children I visit don't really have someone that spends quality time with them and I am the only one that is actually teaching them.

I truly appreciated every single one of these tips. They are so simple yet so impactful. My experience as a Wraparound facilitator and an ECE educator, has taught me so see the bigger picture when it comes to all children. Tip #1 tugged at my heart the most because teachers get so caught up with their responsibilities, paperwork, expectations, etc. that they forget that most of these children are dealing with challenges, struggles, and poverty. Sometimes, their only way to release it is to act out or appear uninterested. I’ve experienced children who witness domestic abuse where police officers and social workers are up with them the night before school. The children come to school with so much trauma that they tend act out or not care. Before my role as a facilitator, I wouldn’t have understood the importance of tip #1, now my priority is to open the eyes of educators to see beyond challenging, defiant, quiet, and “lazy” children. Thank you for bringing awareness to such important topics.

Thank so much for your tips.. I work in skid row therefore many of my families live in poverty. My job can be difficult at times because many of my families did not make it passed middle school and more often than not do not understand the importance of an education. I did something very similar to you, I began to come in to work at 6:45 am rather than 7. I provided 15 minutes of open time with whomever needed them. Surprisingly, many parents would come to simply look around the class. We even planted once! thank you for being an inspiration!

I truly enjoyed reading the article and learning distinct tips on supporting children living in poverty. Currently, I teach and reside in the city of San Bernardino, Ca. It is ranked as the thirty first poorest city to live in California. In reading the article, I concur that time is a precious gift to give. In our classroom, I have the "How would you like to be greeted" poster. I make sure to acknowledge every child and give them my time and attention.

Sarah G.
When I read this blog I was able to relate to the teacher and the students. I work in an area that is infested with poverty, crime, homelessness, neglected children, foster care placed children, parents are incarcerated, and drugs are plentiful. It is is important that we advocate for the families and students we serve. These students and families deserve a chance to uplift themselves from the claws of poverty and those issues which limits their chance of a better life.

This article was very well written and easy to relate to. I teach in a district where every school is now considered Title 1. We offer free breakfast to all students and most students qualify for the free lunch that is offered. I feel that it is so important to establish relationships with our students so we can understand where they are coming from. I teach first grade so sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what is going on in their world. I try to be available to them, someone they know they can come to and trust. I encourage them daily and we do a lesson on Persevere at the beginning of the school year to help them build confidence and know that they might not know how to do something right away, but if they persevere they will be able to succeed. Thank you for your article and for being a great teacher to your students!

I really loved and identified with this post! I wholeheartedly agree that the most important thing you can do as an educator is to establish a relationship with each and every student. Get to know their family life, their likes and dislikes, and what brings them joy. Every morning we have "community" time, where i greet each child by name and ask them how they are doing and if they have anything to share. it takes about 20 minutes but it is the most valuable time spent in my day. My students know i cherish them and in turn they feel a part of our classroom community of learners! :)

Thank you for writing this article. It was very well written and easy to relate to. The first reason I can relate is that I am from Silicon Valley and it was impossible for my husband and I to purchase a house and be able to be there for my children. That is why we moved and came to the city we currently reside in. The school which I teach in has recently been designated a Title 1 school. Most of my students qualify for free lunch. Our district provides breakfast for every student if they qualify for or not. I agree that the most important thing I can do for my students is to develop a relationship with them. Sometime, however, it is not as easy as I expect it to be. I teach 2nd grade and some of my students have already had a difficult life and do not trust anyone easily. I greet each of my students at the door each morning and tell them that I am glad they are at school today. We have a sharing time each day that anyone who wants to can tell us what is happening in their life. My students also know that I am available to them during recesses if they have something to share that they do not want everyone to know. Thank you for all of the other tips you gave which will help me understand what some of my students might be going through!

Good read. I related to many points in the post.I like that you opened your classroom for study time. Im sure it was life changing for the students.

As a migrant worker teacher, I remember going to school with the same clothes the whole year. My father was a single father and he used to work in the fruit fields. He will buy me second- hand clothes for the whole year. When I found your blog and read through it remind me of how I struggle when I was younger and how the other students will look at me and tell me why I didn’t have nice clothes to wear. I would go home and cry to my dad. All parents want their children to succeed both in school and in life, but when their life’s circumstances are such that they have difficult time providing for their family’s basic needs, attention to their children’s education may become less of a priority (Gonzalez-Mena, 2007). This quote stayed in my mind now that I’m a Child Development Teacher and get to see our students come to school with the same straggles I did. I understand them and their families and I want to continue helping them find the right services in our community.

