This week we are going to look at students from poverty and why they fight against everyone. Not so much physical fighting, but instead arguing, talking back, passive aggressive behavior, avoidance, and just anger.

The chapter opens up with the author sharing her experiences growing up in poverty and how she had to fight against all of her siblings and extended family for everything. Attention, food, clothes, work, resources, etc.

What do you think? Here are some of my takeaways:

Students that live in poverty often have the mindset they must fight for everything.

Imagine living in an environment where you have to fight for everything you have, everything you own, even the food in your stomach. This is what many students in poverty grow up around each day. Even if the student does not have to personally fight for what they need often, their parent or guardian does. Kids see this and think it is not fair because they see their parents trying but still falling short. If you have not lived in this type of an environment, it is hard to imagine. It exists. I know it does because I lived it growing up.

When there is barely enough money to keep the lights on and the water running inside the apartment, or trailer house in my case, many other things in life are scarce. Food and clothes are hard to come by. When there is food sometimes you have to fight siblings for the food because everyone is hungry. Parents do the best they can to provide for their kids but when there are limited resources, providing falls to the basic necessities in life. Even those are hard to come by without money.

Put yourself in the mind of a student in poverty. If you parent(s) are not able to provide you what what you need to be successful in school, why do you think perfect strangers (that is what we are to them at first) will provide what you need? Often, we begin the school year telling kids what they are not doing right, what they are missing. We get on to them for not meeting expectations but we often do not help them be successful because "they should know that by now." Fighting, arguing, talking back, threatening, avoidance. These are all things kids with a mind shaped by poverty do to protect themselves.

So what do we do?

We get to know our kids and their situations. We support our kids. Now, support does not mean letting them have a free pass.

We maintain the expectation of learning but we support our kids as they need. Support means we ask them what is going on and how can we help them. Support means we tell them what they missed, why it is important for them to do the work, provide them the time and opportunity to complete the essentials of the work, The goal is to see what kids know and if they are ready to move on to the next set of concepts or learning activities.

If we give them a free pass because they have a hard time outside of school we will not know what they know or don't know. Worse, they begin to use their situation as an excuse and just not do what you ask. Don't believe me, ask Liz Murray. What turned her around was tough love from an educator. If we make them do all the parts of the assignment, they may fall further behind and just give up. It's a judgement call on your part. You have to know your kids and know what they need as well as what you need from them any why.

When we work with kids and show them that we are on their side, eventually, the fighting against the expectations will stop. It may take time and persistence on your end, but, with some time, loads of patience, and consistency, kids will see you care about them. Help them, support them, and maintain the expectation of excellence in learning. They will rise to meet your expectations, once they know you really care about them and are consistent with everyone in the class.

Think. Achieve. Succeed.


Jeff

Notes, Notes, Notes

Chances are, you've got at least 1 student in your class who receives "copy of class notes" or some derivative.

Are you unsure of what that actually means or what that requires for you to do?

Click here for a review of everything you need to know about Copy of Notes!

We will also be holding help sessions periodically throughout the year. These help sessions serve as an opportunity to get in-person support from the special education staff about the students we serve. Our first help session will be held on Tuesday, September 12! Bring your paperwork, lessons, and questions! Let's make some magic happen for our kids!

Watch the video below to learn how to lock column headings using Google Sheets.

Monday September 11

• Morning Tutorials 7:50-8:20
• Be at your duty station-- 7:50
• Be at your duty station-- 3:50
• Afternoon Tutorials 3:55 - 4:30
• Football Games -- White Teams @ Davilla

Tuesday September 12

• Morning Tutorials 7:50-8:20
• Be at your duty station-- 7:50
• Be at your duty station-- 3:50
• Afternoon Tutorials 3:55 - 4:30
• Football Games -- Maroon & Black Teams 8th @Home and 7th @Brenham
• #CSISDChat on Twitter -- 8pm -- This week, Formative Assessment

Wednesday September 13

• Morning Tutorials 7:50-8:20
• Be at your duty station-- 7:50
• Success Team Meeting 8:30 - 12:00 -- Mann and Feagan Attend
• Be at your duty station-- 3:50
• Afternoon Tutorials 3:55 - 4:30

Thursday September 14

• Morning Tutorials 7:50-8:20
• Be at your duty station-- 7:50
• Be at your duty station-- 3:50
• GSA Meeting 4:00
• Volleyball Matches -- @Hunstville
• Afternoon Tutorials 3:55 - 4:30

Friday September 15

• Morning Tutorials 7:50-8:20
• Be at your duty station-- 7:50
• Be at your duty station-- 3:50

AMCMS is a 7th & 8th grade campus in College Station ISD, College Station, TX, USA

Email: jmann@csisd.org
Website: http://amcms.csisd.org/
Location: 105 Holik Street, College Station, TX, United States
Phone: 979-764-5575
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMCMS.Home.of.the.Cats
Twitter: @AMCMSCatPRIDE