Chapter one discusses nine types of resources that impact our students. Some students have all of these resources at their disposal while others are lacking in one or two of these. Others may be lacking in several of these resources. Give us your thoughts on the discussion questions below. Afterwards, add two comments that add additional insight to the responses of a colleague.
- Rank the nine resources based on which ones you feel are most important for success in school and work. Explain why.
- Select one resource and describe the impact it has on school if it is missing; identify interventions that can be made to increase that resource.
Question 1:
ReplyDelete1-Financial
2-Physical
3-Mental
4-Support Systems
5-Emotional
6-Relationships/Role Models
7-Language
8-Spiritual
9-Knowledge of Hidden Rules
I ranked the resources this way because I feel the first few are the most important for creating a opportunity for success in school. When students have their basic needs met their academic success rate increases. We, as teachers, have the ability to adjust and modify for each student in our classroom to help them become successful.
Question 2:
Financial- Students who lack the financial resources come to school at a disadvantage than those who have their financial needs met. Having a stable place to live, enough food to eat, proper clothing to wear builds the foundation that allows learning to transpire. If a student doesn't have to worry about their home, food, and clothing needs they are more apt to be ready to learn at school. We have many programs in place to help with the basic needs of our students, such as providing food through the backpack program, shoes and coats, glasses, and school supplies. The Keeling Foundation and many area churches are very generous in helping our students have some of these basic needs met.
Financial is lacking a lot with many of our students. They have too many other things to worry about besides school and what we are asking them to do. They are often wondering if they will be able to eat that night or over the weekend. Many of them are not even worried about themselves, they are worried about if younger siblings will have what they need. I think the Keeling Foundation is a fabulous group that supports so many of our students and we need to all help to support them!
DeleteI agree, Jennifer! I feel like I am just now getting to know the students enough to see into their lives through conversation. Previously I saw their needs through church. Here I can see how their needs affect their learning and success in the classroom. I feel we are very fortunate to work in a school that helps students who might not have their financial needs met.
Delete1. Language
ReplyDelete2. support systems
3. Relationships/ Role Models
4. Emotional
5. Mental
6. Financial
7. Physical
8. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
9. Spiritual
1. I believe that having the language skills to reach out for help with needs and wants is the most important resource to have, it is hard to fix a problem that nobody knows about. I personally believe that language is the most important tool we posses as humans. Following language, I believe that having a solid support system and role models are the next most important resources as they allow people to reach out for help and learn by seeing what mature responsible adults do in everyday situations.
2. Relationships/ Role-Models- If a student is lacking a solid adult role model at home, and at times has to be the role-model for younger siblings, it can make life and school a struggle. Children do not have the logical brain that adults do and they must be taught how to become good decision makers in every aspect of life and school. As teachers we are the perfect initial resource for modeling when a mature adult role-model is not present in the home. By providing a good example for our students of what a responsible adult would do in every situation we encounter at school (solving problems using kind words instead of violence, dealing with unfairness in a mature manner, reaching out to others to help us solve a problem, using coping techniques instead of vices) we show by modeling what responsible mature adults look like.
I definitely agree with you that children must be taught and shown behavior in order to succeed. If students are lacking those lessons at home, it becomes clear in the school setting and it does become our job to be models of appreciated and expected behavior. I also think modeling dives into teaching the students the hidden rules of school. If education is not a priority in the household, the ways to succeed and jump through hoops of the education system are not going to be shared with the children and they will already be at a disadvantage.
DeleteI agree that language is the most important resource that people need. They must be able to express opinions, wants and needs. We must have language to build relationships.
Delete1. Support Systems
ReplyDelete2. Spiritual
3. Emotional
4. Financial
5. Mental
6. Physical
7. Language
8. Relationships/Role Models
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
I feel that having a strong support system and being spiritual are both very important to students having a strong beginning in life. Without that love and support it is hard for a person to have a purpose for their life. I feel that financial is also very, very important, but if they only have financial without having people to support them it will make being successful very difficult.