Lydia Mendez
I work for the city of Los Angeles and most of my students come from low-income families.
The parents that I work with are young Hispanic and African American single parents seeking employment or currently attending school and some working 12 hours a day. As an early childhood educator, it’s important to me to create a safe loving, and welcome environment for the children I serve. I want my student to feel secure and be able to enjoy education, to be able to express their feelings and thoughts without being judge by educators. I connect with my students by listening to their thoughts and ideas and knowledge they bring to class. I create my lesson on their interests and background experiences.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these so true and helpful tips with everyone! It is so important that we share in the experiences of the students that we teach. I could not agree more that this will certainly influence our student's interactions and decisions in the classroom. I can only pray that teacher's are reading, implementing and sharing these thoughts with other teachers.
"A community of learners cannot be created without understanding the needs of your students and creating solutions to support them in achieving their best." Amen!

As a preschool teacher, we never know what our student’s circumstances are at home. When our students enter our classrooms, it is our responsibility to make sure that we provide them with a safe and caring environment. Getting to know our students and their families is very important. When we recognize changes in our student’s behavior or appearance, we need to act instead of turning a blind eye. This may be the time when a student needs us the most. The article, "The Six Tips on Working With Students in Poverty," helps me to recognize when students might need support services and intervention. Judith Kieff (2009) explains, “the early years are critical years for the learning and development of young children, and therefore they must receive the best possible care and education”. The formative years provide a foundation for students' academic success.
References
Kieff, J. E. (2009). Informed Advocacy in Early Childhood Care and Education: Making a Difference for Young Children and Families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

As a preschool teacher, we never know what our student’s circumstances are at home. When our students enter our classrooms, it is our responsibility to make sure that we provide them with a safe and caring environment. Getting to know our students and their families is very important. When we recognize changes in our student’s behavior or appearance, we need to act instead of turning a blind eye. This may be the time when a student needs us the most. The article, "The Six Tips on Working With Students in Poverty," helps me to recognize when students might need support services and intervention. Judith Kieff (2009) explains, “the early years are critical years for the learning and development of young children, and therefore they must receive the best possible care and education”. The formative years provide a foundation for students' academic success.
References
Kieff, J. E. (2009). Informed Advocacy in Early Childhood Care and Education: Making a Difference for Young Children and Families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Blog Post:

I loved this post! I was reminded of my first experience as a preschool teacher in a head start, state-funded preschool program. One of the requirements of the program was to make home visits twice a year to students’ homes. I will never forget the first home visit I made. It was a single apartment with eight family members residing. The mother and father loved their children and were doing the best they could to keep their family together. We never know the circumstances that inflict or families and students. Many children are living in poverty. As teachers of young children, it is important to recognize when our families and students are in a crisis. Getting to know our families helps ensure that all students and families are supported by the resources they need to support their families. “Advocacy for an individual child or family often begins because a teacher or other early childhood professionals recognizes a child or family is in crisis and seeks support for them” (Kieff, 2009).

References

Kieff, J. E. (2009). Informed Advocacy in Early Childhood Care and Education: Making a Difference for Young Children and Families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

As an Early Childhood Education teacher in South Los Angeles where there is a high number of families in poverty level being served in our Early Childhood Education Center, all of these six tips for supporting students could be very helpful. First and foremost, as Early Childhood Education Teacher, it extremely important to understand were each student in coming from and their background. Also, teachers need to build trusting relationships among students and parents. Having a trusted relationship, established will lead to a successful, academic journey. Just because children are in poverty or are from a low-income household, doesn’t mean that they don’t have other abilities and strengthens. Every child should be able to reach their full potential regardless of their parent’s income status

As educators working with low-income families, we need to remember that most of our children in the classroom require safety and caring environment where they can have a quality education with no barriers. A child’s success in education should not have a limit. Our goal is to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. The article inspired me to continue striving for the well-being of all children in my classroom. Thank you for all these good points that you address so well in this article.

