- Frederick Douglass: “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” - July 4, 2021
- President Biden Pushes For Teachers To Get Their COVID Vaccine Dose By March - March 2, 2021
- We’re Just People Who Don’t Want To Be Killed! A Student Reflection About Insurrection - January 26, 2021
- Betsy DeVos Resigns: Most Teachers Say Good Riddance - January 8, 2021
- Class Divide in Emergency Learning: A Crisis Overseas - September 10, 2020
- Practicing Self-Care in the Midst of Chaos - August 31, 2020
- Do the Work: Equity Symposium for Teachers - August 23, 2020
- Universities Collaborate on the Biggest Experiment in Higher Ed: Reopening - August 3, 2020
- The Day of Teacher Self-Care is Happening August 1, 2020 - July 21, 2020
- Do the Work: A Conversation Around Anti-Racist Teaching in K-12 Schools - June 14, 2020
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courtesy of the BLS
4. Just teach. Many times us teachers are not in control of a lot that occurs within the school. However, the one thing that we have complete power in is teaching. So when you get frustrated due to some district mandate or federal law such as No Child Left Behind, just close your door, ignore the pundits and just teach. The kids will thank you later for it.
Working in a high poverty school and/or community is hard; however, it's not a lost cause. Take time and remember and first the ride may be bumpy but in the end, the kids will thank you for your dedication!
Now my T.E.R. family, do you work in a high poverty environment? What tips do you have for teachers who are just starting?
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Teaching in a high-poverty school is definitely different than teaching in a rich or even modest suburban school. I've just finished my 13th year at a rural school in Michigan with an 80+% free and reduced lunch rate. We received PD on the Culture of Poverty to help us better understand our clientele. Those of us with real-life experience growing up poor were able to add an authentic stamp on what we learned. I highly recommend reading A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. There is so much insight in this text.