My challenge will be: Children exposed to risk,
stress, or trauma.
My sub topic is: Poverty
I selected this topic because it is one that I work with every day in my role as a kindergarten teacher at a small rural school in Western, Maryland. We have over 73% of our students in our school who receive aid and qualify for extra services because of their families poverty level. We are beginning to see more and more homeless families entering our school community that need extra help. This school year I have a little girl in my class that is part of a one of the homeless families. She has four sisters and the family lives in a community house with other homeless families. The student in my class needs simple things such as socks, gloves, and shoes. As we know if basic needs are not meant then students can't learn. I always feel attached to students in need and want to help in any way that I can. In education there are always big changes happening especially with state testing and standards, but on a smaller level there are bigger challenges to be met. I feel strongly that working with families who live in poverty is very important. The long term effects that living in poverty can have on children are immense. Cognitive delays and developmental delays are common in children who grow up in extreme poverty. Many families do not even know what resources are avialable within the community to help them. It is the school and teacher's job to inform the families of resources and reach out to help them help their children. We as educators can be the first line of defense!
Questions that I have about working with families who live in poverty:
How do I approach a family that I know needs help and doesn't seem to want any?
How can I identify families in need?
Can I help the children in my class without helping their siblings in other classrooms?
Should I collaborate with other teachers in my building to work together to help families?
What types of resources should I offer families?