The Six tips for working with children in poverty are very useful to me. I currently work for San Bernardino Unified School District, the county itself has a high poverty rate and high crime rate. It is vital for me to implement these strategies in the classroom as it can improve student's social development and academic development. This article gives strategies to educators that can help make a difference in children's lives. School should be a sanctuary where children feel welcomed, loved, nurtured, inspired, and motivated to learn. It is of the essence all children are provided a firm learning foundation where they can thrive socially and succeed academically. I believe blogging is a great way to inform all, collaborate and continue to learn from one another. It is a significant tool that provides awareness and promotes advocacy for children.

Your tips are definitely helpful to even an experienced educator. I find that I realize many of the tips you provide but many times forget to put myself in my student's shoes. So much of a teachers day to day teaching focuses on setting high but realistic expectations for students. These expectations can be missed by students which can be, at times, frustrating. But taking a deep breath and realizing your student might have school as the last thing on their mind if home life wasn't as good as it could be. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you for your tips. I currently work in Pomona, Ca which has a higher poverty rate and often times find myself teaching kids that are homeless either living in hotels or living with other family members. Taking a step back and taking the time to get to know these children and where they come from is am important tip. One time I was struggling with behavior issues with a young TK child, behavior issues that seemed to rise out of nowhere. Had I not taken the time to reach out to family and talk to administration I would have never known that this child had recently become homeless. Knowing this change my attitude and I was able to work with the child though his struggle. Once again thank you for your insightful tips, something I will carry with me in my teaching.

Great tips, I have also had time working with students in poverty. Sometimes we lack the knowledge or growth to recognize what might indicate a student is struggling from poverty. Passing judgement is something I believe we all have to work on and like you said our own expectations often become their outcomes. As educators we must take that extra step to look past at what is presented to us. Instead of asking why a child comes late to school we can be appreciative to the parent that they even brought their child to school. We dont always know a families situation so looking past the obvious is something we must learn to do. Thank you for the great tips.

I really enjoyed reading your blog because I could relate to it not only growing up but with the children that I currently teach. Things has become different for the field of education as we all learn how to distance teach. Most teachers are not tech-savvy , and has made the choice to opt out of teaching. When I first thought about distance teaching, I became afraid and nervous all at the same time because I didn't know how I was going to reach preschool children online. I teach in a low poverty community and I pour my all into the children that I teach. Most families has low socio-economic status and that's why I push myself a little further when it comes to educating them. It's important for teachers not to allow their own personal biases to get in the way of providing children with an high-quality education. It's important for us to build bonds and form relationships with our parents so we have an understanding of the children and families that we are servicing. Providing positive encouragement to children boost their self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth. It allows children to understand that you care about their well-being and that will be the beginning of the bond that you form with that child. As a preschool teacher I often tell people, I teach how I wanted my children and grandchildren to be taught. Therefore, I teach from the heart. I want to thank you for this blog.

Your six tips on working with children in poverty are well written. Most of the children I work with as a Pre-K teacher do deal with poverty. I want to give my students the confidence to succeed in life and know that the best way to do this is to work closely with their families. My students and their families know that I will always make the time to help them to the best of my ability. I have found that building a foundation on trust is the first step to helping my students.

I couldn't agree more with these tips and I wish I would have encountered this wealth of knowledge when I started in the field eight years ago because I have had to learn them all slowly as I encounter different experiences in the classroom.

Hello,
Thank you for the wonderful article to support children and families living in poverty. Poverty takes place in every community. Tip one said not to pass judgment because we do not always know what is going on at home. Children may have not eaten breakfast and if they are hungry it can lead to a lack of focus in class which we may interpret as a lack of caring. We know basic needs must be met for children to thrive. Tip two is important because it allows us to recognize every person sees the world through a different lens and has different funds of knowledge they believe in. We must work to see the world through the family's lens as early childhood educators. This leads into tip three “sharing the good.” Families' funds of knowledge may include negative experiences with the education system. It is extremely valuable to share the good every day. Tip four and five tie directly into each other, give time and be the teacher we wish we had. Every child wants time to feel valued and important. Lastly, tip six is knowing the community in which you work. Knowing the community we work in better equips us to support our students because we have a more complete picture of their home life.

Thank you for sharing these six tips to support children and families in poverty.

Hello,

Thank you for your inspiring tips. I grew up in a neighborhood with low-income families. I understand the difficulties many children face when it comes to not having the resources they need or a place to complete their homework. Unfortunately, many children miss out because they do not receive the support they need. I would like to be an educator that provides a safe quiet place for students to work and succeed. Thank you for sharing about your experiences and providing some insightful tips.

