rural poverty and instruction

Rural Poverty Instruction

Ideas for Teacher Education

Sharon & Stephen Metcalfe

Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversitySharon: sharon.metcalfe@mvnu.edu

Stephen: stephen.metcalfe@mvnu.edu

Views of Poverty

Poverty Policies = “Programs for people in the inner city.”

• ‘Deserving Poor’ versus ‘Underclass’

Urban/Rural Sociological Differences(Natchigal, 1982)

Rural

• Personal/Tightly linked

• Generalists• Homogenous• Traditional Values• Lower/smaller density• Seasonal orientation

Urban

• Impersonal/loosely coupled

• Specialists• Heterogeneous• Liberal Values• Greater/Larger density• Time-clock orientation

Views of ‘Rural’

‘Less populated version’ of urban & suburban America. (Natchigal. 1982)

“People Left Behind” living beneath ‘normal’ standards: hicks – backward – uncultured – illiterate’ – provincial

‘A place where The Good Life can still be lived.’

Mayberry/Green Acres

‘Where city folks go to play, relax, escape.’ (Sinagatullin, 2009)

Rural Poor Demographics (Duncan, 1992)

• 30% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.

• 40% of ALL poverty is rural.

• 80% of rural poor are White. *Most non-white rural families are poor.

Rural Poverty Demographics(Duncan, 1992)

1. Typically working poor.65% of rural poor families have 1+ person employed.

Rural Poverty ‘American Dream’:

“Steady job that allows me to make my way

without owing anybody anything.”

2. Typically two-parent families.

3. Higher percent are elderly.

SES ‘Cultures’

Two Lenses: (Neuman, 2009)

–‘Culture of Achievement’: middle class routines/language fostering

–‘Culture of Material Hardship’: Learned approaches to living without adequate resources (coping)

SES ‘Cultures’

Two Lenses of ‘Cultural Capital’ (Bourdieu as cited in Holyfield, 2002, p. 53)

–‘Aesthetic Taste’: middle class codes and guides to ‘proper behavior’

–‘Taste of Necessity’: adaptation and acceptance of ‘the necessary’

Being Poor in the Country

(Holyfield, 2002)

• Harder being poor in the country.

• Harder escaping from poverty in the country.

Being Poor in the Country

(Holyfield, 2002)

• Poverty hides easier in the country.–Typically single-car families. –Lack of transportation isolates families.

Isolation promotes ‘invisibility’.

Rural PoorEducational Attainment

(Holyfield, 2002)

• Rural Poor Adults:44.5%= Less than a high school education

32.8% = High school diploma only

22.7% = Any schooling beyond high school

→77.3% = HS diploma or less

Rural Poor Educational Needs

• Language reflects acquired information. (Anastasiow &

Hanes, 1976)

–Product of both ethnicity and SES

‘Poor English’ Spoken by the economically poor.– Structurally less ‘sophisticated’.

–Often interpreted as ‘less intelligent’.

–Historical link to discrimination.

Rural Poor Cultural Tools

• Teachers assume ‘Language of School’

Children of poverty ‘translate’ school English.

Reflects higher cognitive activity.

Poverty & Brain Development

(Jensen, 2009b)

Environment impacts development. Poverty is an adverse environment.

• Affects these areas of life:• Physical-Emotional-Psychological health;

Linguistic development; Medical coverage; Social opportunities; Career options; Financial opportunities

Poverty and the Brain (Jensen, 2009b)

• Poverty: chronic mind/body condition.– Chronic instability adds chronic stress.

• Poverty impacts the brain for the worse.– Impulsivity– Poor short-term memory development– Greater instance of depression

• Physical brain structures of people in poverty are different than those who aren’t.

Good News: The Brain can Change.

Common Poverty Risk Factors

1. Emotional and social challenges

2. Acute and chronic stressors

3. Cognitive lags

4. Health and safety issues

Common teacher complaints about low SES students:

Chronic tardiness, Lack of motivation, Inappropriate behavior, Absenteeism

Disadvantage responds much like disability. (Tokuhama-Espinosa, 2010)

• Poor school-readiness skills lead low SES children to exhibit classroom behaviors that may be unproductive-to-seriously disruptive.