2. Relationships/Role Models- I think that as a teacher it is very important to have a relationship with your students and to be a role model to them. If you don't have a relationship with your students they will have a harder time learning from you. I think that interventions that can be made our taking interest in each child as an individual, talking to them about things that happen to them outside of school and showing them you care about them and support them as a person and as a student. As a role model you can show them how to act professionally and show them what it is to have a career that you care deeply about and put your heart into.
We share some similar ideas when it comes to listing support system and spiritual as being important to have. As I stated in my post those both help develop a strong base to build upon. Without those its very hard to persevere.
DeleteIt was very hard to rank the resources because all are so very important to have and many intertwine. I agree with you on the spiritual and emotional aspect you listed. Love, support, and a strong purpose are key in several of the resources listed.
Delete1. Support System
ReplyDelete2. Emotional
3. Spiritual
4. Financial
5. Relationships/ Models
6. Mental
7. Language
8. Physical
9. Knowledge of hidden rules
I believe that having someone to encourage and support your working ethic as a child is extremely important. The support system can assist a student when they succeed and even when they fail. Having this system in place or not having a system in place can completely alter the outcome of a child's future. I know from personal experience.
Part 2. Language - When there is limited English language or vocabulary this can create a barrier between the child and their peers. A student can lash out for lack of understanding or seclude themselves from others increasing the language barrier. This can impact an entire classroom and even make it difficult for a teacher to communicate with a student. Interventions, such as ELL programs have proven to be effective. Also, building a relationship with the family of a student who is struggling with language will assist in the positive outcome of supporting the students and helping them to gain more vocabulary as well as relationships with peers.
Tina,
DeleteWe had very similar ideas on how we ordered our resources. I feel like even though financial is important that if you don't have a support system and a purpose for life then financial can meet you physical needs, but will not do what a support system will do for the child.
Question 1
ReplyDelete1. Relationships/Role Models
2. Support Systems
3. Mental
4. Emotional
5. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
6. Language
7. Physical
8. Spiritual
9. Financial
It was tough to rank some of these because I feel like several of them are of equal importance to succeeding in the school and work structure. I think success in almost anything has a basis in some form of relationship. Everything seems to branch from them. When children have strong relationships with the adults in their lives, their opportunities for succeeding are considerably higher than a child who has weak relationships with parents/caretakers. Does that mean children with less than stellar relationships with adults can't succeed? Absolutely not, but it is a disadvantage. If a child is fortunate enough to have strong relationships, resources such as emotional, mental, spiritual, language, and knowledge of hidden rules might also be more likely to be had. Through strong relationships, resources are shared.
Question 2
Support Systems - When support systems are lacking in the child's life either by way of no friends/a lacking teacher-student relationships or because of the parents not having a strong support system themselves, it can absolutely effect the amount of success a student finds at school. It is hard to feel like we can succeed when we feel like we are isolated from others. Interventions at school like small groups and one-on-one, student-teacher time can help students build relationships with their peers and other adults in the school building. If a student has not naturally started to build a support system of their own, it is possible that they have not been taught how, so being able to help them begin that process would be a positive intervention. So while the student's family might not have a strong support system outside of the school building, it is possible to build support for a student within the building so they feel as though they have people they can turn to when needed.
Hey Shauna, I like what you said about support systems and how kids can still succeed if they have so so support at home. I can think of a few kids who, despite minimal positive presence at home, are still great at school because we are a consistent influence in their lives. We have a pretty cool job!
DeleteI agree with you about support systems. It is so important that as school employees we try to be that support system to a child especially when we feel that they are lacking that outside of school.
DeleteI agree with you about how many of the resources are of equal importance and ranking them was difficult. I like how you stated having strong relationships can lead to some of the other resources being met.
DeleteI wish I would have been more on the ball with this so that I may have been able to ask how you managed to get the hidden rules higher than most others. I think it would be cool to hear your perspective on it.