Thank you for this blog. Working with families who are at-risk, low-income, and experience instability due to poverty, I have come to learn that we must become aware of our own biases and misunderstandings. Many times we do not realize what life is like for others based on our own experiences which do not match that of some of our students. It is important that we reflect and change our mental lens as we work with our students and families. Thank you for the tips. I will be sharing these with colleagues.

Hello,
I really enjoyed reading what you had to say regarding students who live in poverty. Everyday students can walk into the classroom and teachers could have no idea what they have to deal with at home. The tips are essential for anyone who works in a school setting because It can help our students immensely.

Thank You so Much!

Hello,
I enjoyed reading everything you explained in this post. I live about an hour from the silicon valley and this is really inspiring. These tips are so important and crucial to supporting our students. We truly have no idea about their everyday struggles. For many students, school is the only predictability and structure that they have. We have to give students the love and support they need to support them in all aspects of life.

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I think that you blog touches on very valid points that teachers often forget or are unaware that they do cause problems for students. Children who come from poverty face more challenges than their middle and upper class peers. This is especially true when you teach in areas that are considered middle to upper class neighborhoods. Most people do not realize that every county in the nation offers some type of lower income housing. There may not be as much as in other areas where poverty is more noticeable. With that in mind this is why teachers need to learn about their students and the home life they come from. When children are hungry they are unable to focus. When children have to worry about possibly not having a place to stay they are filled with anxiety that keeps them awake. I love that you touch base on these issues as it is a problem and the more teachers are aware of the issue the more able they are to help serve their students. I am a firm believer that fair is not everyone getting the same thing. Fair is giving everyone what they need to succeed. This quote goes along way when serving students in a classroom.

I appreciate all of your tips for working with children in poverty. I try to incorporate each one into my classroom. Understanding family dynamics and the "funds of knowledge" is very important within the educational field. I make it a point to get to know my students and their interests from the first day we meet. I want each of them to know that I am listening and I care with time and attentiveness. As a teacher, we may be the only consistent person they have each day in their life that provides a safe place with a community standing beside them. When a child is having a rough day, I send them on errands and let them know they are needed in my classroom. I also let them know they are doing a great job in the classroom and they should be proud of their progress. Helping children see how bright they are shining will help them overcome setbacks from living in poverty. We need to be a positive role model!

Hello,
Thank you for this post, it has some great tips! I used to work in a state-funded program, and I grew up pretty poor myself, so I thought I was prepared for what I would see visiting the families in my current federally funded program. Your tip #1 is what I come back to over again after my visits to some of their homes. There were families of 7 living in a camp trailer, literally on the back of a truck. No bathrooms, no privacy, no place to do homework or even sit at a table to eat together. I imagined how those children get enough sleep or do any at-home work, let alone how families manage bathing and laundry. It is absolutely no wonder that many are tired, don't know how to sit while eating, need to wiggle and run while at school, or even come to school in dirty clothes sometimes. I used to let kids get wet or dirty at school "because that means we are having fun" but I had to rethink the impact this would have on a family with few resources to take care of this after school. It has been an eye-opener and really made us look at practices we use, to ensure they are sensitive and considerate of all of our families situations.
Thanks again!

This is a great article. The tips are a great start for building positive relationships with the students. These tips are great for new teachers and a good reminder for more experienced ones. Teachers are often the only adult that children are able to speak to instead of be spoken to. It is wonderful to see when people remember where they came from, the community that raised them, and the environment that made they who they are.

Angelica Figueroa
Hello Dr. Dickenson. I agree with all your tips and I find them very comforting to know teachers like you exist. Our learners do not need their educators to pass judgement onto them. We never know what their lives are like outside of school. Many times we have an idea or can see they have a difficult stressful home environment, but ultimately we are in their lives as educators,mentors, and guides. We don't' only help our students learn academics, we also act as sympathizers to their conditions and finds ways to make school easier. The best gift we can give our students is time, attention, and show we care about them. Creating connections with our students builds trust, and trust and that may be what they need to believe in themselves.

Thank you for providing the information in this blog. Your first suggestion is applicable to a large number of students in our community. We are sometimes too quick to judge or criticize our students and families. When we think about it, how can we expect a family to focus on school or a homework assignment when they don't have a roof over their heads, don't know where their next meal will come from, or if they will be safe from domestic violence?As teachers, we must advocate for our students in order for them to thrive in the face of adversity.

