I love this article because it brings attention to something I think gets overlooked way more frequently than it should. Students who don't have a place to call home and/or are living on the streets can easily get overlooked in schools. This specific person tells about how her and her little sister were never approached about needs or appearance of the two of them when they were living on the streets and always existing in an abusive environment. No one ever asked why they were always afraid to "call home", or would flinch and hunch down if someone became angry. She then goes on to give advice for teachers and schools if they ever think they may know some of these students. She reminds them to offer resources, extracurricular activites, etc. Then she gives advice to the students themselves; stay in school, education will be your biggest secret weapon, and focus on what you can control...and so much more. It's such a relevant topic, great article!http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/none-of-my-teachers-knew-i-was-homeless-they-should_us_581244e7e4b08301d33e06b5
I agree with you that this is something that gets overlooked. I found that these students might be behind academically, but tend to be smarter in other areas. The behaviors that others see as disrespect or negative are only done out of self defense. They have learned to act a certain way in order to stay strong and survive. This is why it is so important to build relationships with students to allow them to feel safe and comfortable during their time at school. Great article find!
ReplyDeleteI think if nothing else this article can go to show the importance of appearing approachable to your students. Though one reason the author may never have felt comfortable enough to open up to any teachers may have been due to how often they changed schools it is still disappointing that they never encountered a teacher they felt truly comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article, thank you for bringing the article to my attention. Unfortunately all too often we have students couch -surfing or homeless and unless we are really paying attention these students can feel isolation and loss of hope. When I see a student struggling academically I always look to what could be potentially happening outside of school. Having great connections with our students help the students to feel safe to tell us what is happening once the school day is over.
ReplyDeleteI manage some athletic events as well and including students in athletics or clubs can make the student feel valued and part of something at school.
I appreciated this article very much. I worked for a short time as a case manager for Marion County Child Welfare and I can assure you...the homes some students go back to when the school day ends can be far worse that even our worst ideas.
ReplyDeleteIt is very true that the behaviors some of these students exhibit are often overlooked or not really seen for what it is...communication. These students experience trama beyond our wildest ideas and that can manifest and look like many things. A good reminder of what we as teachers need to pay attention to in our classrooms!
My heart sank while I read the article. I can only imagine how it feels to be homeless. I cannot fathom how a mother or father could treat their child like that. The advice given to teachers and staff was brilliant. Opportunities to develop trust should never be passed up. Teachers should provide services and create an atmosphere of learning. It is a trivial task for someone who has a job and security for a home and family. The message at the end was excellent. “Focus on what you can control, like self-dignity and education. That’s something nobody can take away from you.
ReplyDelete