In US public schools, 51% of students in public schools come from low-income families. Decades of research show that children from low-income homes start kindergarten trailing one to three years behind their more economically advantaged peers. More recently, researchers have demonstrated the relationship between family income and brain structures, with the largest influence observed among the most disadvantaged children.
Yet, many schools succeed with students from poverty. Here are three proven ways educators can make a difference to close the poverty gap and help every student succeed.
1. Reduce devastating effects of stress.Stress is a physiological response to a perception of a lack of control over an aversive situation or person. Poverty is associated with chronic stress, which can have a toxic effect on the brain. Teachers often reactivate the fear and stress areas in a student’s brain if they are adversarial or get in shouting matches with students.
2. Teach social-emotional skills
Social-emotional skills also include politeness, empathy and friendship. Students can learn how to be a friend to gain lasting friendships. Students from poverty experience far less social-emotional role models and skill building at home. Teacher led activities may include, and not be limited to: “meet and greet” student skits and interview role-plays.
3. Build students’ cognitive capacity
A student’s DNA is NOT their destiny.
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