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Your post is on point as to how one should approach the challenges their students face. as a child I was always fearful I would be called out because of my appearance. I wanted to hear kind words from my teacher, but I was just another kid in the class, and I was treated as such. I make sure I speck to all the students, and I give them individual attention. while I don't praise, I love on them a lot. thank you for a powerful relevant post.

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Thank you for this article, responsive, respectful relationship are key for supporting early learning. As educators we should find ways to allow for, expand, adapt, and encourage students’ efforts to pursue their innate learning agenda. We should see the child holistically, where they come from and understand their home culture. We need to be aware of our biases to interrupt erroneous assumptions about our students. Understand the child it refers to not only the immediate, but the community they live in. By creating a welcoming an inclusive environment for our families, we will assure a collaborate parentship that will benefit the child at school. home visits are very important to get to know the child, family and community

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This blog is extremely powerful because it reminds educators that we all come from a different background and we shouldn't pass judgment. Instead we should get to know and understand the student as a whole person. Once we do we can make adjustments to our teachings that will truly make a huge valuable impact on the students educational journey. Students don't need any fancy materials or technology to succeed, they need a teacher who cares and puts in the effort. Economic background has no place within the classroom all students are smart and capable, they just need someone to understand. Thank you again for these suggestions, I will be implementing them within my future classroom.

Yes, educators must know and understand each child in their classroom and their families and their challenges.  Working with a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program, I witnessed the challenges preschoolers had and the importance of having programs like the Head Start to support the whole child and their families.  Part of our responsibility as educators before the child starts in the program was to do a home visit to learn more about the children and their families.  It was so sad to see multiple families living in small apartments and children sharing the bedroom space with their parents.  I see how easy it is to forget that families are living in poverty and that the children do not have the basics most of the time.  Children sleep on the floor or couch, go to school without eating a nutritional breakfast, and do not have access to the internet, technology, or a quiet place like Dr. Dickenson said.   As educators, we are responsible for being familiar with our community's resources to support these needed children and families.

This is such a wonderful website and I really enjoyed reading. I am so thankful for the tips, because in all honesty I found myself judging children that were lazy and didnt just want to work and just so tired all the time. Not realizing that things could have been bad for the child for reason they dont understand for example the child might be sleeping in my class because they had to stay up all night watching their stuff so that no one will take it. so that mom or dad could sleep while they were in the shelter or living in a alley. Once I finally got an opportunity to catch up with one of my parents I found out a whole lot and then was able to understand what is going which gave me a better opportunity to be support to the student and the family. Thank you so much this was a great eye opener.

I can relate to many of the families I serve, because I grew up very similarly. Working with many of my students and their families I am able to identify with many of my little ones. I love all the tips shared! No matter a family's socio-economic status, families want to feel a sense of connection. They want to know that we care for them as people, and that as their child's teacher we want to form genuine, authentic relationships with the. These tips were a great reminder on how to best show up and support my students and their families. Regardless of what my students home situation looks like they deserve the same opportunities to a quality school environment and a quality education. I want our classroom to feel like a safe space. I want them to feel nurtured and a sense of warmth each day that they come into our classroom. Thank you again!

I enjoyed your article and the six tips to working with students in poverty, they apply for all grade levels. This article reminds us that not all children have the same home settings, and we need to be aware of all our children’s background to be able to provide any resources they may need. I found tip #6 most useful, I think it’s a great idea to drive around the community in which you teach to relate to your children and make connections to them. When I was a teacher I never had the thought to drive around and see the community I was working in, but as I moved positions and had to go to different schools, it gave me the opportunity to do so. I was able to see all parts of the city and see how the children lived, and gave me a better understanding in what ways I could help. I was left inspired after reading your article! Thank You! Gisele Ochoa

Thank you for posting this article. This article means a lot to me because I grew up in a similar situation. The first tip about not passing judgment on students who might appear lazy or uninterested in school. Most of the time we were dealing with home issues like the article said. My mom was a single parent of three working two jobs to make ends meet, of course I was a child and didn't understand everything at the time, but I know we struggled. I was fortunate to have a teacher who took out extra time with me, because she knew my mother's situation. I am a teacher today, because of the love, care and compassion my fourth grade teacher showed me. I will continue to be the teacher that I had as a child. Thanks for sharing, Dr. Dickenson. I appreciate this article more than you know.

