The Effects of Poverty on Teaching and Learning

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Reflections: The Effects of Poverty on Teaching and Learning

I knew I had some pre-conceived ideas and did not understand the “hype” about the effects of poverty on teaching and learning in the United States, specifically between Washington, D.C. (considered a state for educational purposes) and Arkansas Public Schools. However, even though I grew up and graduated from Washington, DC Public Schools, through research I have found that there are many similarities when when it comes to the effects of poverty on teaching and learning whether you live in North or the South. First, the statistics are astounding. The January 2011 Children's Defense Fund's statistics reveal that the number of poor children in the District of Columbia is 29.4% and the number of children in extreme poverty is 18.8%. In comparison, the number of poor children in Arkansas is 27.2% and the number of children in extreme poverty is 12% . Yet, Washington ranks 3rd among states in per pupil expenditures while Arkansas ranks 37th. Since per pupil expenditures does not seem like a major factor, we must consider the concept of at-risk and the challenges that include diversity, achievement gap, student motivation to learn, lack of readiness to learn, relationships with and involvement of parents and families and brain based research, learning and poverty as outlined by Karen M. Pillino.

THE CONCEPT OF BEING AT-RISK

Pellino contends that “the impact of learning on the child of poverty but can also impact the learning of other children.” Because I am African American, I wanted to take a closer look at students who have been identified as “at risk” because of poverty. In Washington, D.C., poverty among students who are White, non-hispanic, 0.35% (7.1%); b...

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National Center for Education Statistics (2013). State Profiles.net. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/

Pellino, K. M. (2007). The effects of poverty on teaching and learning. Retrieved April, 23.

The President and Fellows at Harvard (2014). AGI Topics: The Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.agi.harvard.edu/projects/thegap.php

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