Delete1. Physical
ReplyDelete2. Support systems
3. Spiritual
4. Language
5. Financial
6. Emotional
7. Relationships/roll models
8. Mental
9. Knowledge of hidden rules
When I was ranking these I had to rearrange them several times as I would think about how one would affect another. Physical needs are the first that any one person wants to meet. According to the chapter this means things like being healthy, clean, hearing and seeing well, and being fed. I also would put in this category things such as being clothed and warm. A child (or any person) would find it difficult to perform a task hungry, cold, or when the person cannot see or hear well. Then a support system is critical. Once physical needs are met a person needs to have someone to turn to for advice, guidance, and a team of people that would advocate for them. These people would be the ones who would be a support for spiritual support. I myself have been in a place where this has really been something I could cling to. In the chapter spiritual translates as hope and a vision for their future. This is important for students to see that they have something to work for. As adults we too need this. Language comes from those we grow up and provides us a way to communicate with those around us. If we can not communicate with those around us then we won’t succeed to integrate in a classroom or work. Financial was one I moved around several times but found it to sit in the middle. Students need to have some form of financial stability met to participate in certain activities. Relationships and roll models are required to have those emotional resources taught and reinforced. I chose mental and knowledge of hidden rules to be last because I feel these resources are met when the others are.
Support systems are one I find to be critical in schools. If a child doesn’t have a team of people to turn to for support then where do they go? Who do they look to for a nurturing relationship? Schools that do not offer programs such as sports, fine art clubs, or ag and industrial clubs fail in providing students a place where they can bond with other students which similar interests and skills. These support groups provide students a place to belong and a social network to make new friends. I know that as an adult I continue to have the support systems I developed in school thanks to programs offerend by the school.
Yes, Lauren, support systems are critical to a child's well being. That makes it that much more sad when someone who a child trusts lets them down or doesn't do their job!
DeleteI was surprised that more people didn't choose physical. Even though it was not on the top of my list, I get why it is at the top of yours. This was a daunting task and difficult to rank these particular items. I see all of them as significant.
DeleteTina I felt the same way! I pulled from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for that decision. I can see after looking at everyone else’s that having finances met would hopefully fulfill a student’s physical needs too.
DeleteLanguage
ReplyDeleteSupport systems
Relationships/ role models
Spiritual
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Financial
Knowledge of hidden rules
1. In my opinion, language is the most important part of who we are. It is hard to imagine not being able to talk to people or tell them what you need or how you feel and it saddens me that there are children out there who are unable to do this. I think they're all very important resources to success in their own ways but language to me is the most important.
2. Having a solid support system is incredibly important for any person. Having people to turn to for all things in life, good or bad, is incredibly needed. At school, there are children from every background imaginable. You never know the things the kids have seen, heard, or felt and knowing that, it is pertinent to be a role model for every student and be level headed, fair, and a tilde model in every situation. Students observe how we react, our choices, and our tone of voice along with many other things. For some of them, we may be the only positive role model they have and we should always reflect that.
Having a support system is very important and often does make a huge difference. Sometimes though, students are not willing to accept that support system and let them help him/her to succeed.
DeleteI love that you have a heart for language. Your passion shows up even in your rankings. While language is not on the top of my list, I see how important it is. When I think of language, I think solely of the spoken word. I had to evaluate my thinking when ranking these particular items. Language can also include body language and I think that if you have one of the two (verbal or body) you can still have great success.
DeleteTotally agree with Tina! You can see the passion you have for language and I think that is so amazing! I had not thought about what it would be like for students who cannot put their needs into words. That image just breaks my heart.
Delete1. Spiritual
ReplyDelete2. Support Systems
3. Language
4. Financial
5. Mental
6. Emotional
7. Physical
8. Relationships/Role Models
9. Knowledge of hidden rules
My top two were Spiritual and Support Systems because I believe that if you believe it and you have others there to encourage, you can go a long way in achieving your goals. The same with students, if they are optimistic about their learning and have people to support, they will achieve.
