Course Description
This class will increase your knowledge and skills in understanding the impact of poverty on student performance and specific strategies that support at-risk student classroom success.
Course students will become aware of poverty indicators in their state, community and school district, specifically effects of poverty on student emotional, social, physical and academic development.
Specific strategies will be shared that have been proven successful in at-risk schools that support high expectations, effective lesson delivery, increased student engagement, strong classroom climate and strategies that build character and trust.
Course Reviews:
“One of the best classes you can take for one credit to gain a better understanding of how poverty impacts student’s learning is the online course of Poverty in the Classroom. I highly recommend this because not only will you gain valuable information of the impact of poverty on students, but more importantly, you will gain the knowledge to do something about the learning that takes place in your classroom with these students. You will gain strategies that will change your own beliefs and assumptions about students from poverty and low expectations. You will move from sympathy to empathy. You will develop ways to empower your students to hope and develop a growth mindset.”
Natalie H. – Dodgeville, WI
“I would enthusiastically encourage my colleagues to take this course for several reasons. First, given the changing nature of the economic circumstances that many families are now facing because of changes to the US economy in terms of wages and demands for new workforce skills, teachers need to have an understanding of the potential effects of poverty on our students. Even in so-called affluent districts poverty is impacting on our students at ever increasing rates. In Wisconsin, the number of children qualifying for free and reduced lunch is increasing in all counties. This is a sober statistic. But, rather than just focus on the potential effects, I gained a better understanding of solutions that can be used in the community, school building, and classroom to instill “hope” in our students. When students feel hope about the future and know that teachers care, amazing things can happen! This course helped me understand that, regardless of economic circumstances, all students can succeed if all staff are committed to an “enrichment mind set” that fosters intellectual curiosity, emotional engagement, and social bonding and entails an attitude of “whatever it takes” to help students maximize their educational opportunities and, in turn, their options for life. I gained new behavioral strategies that I can use in the classroom to increase the chances for all students, again, regardless of economic circumstances, to succeed and thrive.”
Arthur A. – Shorewood, WI
