Blog 3 Week of 2/23/09

Children are obviously not safe in the homes of meth users.  The homes that were shown on the video were disgustingly dirty.  It would be extremely hard for a child to focus on school related things with any kind of drugs being present in their home, a place where they are supposed to be safe and loved.  While parents are high they may abuse and neglect their children.  This would effect the classroom as well.  Children may be moved in and out of your classroom, depending upon who gets custody of them.  Children may be afraid to go home or untrusting of adults and their peers.  There are an endless amount of negative things that happen to children who are forced into this kind of home life and situation.  It is very very sad :(

2nd Blog week of 2-9-09

Poverty and homelessness is a major problem for youth in America.  Children that are in poverty generally do not have the same opportunities as children in the upper and middle class.  They are less likely to eat nutritious meals, especially breakfast before coming to school.  They will probably not have the materials they need to complete school work.  Their parents are more than likely not to have an education, therefore education is probably not valued as much in their home.  All of the circumstances and many more place children that are homeless or in poverty at a disadvantage immediately right from the start.  These children, especially the homeless ones, have more important things to think about than school.  They might not even know where they are going to sleep that night, and probably aren't concerned with completing their homework.  

As a teacher I will address these problems in many different ways.  At the beginning of the school year and throughout I am going to try to ask for as few school supplies from students as possible.  I would like to have classroom supplies that I keep every year, such as protractors and compasses.  Basically items that we do not use very frequently in the classroom.  I would also like to keep as many school supplies as possible in the classroom as community supplies, and ask if students would like to donate their used supplies at the end of the year.  I am also going to try and limit the amount of homework I send with students.  Not all students have a home life that gives them a fair chance of doing well and focusing on homework.  I want to try to give all of my students the same chance at learning if possible.  I also plan on being as observant and reflective as possible.  If I see signs in my students that they might be homeless or going without food I will document this, and if need be notify social services.  I have to do what is best for the child.