Knowledge of Hidden Rules fell last since I think teachers have the ability to detect where a student is lacking, over look the items that are petty and help the student learn the clues for social behavior that are needed. Doing so in a way that the student is able to keep their dignity.
2. Spiritual (Optimism and Hope)
A student will not want to put any effort in learning if they believe they have no future. Interventions would include building a rapport with that student, finding role models and helping them to find their interests.
I also ranked knowledge of hidden rules last for the same reason. I agree that as educators we can notice where students are struggling. As for how you stated that if a student does not believe they have a future then they will not put forth effort, I completely agree. They will end up feeling defeated and therefore wonder "what's the point or why try?"
DeleteI believe your are correct when as student will not put in the effort if they don't believe they don't have a future. But I think that also stems from their lack of emotional well being and support.
Delete1. Physical
ReplyDelete2. Relationships/role models
3. Support systems
4. Financial
5. Spiritual
6. Language
7. Emotional
8. Mental
9. Knowledge of hidden rules
So the knowledge of hidden rules is only last on my list as it pertains to school. If this were a list specifically for work, I would have put that at 1 or 2. Of course, it totally depends on what job you have, but the hidden rules of the middle class are vital for most white collar high paying positions I would think.
I put physical first because students will not be successful if they don’t feel safe. In our school, or any school really, kids from all financial backgrounds can be successful. So financial is fourth because I think it is a disadvantage to not have resources at home and to live in poverty but it doesn’t completely ruin your chances of success.
As far as one that affects school, one that stands out to me is relationships / role models. A child will not make good choices if they don’t see it modeled somewhere by someone they look up to. I see students every year who don’t really believe that school is important because some adult in their life has implicitly sent that message to them by modeling it with actions or words. I don’t think people in poverty realize the power of their words.
One intervention that could work is emphasizing preschool and PAT-type programs that begin earlier than Kindergarten. Will people show up? Would they want you in their house? I’m not sure, but educating parents on positive language and how to reinforce good behaviors would surely be helpful.
I didn't even think of the "being physically safe" aspect of having the physicality to succeed. My mind solely went to thinking about if the child could physically do all the things that will help them succeed. However, obviously success depends on whether or not someone feels like they are physically safe in the place they spend 7+ hours of their day. If kids are afraid of the place they spend all that time, how would they ever be expected to progress?
Delete1. Relationships/Role Models
ReplyDelete2. Physical
3. Financial
4 Support Systems
5. Mental
6. Emotional
7.Language
8. Spiritual
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
It is very hard to rank these. I feel like a child needs to have good relationships and role models to help them through life, but it is important that their physical needs are meet as well as having financial to help them to get what they need. I feel like several of these are equally important. I have the discussion with Addison a lot about how no matter how bad she thinks life is, it's not nearly as bad as some of her friends/classmates and we talk about all of these things. It is often very hard for other kids that have their needs met to understand what the children who have very few, if any of these needs met, are going through.
2. It's hard to choose just one of these as all of them effect the kids at school. I will go with Relationships/role models. If the students do not have people that they can rely on outside of school, they have a hard time making a connection with someone at school a lot of the time. Without outside relationships, the child often doesn't trust people at school and are very skeptical of trusting people and school and be willing to take risks for us. They also have to be willing to build relationships with peers and feel that school is a safe and welcoming place with lots of people who are there for them no matter what. It is our responsibility to build relationships with our students and be good role models for them so they understand how it should work.
I agree with you on how relationships/role models effect our students. It is amazing how sometimes just a little connection you make with a student changes their willingness to put forth effort.
DeleteI totally agree with you, Jennifer. It was hard for me to rank these too because I feel like there are so many of equal importance. I also chose to talk about relationships/and role models. This is so important for students to have considering we may be the only positive influences they encounter on a daily basis.