These are great tips for anyone working with children at any age. As a child, I remember viewing school as a safe place to be. Here, I could receive a breakfast, a hot lunch and a snack during after school activities. It was also a place where I would get positive reinforcement. It's important that we look at the whole child when serving them. They may be dealing with much more than we thought. Thank you for sharing!

I enjoyed tip 5 the most, "Be the teacher you wish you had". That is very similar to my philosophy for everything in life, to be what I wish I had. For example, on an emotional level, let's say someone needs to talk, I drop everything for 10-15 min and give that person my undivided attention because I would appreciate that gesture myself. I think your statement relates to empathy more than anything, and I appreciate that as not only an aspiring educator but as a human being.

I went to school with a lot of children that were in this situation. I often noticed, even at my young age, that some students could not focus, were often in the clothes from the day before and were hungry. Tip #1: Don't pass judgment on kids who might appear lazy or uninterested in school. I use this daily, you never know what is happening in their home life, what types of things they endure or their families. As someone new to the field of ECE, this is such a great tip to see the world through, these are the children that may need us the most and make the biggest impact on our future careers.

The entire information was fascinating! Thank you for the wonderful tips. One highlight of it was the recommendation that gives to teachers when managing classrooms. The recommendation invites the teachers to be aware of the social context of the community that they are serving and also the experiences of the families and children from those communities. Considering these two factors could provide information to inform the teachers’ practices, interactions with the children and their families, and future classroom decisions.
Thank you for sharing the 6 Tips to Working with Students in Poverty.

I really enjoyed reading this blog as it was incredibly insightful and gave a lot of good tips for teaching children in poverty. One thing that stuck out to me was that teachers should not judge the children if they are uninterested in school. I have witnessed this myself and understand that sometimes the last thing the child needs to worry about is the workload waiting for them at school. We need to understand as teachers and educational leaders that the children did not choose the situation they are in, and that they are adapting and surviving the best they can. We are there to help support them in any way we can, not bring them down if they are not as engaged or focused as the other students. I also appreciate you mentioning giving our time to these children. Sometimes all these children need is time to feel a sense of belonging and safety. Wonderful blog post!

Dr. Dickenson, this blog was a reminder of the importance of knowing your students, their families and their community. It resonates with many things that I value in a classroom environment. I agree that we are role models and need to meet our students needs. We inspire, provide guidance, and influence their educational choices. The children require dedicated individuals that will advocate, be their leaders, and be the voice that represents opportunity and change. As I read the blog I travelled back to my years in school and how blessed I have been with amazing leaders that created a wealth of opportunities for me.

Dr. Dickenson, as reading your blog there were so many details that deeply resonated with. Coming from a home where I was raised by my teenaged aunts, like you I constantly think about how different our lives could have been if we didn't grow up in poverty. Your blog entry just validates how important it is for us to step up for the less fortunate, especially the youth. It's so vital to really hone in on what our students' needs are and these steps are a great stepping tool towards advocating for my students and I will implement them throughout my career.

Dr. Dickenson, you blog touched my heart as I can relate to your story. I also lived in poverty and hated going to school because I was bullied. My mother was not able to buy me new clothes. I had the luxury of wearing my sisters hand me downs. I did not have my own room growing up. I shared the couch in the living room with y mother until the age of fifteen. I had no area to study and my mother could not help with my homework. My life growing up made me the person I am today. I am humbled and always willing to support children, families, and colleagues. I strive to understand their living situations and encourage them to move forward by giving them positive feedback. many children and families face challenges. i will ask for donations and drop them off for the families. My mother did not have transportation therefore lacked the resources needed to provide for her children. I want families to get the resources they need. If it means giving them a ride or dropping off food for them, I will do it. Their lives matter and they have the support that I didn't have growing up. making a difference in the lives of children, families, and colleagues is all about building those trusting relationships. Thank You.

Dr. Dickenson, I enjoyed reading this blog due to the fact that students' common issues are now being acknowledged and receiving adequate attention to be resolved. In the past, they would not see these problems and treat it as a kind of laziness or excuse for not doing better in their academic performance. It makes it simple to comprehend the common issues that students face when it comes to poverty. If nothing else, by reading this blog, others will become more aware of the circumstances in which students live outside of school. This article can assist teachers in being ready to handle situations like these because some of us experience poverty as kids.

