1. Changes in American Society
Their influences on today’s students

2. School is challenging for students, like teaching is for you

3. Changes in American Families
No “norm” to families
7 of 10 women w/children – work
Divorce rate – quadruped (from 1978 to 2000)
25% live with their mother only
5% with father only
4% - neither
Poverty among single-parent families – nearly 10 times higher than in families head by married couples.

4. Changes in American Families
“The combination of less time and less support results in children coming to school less prepared.” pg 39

5. What does this mean for you?
Remember family patterns change
When you say parent/dad/mom – that does not apply to everyone
Communicate about different family patterns – show students that you care

6. Child Care Quality – IMPORTANT
High quality child care is positively correlated with children’s long term cognitive & emotional development, higher earnings later in life & greater martial stability
Reduces: delinquency, teenage pregnancy, drug use and dropout rates
Important for all, essential for children of poverty
Less likely to have it
Rate of participation has decreased

7. Latchkey Children
Children who return to empty houses after school and who are left alone until parents arrive from work
15 million children
Concerns: safety, too much television, lack of help with homework
Make sure students understand what is expected of them = more likely to complete homework

8. Changes in our students
Alcohol
Drugs
Violence
Sexuality
Suicide/Death
Obserity

9. Sexuality
Nearly half of teens reported being sexually active by the end of H.S. – only 61% reported using a condom
Teenage pregnancy
STDs
Teenage Pregnancy
Though declining – US still has the highest rates in the industrialized world
More than ½ of household headed by teen moms live in poverty
Mom more likely to drop out of school therefore affecting her life (and that of the baby)
Programs are in place, but still a majority of teen moms still drop out

10. Sexuality
STDs – 1 of 4 (girls) were infected with at last one form of STD
Many school districts have implemented sex education
Controversial
Form content – varies
Sexual Orientation & Identity
No accurate figure (social stigma involved)
Sexual orientation – labels – lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight
Sexual identity – transgender
Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender students F eel rejected by peers & society = feelings of alienation & depression, drug use & suicide rates – considerably higher
Discussions – controversial

11. Sexual Harassment
Unwanted and/or unwelcome sexually oriented behavior that interferes with a student’s life
Can interfere with a student’s learning and development
Nearly half 7-12 graders reported being sexually harassed
Negative personal consequences (poor sleep, stomachaches, absenteeism)
LGBT students
90% hear expressions “That’s so gay” You’re so gay”
6 of 10 reported not feeling safe at school
Schools/teachers – better job making school safe
Talk with students about the problem, emphasize that NO form of harassment will be tolerated

12. Alcohol & Other Drugs
Likely to have students who are very familiar with the abuse
Teenagers who abuse:
Damage to their health
Car accidents
Suicide
School related problems
Poor attendance, decreased learning, more likely to drop out

13. Alcohol & Other Drugs Why start? What can you do as a teacher??
Many reasons – not one answer
What can you do as a teacher??
Your interactions with students about drugs & emphasis on a healthy lifestyle – crucial to successful efforts
Talk about the problem & help students understand the benefits of dealing with their problem in a positive & proactive manner

14. Obesity Major health concern
1 of 6 students – overweight
Figure higher for students living in poverty & cultural minorities
Face rejection from peers
Government – stricter guidelines for school lunches – bans on soft drinks
You can help:
Talk about the foods you eat, & help students understand how their diets affect their health
Modeling – powerful tool

15. School Violence & Crime
School violence is more common in some school contexts than in others
Highest – middle school
More common in urban schools
Greatest in high-poverty areas
Often associated with gangs (1 of five reported gangs were present at school)
What can you do??
A lot
Make sure that your students are learning & experiencing academic success & that they believe that you care about them & want them to succeed
Students must have someone they can talk to at school

16. Bullying
A more subtle form of school violence that involves a systematic or repetitious abuse of power between students
Damaging effects
Possible links to suicides & school shootings
Half of students report either being bullied or being the bully (higher)
Most commonly learned (poor problem solving skills)
Emotionally underdeveloped
When it occurs, Immediately stop it.
Intervene, use it as a teaching moment

17. CyberBullying
Use of electronic media to harass or intimidate other students
Attempts to prevent – help students understand the consequences of their negative behaviors & teaching alternative prosocial behaviors
Close with students – help them understand their actions

18. School Wide Safety Programs
Designed to make schools safe havens for teaching and learning
Varies
Zero-tolerance policies – calls for a student to receive automatic suspensions or expulsions as punishment for certain offenses

19. Suicide
3rd leading cause of teen death (car accidents & homicide – top two)
Girls – twice as likely to attempt
Boys – 4 times more likely to succeed
Causes – varies – most are related to the stresses of adolescence
Indicators:
Abrupt decline in quality of school work
Withdrawal – friends/classroom
Eating/sleeping habits change
Depression
Comments

20. Child Abuse Often hidden – reliable figures hard to obtain
Although abuse can occur at any level of society, it tends to be associated with poverty & if often linked to parental substance abuse
Possible symptoms:
Neglected appearance
Sudden change in either academic or social behavior
Disruptive or overly compliant behavior
Repeated injury (bruises, welts, burns)

21. Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Students
Experts estimate – students spend 5 times as many hours in homes/neighbors than in school
Learning in those environment
Family – primary influence on students
Gap between the rich & poor – grown in the last three decides

22. Upper Class
Composed of highly educated, highly paid professionals (bachelor’s degree or higher, making $170,00 or higher)
5% total population
Gap between upper class and others – growing

23. Middle Class
Composed of managers, administrators & white collar workers
TEACHERS
$40,00-170,000
4/10 families

24. Working Class (lower middle class)
$25,000-$40,000
1/3 population
Most high school education
Blue collar jobs (manual labor – construction, factory work)
College – reality for about 1/3 kids

25. Lower class Makes less than $25,000 High school education or less
Work in low paying jobs (entry level)
1/5 families
½ completes high school
1 of 4 – college
Lowest – depend on public assistance

26. Underclass
People with low incomes who continually struggle with economic problems
Escaping – very difficult
Poverty = special challenges

27. Poverty
Government – poverty threshold – household income levels that represent the lowest earning require to meet basic living needs
$22,350
Nearly 1 of 5 students = poverty
You will deal with the negative effects of poverty (regardless where you teach)
Government – free/reduced lunch
Most families do not participate

28. Poverty Teachers report – 65% of students come to school hungry
Snacks, help students sign up for free/reduced meals
5 times more likely to drop out of school
Integration programs – busing, magnet schools, vouchers
Research – effective

29. Important
Make sure you are staying up to date with your reading!!

30. Homelessness Direct result of poverty Accurate count – difficult
Kids – suffer inadequate diets & lack of medical care, fail to attend school regularly, suffer from a # of learning challenges, more likely to repeat a grade & drop out of school
Urban school – target homeless children – send buses out, students can shower, wash clothes, clean underwear, changes of clothes, provide medical treatment.

31. Homelessness You can help!! Being a willing ear to listen
Make a special effort to maintain HIGH expectations for ALL students
Research – dress/grooming factors can influence teachers’ instructional decisions
Talk with experienced teachers about resources available
Pass out information

32. Socioeconomic Status & School Success
Constantly predicts a number of indicators of school success, including achievement test scores, grades and truancy, dropout and suspension rates
Experts have identified factors that allow for differences in achievement:
Fulfillment of basic needs
Family stability
School related experiences
Interactions patterns in the home
Parental attitudes and values

33. SES: Cautions and Implications for teachers
Remember these are group differences, individuals within groups will vary WIDELY
Avoid stereotypes – students are individuals
Keep expectations HIGH for all students
One program based on Ruby Payne’s book – has been criticized for stereotyping these children

34. Students at Risk
Are in danger of failing to complete their education with the skills necessary to function effectively in modern society
At risk- medicine – which uses the term “risk factors”
Term became popular after 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education – U.S. – a “nation at risk”

35. Educational Problems High dropout rates Low grades Renton in grade
Low achievement
Low participation in extracurricular activities
Poor attendance
Misbehavior in class
Low self-esteem
Low test scores
Lack of interest in school
High suspension rate

36. Background factors Low SES/Poverty Homeless Divorced families
Inner city
Minority
Nonnative English speaking
Environments with Drug/Alcohol Abuse
Neighborhood – high crime activity rate

37. The Dropout Problem
Decrease chance of personal success, more likely to have problems with transiency, crime & drug abuse
Min. wage jobs, earns 50% less than of a high school graduate
More males drop out then females
Unstable families, high rates of student mobility, higher graduation standards, exit exams
In 2012, President Obama’s State of the Union address speech, he urged every state to require students to stay until 18 or graduate

38. The Dropout Problem Survey You as a teacher can make a difference!!!
Students:
Were not motivated or inspired to work
Classes not interesting
Lack of challenge
You as a teacher can make a difference!!!
We need BETTER teachers!!!
Government – teachers who produce achievement gains – up to $10,000 to move to schools with a large # of students at risk

39. Students at Risk and Urban Schools

40. Effective Schools Involve parents & other members of the community
Full-service schools – family resource centers – social & health services

41. Questions? What do effective schools for students at risk emphasize?
What do effective teachers for students at risk ensure?
What should effective instruction and support look like for students at risk?

42. Effective Schools Safe, orderly school climate in which
Academic objectives focusing on mastery of content
Cooperation, a sense of community, prosocial values
Student responsibility & self-regulation with decreased emphasis on external controls
Strong parental involvement
Caring and demanding teachers who hold HIGH expectations for all

43. Effective Teachers
Caring, demanding & hold high moral & academic expectations
They refuse to let their students fail
Activity involve students' in learning activities
Provide instruction that is challenging, motivating & connected to students’ lives
Design instruction so the ALL learn & they know it
Confidence, self-esteem

44. Effective Instruction
High classroom structure with predictable routines
Clear learning objective
High levels of interaction between the teacher and students
Frequent & thorough assessment
Informative feedback to promote student success
Emphasis on student responsibility