DeleteQuestion #1:
ReplyDelete1)Support System
2)Relationships/Role Models
3)Spiritual
4)Financial
5)Emotional
6)Physical
7)Mental
8)Language
9)Knowledge of Hidden Rules
I ranked the resources in this order because I believe that a strong support system along with strong relationships and having a spiritual foundation are the most important for developing a strong base to build your life upon. When faced with challenges in life it's that strong base that helps one overcome obstacles that arise.
Question #2:Relationships/Role Models
Our students need good role models in their life and unfortunately not all have those at home or outside of school. As educators we have an opportunity to create meaningful relationship with our students. In doing so that can have a positive impact on their academic effort and on their behavior. A couple of good intervention steps to help with creating relationships/role models for our students would be:
1)Be a good example (How we act and react is being observed by them daily so set a good standard for them)
2)Show genuine interest in each student (They need to know that they matter and that we care)
I'm really glad you included reacting to students in your "Be a good example". I think it is easy to think about how we should act, but it is very important for our students to see good examples when things go wrong and when life isn't perfect. That we are able to handle it without explosions, remaining calm and dealing with the situation. For me - some days are better than others!
DeleteChristie, I try to be an open book with my students because I believe that they can learn a lot more from me than they can from our games that we play. Just today I became frustrated and I lost my cool with a particular class (which happened to be my first class of the day) I shared with them how that affected me. I made sure that I made my apologies and acknowledged my wrong doings. I didn't need to do that, but I feel that they may see a lot of people "get mad" but see very few people come back and apologize and ask for forgiveness. Being an example...having this opportunity... is a task I take serious and I appreciate reading your insights as well.
Delete1. Support Systems
ReplyDelete2. Financial
3. Physical
4. Mental
5. Emotional
6. Spiritual
7. Relationships/Role Models
8. Language
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
I feel that every child's success is dependent upon the support they get at home. Unfortunately, a child will be more likely to learn and develop if their parents can provide for them. This goes hand-in-hand with their physical development. If parents can support children financially, they should have resources to be healthy, have insurance and eat well-balanced meals. Mental capacity is important for success at school and will aid students in transitioning from one grade to another in each subject. Being emotionally balanced usually comes with maturity. Students need to have more resources for this as they age to help with the complications that come with adolescence. Spirituality follows emotional resources in that as students get older, they usually need guidance in planning for their futures whether that is from a religious leader or someone else. Relationships are extremely important, but students sometime don't develop their social skills until later in their childhood and friendships often develop based on common interest. Language seems to me to be more of what we work to develop in students over the course of their endeavors. Hidden rules seemed the least important simply because these are more intuitive traits that, again, are often developed with age and experience.
I feel that lacking the physical resources necessary affects students in several categories. If students are malnourished, their mental capacities are often limited, their health suffers, and their ability to develop their language is hindered. Plus, their emotional state may be at risk. Students who are unclean have a difficult time making and keeping friends. Students who live in a family without healthcare may be prone to sickness, which would lead to missing school and limiting their success. Students who aren't exposed to physical activity become overweight and suffer emotionally and struggle with relationships. Physical resources are vital to success at school.
I agree with you Holly!! I know for me personally that having an amazing and supportive family directly impacted me in a positive way when bad thing were happening in my life. I feel so many grandparents are playing a significant role in raising their grandchildren because the kids own parents aren't doing the job.
DeleteAll of the resources are important for learners. I chose my top three to comment on.
ReplyDelete1. I feel that language is the number one resource needed for success for school. In the early childhood realm and with my MSD job we focus heavily on building language and background knowledge. It is imperative to be able to communicate wants/needs and communicate ideas effectively.
2. Emotional and physical safety are also very high on my list for success. Students have to feel emotionally and physically safe/stable for learning to even occur.
3. Relationships/ Role Models are important for current and future success. For younger students a feeling of attachment is important and for older students positive relationships and positive role models are extremely important in forming opinions about where they want to go and what they want to achieve.