(Howard, Dresser, & Dunklee, 2009, p. 29)

Poverty in Your Classroom

Poverty in Your Classroom

Students from poverty are more likely to have challenges or real-world concerns with:

Organizational skills/supplies Transportation

Reading Readiness Skills Parental support

Prioritizing academics Short-term memory Emotional/social regulation Medical/health issues

(Jensen, 2009b)

Poverty in Your Classroom

Poverty-Related Deficits: Lack of a Present Tense orientation (Payne, 2006)

–No planning = no prediction– ‘No prediction’ impedes cause/effect skills–Cause/effect identifies consequences.–Consequence ID improves impulsivity control.– Impulsivity control prevents TROUBLE

‘Poverty is Diversity’

• Focus on how your students in poverty learn.• Attend to what your students bring to the

learning setting.• Diagnostic , not a ‘programmatic’ approach.

‘What’s going on here?’

Rural-Specific Education (Schaft & Jackson, 2010)

3 foci:• Identity – Restructuring, affirming locality• Place – What does education have to say

about the local experience?• Community – Linking education & investment in

local over global interests.

Strategies for Teaching Students in Poverty

1. Build positive relationships with students and families.

2. Conduct frequent formative assessment.

3. Integrate learning experiences and instruction.

4. Create a positive climate for instruction (level the playing field). (Howard, Dresser, & Dunklee, 2009)

1. Positive Relationships

• Model respect – Low SES students need context, background, or skills.

–Always say please and thank you–Avoid directives –Avoid sarcasm–Take responsibility for mistakes and make

amends–Be consistent and fair

1. Positive Relationships

Provide hope; build supportive relationships• Promote student status• Embed social skills

– Basic meet-and-greet skills– Turn-taking skills– Teach/Remind students to use courtesy words.

1. Positive Relationships

Learn your students’ needs– Academic tutoring/counseling; Reading materials– Career, mental health counseling– Child care for teen parents– Life skills classes (finances, health, housing)– Medical and psychological care; Dental care;

Access to medications– Arrangements for when students stay after school

1. Positive Relationships

Empower students– Take time to teach HOW to act differently– Role-model problem solving strategies– Introduce ‘Responsibility’ and ‘Making Restitution’– Conflict resolution/Anger management skills– Goal setting– Stress reduction techniques

(recognize the signs of chronic stress)

1. Positive Relationships

Include parents, provide support and outreach– Schedule times convenient for parents who work

different shifts/group conferences for siblings.– Encourage and organize carpooling or taxis.

• Be inclusive– Our school, Our classroom– Acknowledge students for small productive things– Celebrate effort as well as achievement

2. Formative and Summative Assessments

• Frequent assessment:– Informs instruction –Helps identify what students do well – Identifies sources of difficulties–Assesses prior knowledge–Provides corrective feedback, continuous

improvement

3. Integrate Learning Experiences

• Link what is known to new learning.

• Tie content to students’ real-life.

• Engage students.

3. Integrate Learning Experiences

Teach, Model, Practice Core Skills–Attention–Sort-and long-term memory–Sequencing and processing–Problem-solving–Perseverance; applying skills in long term–Hopefulness and self-esteem –Social skills

3. Integrate Learning Experiences

• Teach Language Arts in all instruction. (Anastasiow &

Hanes, 1976)

–Cycle-of-failure potential increases without mastery of middle-class English.

–Decode language the teacher uses and match it.

Train for ‘the culture of commerce’. (Delpit, 1995)

3. Integrate Learning Experiences

• No more than 50% of instructional time for new content.– Brain works best with time to absorb new learning.

• Learn, discuss, take a walk. Encourage processing.

• Add new strategies regularly, monitor progress• Provide specific, customized, monitored, skill-

building activities (30-90 min/day)• Increase arts activities, physical activity.

“Brain aerobics”

3. Integrate Learning Experiences CHAMPS

Champion’s Mind Set

Hopeful Effort

Attentional Skills

Memory

Processing Skills

Sequencing Skills

Never assume intact cognitive strategies.