What an inspiring blog! It made me think of some of my experiences and also see the perspective of others. As I take a deep breath, I can’t stop thinking about how this continues to be a reality for many young children and our students. It saddens me that they must go through such a challenging time. It saddens me that families have to be in poverty.
Reading the different tips mentioned in this blog brings me to realize that my experiences are not the same for everyone and that my values, beliefs, and how I was raised are not the same for others. I have to make sure I do not forget that to be able to see and listen with my mind and with my heart to see through their lens and their actual experiences and then advocate for the children and families we serve. The second thing that resonates with me is the power of relationships.
This blog highlights how we can advocate for many of our students that live this reality. It helps us to pause and reflect on our practices and the variety of things we can do to support and make a difference. This is advocating, this is making one or more than one difference in someone’s life. Thank you!

Hello Dr.Dickerson,
This blog is so resourceful and inspiring. The five tips that you shared will help me provide support to my students in my own classroom. Your topic is relatable and are real life struggles. Im so glad that I can read a blog about someone like you that knows the reality of the situation because you actually lived it. I was faced with poverty as well, when I was a child. So this topic was a huge eye opener for me.
Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience and raising awareness about poverty and how it effects children and with their school experience and learning. It's always great to get to know the families and the issues they may be faced with, to be more sensitive towards their needs and to better support and guide them. As a teacher I tend to get to know the families and the students and learn about their backgrounds or any challenges they may be going through . I also try to find their interests to motivate them for them to have more positive school experiences especially by being their first teacher. All children deserve an opportunity to succeed in life and have sense of belonging and security no matter what.

Hello, I like the way the author writes and the tips for serving the needs of children and families from communities. I did teach for Head Start and many families are working hard. The courage to stand up for children by showing up is a way to show families we are there for them as educators in Early Childhood Education. I really resonate with Tip #5: Be the teacher you wished you had as a child. I always try to be a great role model for my family members and a person for children to turn to when they needs to voiced. We should get past any barriers from serving quality education to all families by recognizing the community we teach and respect families. The economy is in a difficult time now with environmental factors and it is important to practice advocacy for families and be there for them. We see advocacy represent in the article by applying the tips. Dr. Dickenson says “community of learners cannot be created without understanding the needs of your students.” I agree with being a part of children day-to-day life as a caring educators who understands family background. We can apply the tips and provide quality education by understanding the families we serve in the community.

I really enjoyed reading this article. I appreciated the tips as well as the personal touch behind the tips. As much as we are aware of poverty and the situation that some students are in we don't really take the time to to reflect on their situations. With everything on teachers plates it is nice to be reminded of simple things we can do in the classroom to support these kids.

Thank you for sharing these important tips. As a former student of poverty myself also, i feel like many educators really try to do their best in providing a great education for all of their students, however, every student has their own individual needs and we must not only "teach" our students but be empathetic to their current socio-economic situation and meet their social emotional needs as well.

I really enjoyed reading this blog. So many helpful tips, I really appreciate this. It's very important to be aware of others going through poverty. With these wonderful tips, I will apply this into my daily schedule and keep in mind of children and families going through difficult situations. As a former child who struggled in poverty, it's always nice to have that teacher who understand and can also relate as well.

This article is very informative and paints a very realistic picture of what really goes on in many children's lives. We might oversee things at times but we need to take a look more in depth as we might be missing many important factors that our children might be experiencing. I also wasn't very fortunate growing up and I remember my surroundings very clearly and noticed how we all appeared different and remember how some teachers really cared for us. It is nice to know that many teachers really care and make an impact on children's lives that last a lifetime. Thank you for your wonderful tips and for being so empathetic.

I loved reading your blog. It really lets us see the reality in which we live in in our society. It humbles us and reminds us why we became educators in the first place. "Advocacy for an individual child or family often begins because a teacher or other early childhood professional recognizes a child or family is in crisis and seeks support for them" (Kieff,2009). Being there as support for our students and families show them that they are not along and gives them a sense of security when it is most needed. You gave some great tips as to how to approach these types of situations.

Laura Aguilar - I loved reading your blog. It really lets us see the reality in which we live in in our society. It humbles us and reminds us why we became educators in the first place. "Advocacy for an individual child or family often begins because a teacher or other early childhood professional recognizes a child or family is in crisis and seeks support for them" (Kieff,2009). Being there as support for our students and families show them that they are not along and gives them a sense of security when it is most needed. You gave some great tips as to how to approach these types of situations.