4. Support Systems
5. Mental
6. Financial
7. Physical
8. Spiritual
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
Relationships and positive role models have a significant impact on students. I see more and more students missing a strong attachment with their primary caregivers. Parents are busy on their cell phones and interact more with social media than they are interacting, reading, playing, and communicating with their children. I witness many attention getting behaviors which I feel are a direct result of children craving the attention of adults. Interventions we can do within a school setting would be direct conversations with parents. Posing questions such as: "How much time are you spending with television or social media when your child is around?" vs. "How much uninterrupted time are you actually devoting to your child?" At school we can form positive relationships and even guide children toward relationships and role models by strategic placement in groups and teams. Encouraging children to interact with those who seem withdrawn or are lacking relationships.
Robin your comment about parents and their use of television/social media reminded me of a situation I witnessed while out eating recently. There was a multiple generational family that was seated close to us with a grandmother, 2 adult children with their spouses and 4 children. One of the mothers placed a kindle against the drink for her daughter to what a movie while she ate. The girl sat there eating fries and watching a show. I felt that the girl was being cheated out of multiple social lessons!
DeleteThis post made me really reflect on my own relationships with my daughters. How to often, I or the girls are zoned into our phones and/or tablets. Technology is a great tool for many of us, however it has become an double edge sword. Where we as a society can use technology as a form of escape from our everyday lives. When in reality we need to put the electronics down and spend more quality time with each other.
DeleteHere is my ranking ...
ReplyDelete1. Physical
2. Relationships/Role Models
3. Spiritual
4. Support Systems
5. Financial
6. Mental
7. Emotional
8. Language
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
Being successful in life is so much easier when you have the ability to move and good physical health. I see so many kids who have their basic physical needs neglected at home. At the school we try our best to put clean clothes on them, comb their hair, and brush their teeth. It just isn't fair for these struggling kids. It is hard to face the day and give it your all when you are not clean, sick, have limited mobility, no energy and ability to focus. If I have one day like this I am just a total wreck and checked out on life. Some of our kiddos live this way day in and day out!! It is heart breaking to see their basic needs not met at home. I see how it makes learning and socializing such a challenge for them.
It was incredibly hard to rank these resources in order of importance because they are ALL so important to have. If one didn't have several of these resources available to them then having positive role models and healthy relationships would be so helpful and important to overcoming these challenges. My family and friends have always been an amazing source of strength in times of need or trouble. I can't imagine going through life without them. For that reason it is ranked high on my list.
I put knowledge of hidden rules last because I think as you go on living you can learn some or most of these rules. This resource is important, but I don't think it is as important to have in place as numbers 1-8.
I think Physical well being is tremendously important also. At first I was thinking it was just related to being fit and healthy. But, there are so many attributes to that category that we take for granted. Like you said, it is so unfair for students to have to worry about being clean, brushing their teeth and having illnesses. If their parents can't or don't provide these basic needs for them, how well can they really learn?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. Physical
ReplyDelete2. Mental
3. Spiritual
4. Relationships/Role Models
5. Support Systems
6. Emotional
7. Financial
8. Language
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
Honestly, it was hard for me to rank these just because I feel like they are all so important. However, I ranked them in this order for a few different reasons. Growing up as an under resourced learner myself, I feel like the top 6 would have been HUGE for me. I didn’t have most of these resources at home. My physical needs were met, but everything else was lacking. As an effect of that, I struggled tremendously to get by. I believe that when a child’s physical, mental (and the rest of the top 6 resources are met), they will flourish no matter their financial status, the language they speak, or their knowledge of hidden rules. When a student’s physical and mental health are not in good standing, it is almost impossible for them to learn. As educators, we can help with their language issues. We can help with getting these children their school supplies and feeding them lunch. We can help to inform students about unspoken cues and habits of certain groups. However, there is only so much we can do about their health (physical, mental, and spiritual). We can be the best role model and support system for them that we can possibly be, but at the end of the day they still go home to an unhealthy environment. These students are still seeing things that no child should see and going through things we can’t even begin to think about.
