1. Learners from Non-Traditional Families
By: Karli Dempski

2. Quotes
“There is no single typical American family anymore.”- Kate Rice (ABC News)
"Family is both a belief and a practice”- Alexis Walker (editor of National Council on Family Relations' Journal of Marriage and the Family)

3. What is a Non-Traditional Family?
Nuclear family: traditional family structure
Non-Traditional family: (“Blended Family) single parent household, a family with step parents, step parent with kids from former marriages, or same sex parents
Also other types: adopted families, grandparent/guardian families, and homeless families

4. Statistics on Students
1 in 2- live in a single parent household at some point
1 in 3 are born to unmarried parents
1 in 8 are born to a teenage mother (The State of America's Children, 1998 Yearbook, Children's Defense Fund)
30% of kids are living with step families (The State of America's Children, 1998 Yearbook, Children's Defense Fund)
More than 40% of marriages now are 2nd or 3rd marriages (U.S. Census Bureau, 1992)

5. Effect of Non-Traditional Families
75% of children in chemical dependency hospitals are from single parent households (Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA)
1 out of 5 children have a learning, emotional, or behavioral problem due to family settings (National Center for Health Statistics)
Children of these families are 7 times more likely to suffer from depression than someone from a nuclear family

6. So What Changes? Contacting home changes Child might be distracted
How the child interacts with others
Grades
When home situation is bad, performance may be also

7. Divorce, the new black
Half of all people will experience it at sometime in their life
Divorce sometimes effects the kids more than the parents
Remember the students attitude toward it is a reflections of their parents attitude
Effects vary on students from preschool-middle school
Children in general, just feel abandoned

8. Tips for Catering to Divorced Parents
Get to know the situation
Having a “Parent Night” that helps parents that have all types of schedule conflicts
Send a note to BOTH homes
Consider conference calls

9. Working With Grandparents
4 million children live in a household headed by a grandparent
Introduce them to other Custodial grandparents
Offer tips on how to help students with homework
Provide support and appreciation

10. Homeless Families
Realize as a teacher, you may only have a short time to impact the student
Remember that school is a home to these students, provide security
Build a trusting relationship with the parents
Engage the parents in the child’s learning, and push them to learn as well

11. Foster Families
In NC, the foster parent is only required to have 30 hours of training
Student’s best way of learning may not be known
Help parents set realistic but hopeful expectations for their students
Support

12. A Lesson in Non-traditional families
When students in school are taught about family structure, need to be taught different types
Knowledge is power
Prevent bullying about home situations
Give them a reading assignment that involves a non- traditional family

13. Advocacy for EVERYONE Getting to know the situation
Adjusting lesson plans
Teach focus when needed
Have them talk with a counselor when needed

14. Personal Ties Parents are divorced
Remarried, grew up in a “non-traditional” family
Use it to be able to relate to students

15. References
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