Patricia Duckworth - As I read your blog I was taken aback. Poverty really affects everyone and it knows no boundaries. I love the tips you gave. This article really brings back the good old days when we played and never thought about poverty lines even though they existed. In today's society poverty is not only seen more but it is felt. Children are making social norms out of clothes, and shoes. But your tips on leveling the playing field and how to not put emphasis on poverty are really good and should be incorporated by all. It is always good to know your parents, students and their culture. I really enjoyed this blog. Thank you for sharing

Leslie Alvarez
Thank you for sharing tips for working with children living in poverty. I selected this blog because I have worked with low income families . I really enjoyed the resources provided for teachers and families in the community. As an early educator, these tips are beneficial to working with tamiles living in poverty. I am glad you mentioned as the first tip to not judge. It is important to not judge children or families based on appearance ; we don’t know what there living conditions can be. For instance, I had a student who would wear the same shirt at least three times a week and it caught my attention because it made me think his family probably didn’t have the funds to buy more clothes or they were living with the basic necessities. Later on , I found out the little boy was living with his grandma and his mom had been in jail. It is sad to hear so many cases but I’m glad there are many resources available to everyone to meet their needs and necessities. I also enjoyed your tip on being the teacher “ I wish I had” therefore this blog will help encourage me to remember to continue being the nurturing loving teacher and to always strive to be the best for my students . It is important as a teacher to advocate for her students and assist families and children in need by offering resources and materials to them. “Advocacy for an individual child or family often begins because a teacher or other early childhood professional recognizes a child or family is in crisis and seeks support for them" (Kieff,2009).

Thank you for sharing these helpful tips. Many times, it's tips like these that we aren't presented with as new teachers. It's important to gain insight into what our students are going through on a day-to-day basis. We self-acknowledge that students come through our classroom with specific needs stemming from low-income households, but we don't always investigate and get to know each student's specific needs or situations.

Dr. Dickenson, thank you for sharing your experiences. Reading this post helped me better understand families and changed my perspective on viewing and understanding other families even more. Reading all the good details about going above and beyond for your low-income students was excellent. A positive relationship with the student and their families is crucial for the student's success. It is vital for the students to know and understand that they are important as individuals and that they are capable of becoming anything they what to be when they grow up. Being a caring and compassionate teacher makes a difference in a child's life someone like you made a difference in my life one day. Thank you for making a difference in children's lives.

At the end of your blog post you stated,"Just showing that I cared really improved my students' performance in the classroom and kids showed up and collaborated. A community of learners cannot be created without understanding the needs of your students and creating solutions to support them in achieving their best." This statement that you made Dr. Dickerson is so true and powerful! If all teachers/educators and leaders would really focus on relationship first so many more people would be successful and happy at school, work, and life. Relationships that are meaningful, show we care, and appreciate each and everyone's strengths as well as want to invest in helping them strengthen their weaknesses in a trusting, nonjudgmental space there would be a lot more success in this world. Thank you for sharing your story, I really enjoyed reading this post!

This Blog post had many great tips. I currently work in a school that sounds exactly how you described. I often have kids who lack interest and motivation in school. I have kids who fall asleep during the day and who are hungry as well. I think it is important to always be aware of our students home lives so we can meet them where they are at school. I love the tips that said he present with students. I try my best to be present when I am with my students. I want to be there for them like my teachers were when I was a student. Thank you for the honesty and heart from this post!

Dr, Dickenson,
These tips are something educators and leaders should be reminded of. It is easy to be in the moment of your class, but being open to the experiences your students are facing. In tip 6, you mentioned getting to know your students day to day life. This allows you a perspective on the whys of your students. I work in a small town beach community. I can walk down main street or at the market during the weekend or over summer and see at least one of my students. Seeing each other outside of school and with your family, can provide a sense into who they are outside the class. Having this sense of the day to day activity, it can provide a better understanding if your students.

Dr. Dickenson,

What a great article. Thank you for sharing these tips. I am a 1st Grade teacher teaching students in poverty and these tips were a nice refresher to read at the this point in the school year as we tend to get the spring slump and longing for summer. I think I may revisit these in the beginning too as I start the school year so I can go in with a clear mindset. Reading through certain students came to mind. Thank you again and always be present.