With all that being said, I believe that the “Relationships/Role Models” resource has a HUGE impact on these students even though they are constantly exposed to toxic behaviors at home. This resource alone is one of the main reasons I wanted to become an educator. I have been on the other side, and teachers leave such a lasting impact on under resourced learners. I do not believe that this resource is lacking at all in schools. I believe that the main issue in this area is a lack of positive role models in these students’ homes. And, unfortunately, that is something that is out of our control (at least for the most part).
I agree that Relationships play a big part in students success at school. I am fortunate enough to be able to interact with students from kindergarten through 8th grade and try to get to know them a little more since about 3/4 of each class time, they are working on their art project. This give me time to be a part of their conversations and goof off a little with them. Having a relationship with a student usually benefits us both!
Delete1. Emotional
ReplyDelete2. Relationship/Role Models
3. Mental
4. Language
5. Financial
6. Support Systems
7. Physical
8. Spiritual
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
I too was an under resourced student who struggled throughout school. So when reading and evaluating the resources, I tried to list resources that could have been most beneficial to me during my school years. My biggest struggle in school was feeling confident and competent at school. I believe my emotional well being and confidence in myself drastically effected my performance at school. My self-esteem determined how I performed at school. I can remember having very little success academically, which in return led me to feel like I was not as smart as my peers. Which made me feel inferior to my classmates. I felt as though I was in a race I could never win. At home and school I was constantly trying to prove my self worth, and never succeeding. I can list maybe a handful of teachers who reached out and tried to build relationships with me. I remember really trying hard to learn when I worked with those teachers, and eventually started to develop some success. Therefore, I think having a good support system and emotional health is crucial for all students success. When I felt supported my mental health grew as well as my academic language. My family had limited financial resources when I was a child, and often times this would make me feel inadequate and not as important as those students who did have the cool clothes and/or was able to participate in the activities I could not. I think physical appearance does also play a role into how you feel about yourself and how you compare to those around you, therefore affecting your emotional health. If a student has a higher power to believe in and a support system, they would be less likely to develop some of the issues I have discussed above. Knowing that they are loved and are important in their higher powers eyes. Knowledge of hidden rules would also be helpful to a students emotional well being, as they would not be ridiculed for not understanding the unspoken cues and habits of the their peers.
Thank you Tisha for sharing this very personal and moving story. You have come a long way!! You are a great teacher that will be able to impact lives because of your own personal experiences in school!
ReplyDelete1. Support Systems
ReplyDelete2. Financial
3. Physical
4. Spiritual
5. Relationships/Role Models
6. Language
7. Mental
8. Emotional
9. Knowledge of Hidden Rules
• Like everyone else I found these to be difficult to decide between. I did start with the support system being the most important. “Research has proved that having a support system has many positive benefits, such as higher levels of well-being, better coping skills and a longer and healthier life. Studies have also shown that social support can reduce depression and anxiety.” www.bjc.org (HealthCare website) After Support System I really struggled with is most important. Even though I am a man of faith and I believe that the spiritual realm has such a huge impact on people, I went with financial and Physical because if those two areas are poor then it can affect the spiritual state of a person who is not already grounded spiritually. Next relationships. This can and probably should go hand in hand with support systems, but it is listed separately and categorized a tad different. I did not want it to seem that if we have a great support system and great relationships that all other area’s would then be ok so I put it in the middle.. The language, mental and emotional where put closer to the end because ideally these potential problems may be fostered in the areas listed higher and can help them be successful. Lastly, I listed the knowledge of hidden rules. Again, this area may be very important, but it is such a broad definition that it is hard to distinguish it as being more important than another.
• I believe that support systems may be lacking in many of our students. Being new here I am finding that most of the troubled students are ones whose homes are flipped upside side and in a total mess. I was talking about one child earlier this week and I was told about how mom is no longer in the picture, dad is gone all week, grandpa passed away a few years ago and the child stays with grandma most of the time. We have many other students that are troubled that are victims of foster care. Whether the money is there or not – these children are not set up for success in life let alone success in school.