4. Positive Climate for Instruction

• Create a User-Friendly classroom.• Create a democratic learning environment.• Positive feedback early and often.• Provide verbal and nonverbal cues.• Deepen staff understanding, empathy, and

cultural knowledge/relevance of instruction to local identity and community. (Woodrum, 2011)

4. Positive Climate for Instruction

• Structure time effectively.• Be flexible - culturally and academically. • Sense of humor.• Celebrate successes.• Augment nutrition: healthy snacks, water.• Before/after school homework clubs,

transportation.

Seven ‘Odds-Changing’ Instructional Principles

(Neuman, 2009)

1. Target your neediest students.

2. Earlier is better.

3. Coordinate services.

4. Focus on ‘compensatory instruction’.

5. Use the highest qualified instructors available.

6. Don’t dilute any instruction – quality matters.

7. Always hold high standards and accountability.

References

• Anastasiow, N. J., & Hanes, M. L. (1976). Language patterns of poverty children. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

• Bishop, B. (2010). Poverty highest in rural America: Rising in recession. Daily Yonder. Retrieved from http://www.dailyyonder.com/poverty-highest-rural-america-rising-recession/2010/12/21/3098

• Conger, R. D., & Donnellan, M. B. in Crane, D. R., & Heaton, T. B., Eds. (2008). Handbook of families and poverty. Thousand Oaks, CA:

Sage.• Coombs, P. H., & Ahmed, M. (1974). Attacking rural poverty: How

nonformal education can help. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

• Delpit, L. D. (1995). Other people’s children. New York, NY: New Press.

References (continued)

• DiFazio, W. (2006) Ordinary people: A little food and cold storage. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

• Duncan, C. M. (1992) Rural poverty in America. Westport, CT: Auburn House.

• Hansen, N. M. (1970). Rural poverty and the urban crisis. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University.

• Holyfield, L. (2002). Moving up and out: Poverty, education, and the single parent family Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

• Howard, T., Dresser, S. G., & Dunklee, D. R. (2009). Poverty is not a learning disability. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

• Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind, (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

• Jensen, E. (2009a). Super teaching: Over 100 practical strategies, (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

References (continued)

• Jensen, E. (2009b). Teaching with poverty in mind. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

• Leone, B. (1999) Poverty: Opposing views. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.

• Marzano, R. J. (2007). The art and science of teaching. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

• Nachtigal, P. M. (1982). Rural education: In search of a better way. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

• Neuman, S. B. (2009) Changing the odds for children at risk: Seven essential principles of educational programs that break the cycle of poverty. Westport, CT: Praeger.

• O'Connor, A. (2001). Poverty knowledge. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University.

References (continued)

• O’Hare, W. P. (2009). The forgotten fifth: Child poverty in rural America. Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire, Vol. 10. Retrieved from http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/Report-OHare-ForgottenFifth.pdf.

• Payne, R.K. (2003). A framework for understanding poverty, (3rd ed.). Highlands, TX: aha! Process, Inc.

• Pilisuk, M., & Pilisuk, P. (1971). Poor Americans: How the white poor live. New York, NY: Aldine Publishing.

• Provasnik, S., Kewal-Ramani, A. Coleman, M. M., Gilbertson, L., Herring, W., & Xie, Q. (2007). Status of education in rural America. National Center For Educational Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington D.C.: US Dept. of Education.

References (continued)

• Sinagatullin, I. M. (2009). Teaching is more than pedagogical practice: Thirty-three strategies for dealing with contemporary students. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.

• Tokuhama-Espinosa, T. (2010) The new science of teaching and learning: Using the best of mind, brain, and education

science in the classroom. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

• Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

• US Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2004) Rural poverty at a glance. Retrieved from http://www.ers.usda.gov/ publications /rdrr100/rdrr100.pdf.

• Watras, J. (2002). The foundations of educational curriculum and diversity: 1565 to the present. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

References (continued)

• Wilson, Z. (2011). Speak your piece: Rural education reform. Daily Yonder. Retrieved from http://www.dailyyonder.

com/speak-your-piece-rural-educationreform/2011/08/22 /3487.

• Woodrum, A. (2011). Rural education for the twenty-first century: Identity, place, and community in a globalizing world. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 26(5). Retrieved from http://jrre.psu.edu/articles/26-5.pdf.