2 s Module 1: Key Points Establish a cognitive framework for understanding economic realities.

What do we know about poverty?

Do you think…… America’s children are better off today than they were five years ago? TRUE

More children are covered by health insurance and the infant mortality rate is at all-time low (the lowest since 1979). The number of people with health insurance increased to million in 2010 from million in However, in 2010, African American infants were two and one-half times more likely to die than white infants before their first birthday.

The government says that a family of four is poor if it earns less than $36,000 annually Do you think…… FALSE

Government poverty guidelines for a family of four is $22,350 Most Americans believe it takes at least $40,000 US Department of Health and Human Services

In each hour of their lives, welfare children received 30% less language experiences than working class children Do you think…… FALSE

Welfare children receive less than half the language experience of working class children. Professional parents gave an average of five prohibitions per hour whereas welfare parents gave 11 per hour. Welfare parents used more negative imperatives (DON’T, STOP, QUIT)

Expectation that when children enter school they: Can speak in complete sentences – Ask questions – Use declarative sentences to express wants, needs, and feelings – Sequence, and work cooperatively with other children by displaying socially acceptable behaviors

Students who come from poverty:  Typically do not have preschool experiences  Typically aren’t perceived as “bright”  More likely to be referred for testing for a disability

A child in Florida is born into poverty every 15 minutes Do you think…… TRUE

Florida Low-Income Children: 46% (1,820,954) of children live in low-income families (National: 42%), defined as income below 200% of the federal poverty level.

627,997 children in Florida living in low income or poverty Orange County and Orlando both have the second highest rate of children living in poverty in Florida (for the county and city categories.)

Poverty is primarily a problem for older adults? Do you think…… FALSE

Poverty affects ALL ages and ALL family types. The number of people in poverty increased for children younger than 18 (15.5 million in 2009 to 16.4 million in 2010) and people 18 to 64 (24.7 million in 2009 to 26.3 million in 2010) In 2010, 46.2 million people were in poverty, up from 43.6 million in 2009—the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty.

Seven percent of America’s children (5 million) live in EXTREME POVERTY (8% under the age of six – 2 million) in families with incomes below half the poverty line. That’s a 17% increase from In 2011, the EXTREME POVERTY line was $11,175 for a family of four.

The Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families Children living in poverty or low-income – 53.8% in Orlando – 40.9% in Orange County

If we could shrink the earth’s population to a village of 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this. There would be: 61 Asians 12 Europeans 13 From the Western Hemisphere (North and South) 13Africans 1Oceania 50 Would be female 50 Would be male 47Would live in an Urban area 16 Would be atheists or profess no religious convictions 33 Would be Christians 18 Would be Muslim 14 Would be Hindu 6 Would be Buddhist 13 Would represent all other religions of the world 59% Of the entire world’s wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people and all six would be citizens of the United States 14 Would be unable to readhttp:// 14Would suffer from malnutrition 13Would be hungry 7 Would have a college education 12 Would own a computer 3Would have an internet connection Source

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21 Key Concepts

22 1. Poverty is relative (in comparison to others) and is experienced first on a very personal level. Key Point

Poverty occurs in all races and all countries

Poverty-prone children are more likely to be in single parent families.

In 2010, the earnings of women who worked full time, year-round were 77 percent of that for men working full time. Since 2007, the number of men working full time, year-round with earnings decreased by 6.6 million and the number of corresponding women declined by 2.8 million. (U.S. Bureau of Census)

Poverty rate are highest for families headed by single women.

5 Main Reasons for Poverty Educational attainment Family structure Immigration Language issues Addiction issue(s) of adults

28 2. Generational and situational poverty are different. Generational Situational Middle New Old Poverty Poverty Class Money Money Key Point

The average American, now age 20, has about a 60% chance of spending at least one year living in poverty at some point in the future.

By age 35, about 41% of the U.S. population will have experienced a year in poverty.

By age 65, the figure rises to 51%, and by age 85, it exceeds 66%

32 3. This is a cognitive approach to class and is based on patterns of thinking. All patterns have exceptions. Stereotyping occurs when the patterns of a group are applied to each individual in the group. To do so with this work would be a misuse of the work. Key Point

33 4. Most schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and values. Key Point

34 5. Individuals bring with them the hidden rules of the class in which they were raised. Key Point

35 6. Hidden rules about time and money: Key Point PovertyMiddle ClassWealth Survival Relationships Entertainment Work Achievement Material security Political connections Financial connections Social connections

36 7. We can neither excuse nor scold students. We must teach our students. Key Point

37 8. We must teach students that there are two sets of rules. Example: Basketball does not have the same rules as football. Key Point

For us to be successful with our students we must: Understand their hidden rules Teach them rules that will make them successful within social institutions

Hidden Rules used by urban students that could cause them trouble: Laughs when disciplined Argues loudly with the teacher Angry response Inappropriate or vulgar comments Physically fights Hands always on someone else Difficulty following directions Extremely disorganized Only completed part of a task

Hidden Rules continued… Disrespectful to the teacher Harms other students, verbally or physically. Cheats or steals Constantly talks

41 9. To move from poverty to middle class, one must give up (for a period of time) relationships for achievement. Key Point

Two things that help one move out of poverty are:  Education  Relationships Key Point

Four reasons one leaves poverty are:  Too painful to stay  Vision or goal  Key relationship  Special talent/skill Key Point

Poverty is the extent to which an individual does without resources

Nine Key Resources (in order of importance) 1.Key Relationships / Role Models - Kids that don’t have this resource don’t learn 2.Financial - Having money allows a person to buy time and resources 3.Emotional - The ability to be alone when times are bad AND NOT BE DISRUPTIVE. This means you hang in there when times are so bad that you don’t think morning will ever come

Nine Key Resources (in order of importance) 4.Mental – The ability to read, write, and compute. Many people living in poverty can count but do not know how to add and subtract 5.Spiritual – When a person believes in a divine purpose, and guidance they have an incredible resource 6.Physical – The ability to take care of yourself

Nine Key Resources (in order of importance) 7.Support Systems – Refers not only to friends and money, but “know how”. Having someone that can understand homework and can help you with your homework 8.Knowledge of Hidden Rules – Knowing there are hidden/unspoken rules for the “street” and hidden/unspoken rules for school and work – and understanding those rules well enough to be successful in both environments

Nine Key Resources (in order of importance) 9.Formal Register – The standard sentence syntax and word choice of work and school

What is the motivation for learning? Key Point

50 –Dr. James Comer "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship."

Mutual respect is:  High expectations  Insistence  Support Key Point

A Future Story