Prompt #1
Prompt 1: Key Understandings
During my reading of the Payne text, I gained several understandings which I would find appropriate to share with my colleagues, administrators, or parents. The first understanding is of the definition of poverty and the role that resources play in this definition. The definition is “the extent to which an individual does without resources.” The resources are financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, relationships/role models, and knowledge of hidden rules. I believe having this understanding that poverty goes beyond just the financial aspects, is the first step in helping our students that are in this situation.
Another insight gained through my reading was the understanding of how discipline works in poverty. In generational poverty, the matriarch is the dispenser of judgments. The mother determines how much and what type of punishment and she is the one that offers forgiveness. In this situation, when forgiveness is given, behaviors and activities often return. I found this information very important in understanding why some of my students seem unable to alter their behavior even after experiencing the consequences for exhibiting the particular behavior.
Next is the understanding of the importance of role models and emotional resources. Having emotional resources opens the door for students to pursue other options and explore other possibilities in a situation. It is discussed that emotional resources can be provided for students who have not had access to appropriate role models. Some of the ways we can provide emotional resources for our students include support systems, discipline strategies, mentor relationships, teaching hidden rules, identifying options, increasing achievement through instruction and goal-setting. It is important that we assist our students in gaining emotional resources since “the development of emotional resources is crucial to student success” (Payne, 1996).
Ruby K. Payne, P. (1996). A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Highlands, TX: aha! Process, Inc.
I strongly agree with your statement about the importance of assisting our students in gaining emotional resources as being crucial. As noted in Dr. Payne's book, for people to function from being dependent to independent to being interdependent they must know how what is normal for them to carry out. I certainly agree that role modeling provided in school is basically the greatest resource they have. Therefore, we need to to provide students with the best instructional arrangements possible.
ReplyDeleteI was also reminded of how children build their emotional resources from the role models they observe. Otherwise, children are faced to pratically guess what is normal behavior to function properly as an adult. I haven't personally experience teachers teaching students for two or three consecutive years but it is suggested as a way to help struggling students. What do you feel about teachers teaching students for consecutive years?