Framework For Understanding Poverty
A Joint Initiative of LCISD & Thumb Community Partnership
Ruby Payne's "A Framework for Understanding Poverty"
Learn How Understanding The Hidden Rules of Class Can Help In the Classroom
Ruby Payne's A Framework for Understanding Poverty offers a perspective on the challenges and differences between economic classes and how they influence educational settings. The core idea is that different socioeconomic classes have distinct worldviews and behaviors, which in turn shape their "hidden rules" β unspoken cues and habits that govern how individuals interact and navigate different social contexts. These hidden rules play a significant role in a student's success in school, which often operates under middle-class norms.
Who Should Attend?
Any School Staff Who Works With Students
TARGET AUDIENCE INCLUDES (but is not limited to):
- ALL General & Special Education Teachers
- Academic & Behavioral Interventionist
- Administrators, Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans
- Counselors, Social Workers, Mental Health Specialist
- Paraprofessionals
- School Psychologist
- Ancillary staff
FREE Learning Opportunities
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3 Dates To Choose From
October 7, 2025 π February 12, 2026 π April 30, 2026
Trainings Will Run From 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
SCECH & Social Work CE's Will Be Offered
SCECH & SW CE's Will Be Offered Pending Approval
Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through joint providership of Central Michigan University College of Medicine and Thumb Community Health Partnership. Central Michigan University College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Central Michigan University College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Creditβ’. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Location:
Lapeer County ISD Education & Technology Center
690 N Lake Pleasant Rd, Attica, MI 48412
Conference Room 146
Sessions Include 2 FREE Ruby Payne Books π
During The Full Day Session We'll Cover Content From Both Books Listed Below
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A Framework for Understanding Poverty: 10 Actions to Educate Students
This training gives you in-depth information to help you understand class differences and 10 actions you can implement the next day in the classroom to achieve impact. You will learn that the rules of survival and instability often interfere with time and opportunities to learn. This workshop will give you in-depth strategies and understandings to reduce your own frustration and better serve your students and parents. The workshop is based on the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
After participating in this workshop, you will:
- Use concrete strategies that impact the achievement of students from poverty
- Better understand how economic class affects behaviors and mindsets
- Develop stronger relationships with their students to impact behavior and achievement
- Identify key instructional strategies that meet the needs of the under-resourced learner
- Understand the hidden rules of economic classes and how they apply to their classrooms
- Reduce their discipline referrals
10 Actions to Educate students include:
- Resources
- Relationships
- Hidden rules
- Mental models
- Family structure
- Updated case studies
- Family dynamics
- Your personal experience with class
- The role of language registers
- Discourse patterns and story structure
- The importance of relationships
Research-Based Strategies
Serve under-resourced students with hands-on techniques that help you narrow and then close the achievement gap. Reduce planning time, improve effectiveness, and develop more immediate, reliable intervention strategies.
Most importantly, employ best practices to address student challenges before they become overwhelming.
Research-Based Strategies professional development provides strategies that can be integrated into any curriculum or program and will raise student achievement. Participants receive:
- 50+ strategies, their explanations, and relevant research
- Interventions that meet the needs of todayβs under-resourced learners
- Student behavior chart, extensive references, and strategies categorized by academic, behavioral, and community concerns/challenges
Would Your District Like To Host A Ruby Payne Training?
Would you like this information for all staff? We'd be happy to present to individual school building teams or during a districtwide professional development day. If you've already had this training and are looking for additional Ruby Payne learning opportunities, check out:
- Emotional Poverty 1
- Emotional Poverty 2
- Host A Poverty Simulation
Offered By The Lapeer County ISD
Disclosures: The planners and speakers have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
Kay Balcer, TCHP Director
Karolyn McEntee, TCHP Program Specialist
Melissa Deming, TCHP Program Specialist
Thumb Community Partnership sponsored the books with funding from the Thumb Opioid Response Consortium through a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant- HRSA, DHHS.
For Questions Please Contact:
Alisha Wolfsen (awolfsen@lapeerisd.org) or Theresa Frakes (tfrakes@lapeerisd.org)