Educators continue to be frustrated by the growing achievement gap between students living in poverty and their middle-class peers. What causes this achievement gap and how can teachers ensure that all of their students can be successful learners? This class will examine poverty and its effect on children’s cognitive and social development, as well as provide educators with practical strategies for increasing the literacy, math, behavior and socialization skills of students in their classes. Educators will learn how to modify their own teaching methods to promote academic achievement in their classrooms.  Implications of poverty on English language learners, special education assessment, gifted and talented programs and classroom behavior will also be discussed.

Goals and Objectives

As a result of participation in this course, students should:

1. Describe how the consequences of living in poverty can impact the cognitive and social/emotional development of children.

2. Develop a plan to increase literacy and availability of literacy materials in the homes of your students.

3. Describe the value conflicts between low socioeconomic status (SES) families and middle class professionals.

4. Describe how you could support and encourage family involvement in the student’s education.

5. Plan, construct and implement a plan to decrease the achievement gap between low and high SES students in your classroom.

Texts/Readings

The required reading is found in the texts listed below:

Kunjufu, J. (2006). An African Centered Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory. Chicago, IL: African American Images.

Thomas-Presswood, T. & Presswood, D. (2008). Meeting the Needs of Students and Families From Poverty: A Handbook for School and Mental Health Professionals. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.