Changes in American Society

1. Changes in American Society Their influences on today’s students

2. School is challenging for students, like teaching is for you

3. Changes in American Families • No “norm” to families • 7 of 10 women w/children – work • Divorce rate – quadruped (from 1978 to 2000) • 25% live with their mother only • 5% with father only • 4% - neither • Poverty among single-parent families – nearly 10 times higher than in families head by married couples.

4. Changes in American Families • “The combination of less time and less support results in children coming to school less prepared.” pg 39

5. What does this mean for you? • Remember family patterns change • When you say parent/dad/mom – that does not apply to everyone • Communicate about different family patterns – show students that you care

6. Child Care • Quality – IMPORTANT • High quality child care is positively correlated with children’s long term cognitive & emotional development, higher earnings later in life & greater martial stability • Reduces: delinquency, teenage pregnancy, drug use and dropout rates • Important for all, essential for children of poverty • Less likely to have it • Rate of participation has decreased

7. Latchkey Children • Children who return to empty houses after school and who are left alone until parents arrive from work • 15 million children • Concerns: safety, too much television, lack of help with homework • Make sure students understand what is expected of them = more likely to complete homework

8. Changes in our students • Alcohol • Drugs • Violence • Sexuality • Suicide/Death • Obserity

9. Sexuality • Nearly half of teens reported being sexually active by the end of H.S. – only 61% reported using a condom • Teenage pregnancy • STDs • Teenage Pregnancy • Though declining – US still has the highest rates in the industrialized world • More than ½ of household headed by teen moms live in poverty • Mom more likely to drop out of school therefore affecting her life (and that of the baby) • Programs are in place, but still a majority of teen moms still drop out

10. Sexuality • STDs – 1 of 4 (girls) were infected with at last one form of STD • Many school districts have implemented sex education • Controversial • Form content – varies • Sexual Orientation & Identity • No accurate figure (social stigma involved) • Sexual orientation – labels – lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight • Sexual identity – transgender • Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender students F eel rejected by peers & society = feelings of alienation & depression, drug use & suicide rates – considerably higher • Discussions – controversial

11. Sexual Harassment • Unwanted and/or unwelcome sexually oriented behavior that interferes with a student’s life • Can interfere with a student’s learning and development • Nearly half 7-12 graders reported being sexually harassed • Negative personal consequences (poor sleep, stomachaches, absenteeism) • LGBT students • 90% hear expressions “That’s so gay” You’re so gay” • 6 of 10 reported not feeling safe at school • Schools/teachers – better job making school safe • Talk with students about the problem, emphasize that NO form of harassment will be tolerated

12. Alcohol & Other Drugs • Likely to have students who are very familiar with the abuse • Teenagers who abuse: • Damage to their health • Car accidents • Suicide • School related problems • Poor attendance, decreased learning, more likely to drop out

13. Alcohol & Other Drugs • Why start? • Many reasons – not one answer • What can you do as a teacher?? • Your interactions with students about drugs & emphasis on a healthy lifestyle – crucial to successful efforts • Talk about the problem & help students understand the benefits of dealing with their problem in a positive & proactive manner

14. Obesity • Major health concern • 1 of 6 students – overweight • Figure higher for students living in poverty & cultural minorities • Face rejection from peers • Government – stricter guidelines for school lunches – bans on soft drinks • You can help: • Talk about the foods you eat, & help students understand how their diets affect their health • Modeling – powerful tool

15. School Violence & Crime • School violence is more common in some school contexts than in others • Highest – middle school • More common in urban schools • Greatest in high-poverty areas • Often associated with gangs (1 of five reported gangs were present at school) • What can you do?? • A lot • Make sure that your students are learning & experiencing academic success & that they believe that you care about them & want them to succeed • Students must have someone they can talk to at school

16. Bullying • A more subtle form of school violence that involves a systematic or repetitious abuse of power between students • Damaging effects • Possible links to suicides & school shootings • Half of students report either being bullied or being the bully (higher) • Most commonly learned (poor problem solving skills) • Emotionally underdeveloped • When it occurs, Immediately stop it. • Intervene, use it as a teaching moment

17. CyberBullying • Use of electronic media to harass or intimidate other students • Attempts to prevent – help students understand the consequences of their negative behaviors & teaching alternative prosocial behaviors • Close with students – help them understand their actions

18. School Wide Safety Programs • Designed to make schools safe havens for teaching and learning • Varies • Zero-tolerance policies – calls for a student to receive automatic suspensions or expulsions as punishment for certain offenses

19. Suicide • 3rd leading cause of teen death (car accidents & homicide – top two) • Girls – twice as likely to attempt • Boys – 4 times more likely to succeed • Causes – varies – most are related to the stresses of adolescence • Indicators: • Abrupt decline in quality of school work • Withdrawal – friends/classroom • Eating/sleeping habits change • Depression • Comments

20. Child Abuse • Often hidden – reliable figures hard to obtain • Although abuse can occur at any level of society, it tends to be associated with poverty & if often linked to parental substance abuse • Possible symptoms: • Neglected appearance • Sudden change in either academic or social behavior • Disruptive or overly compliant behavior • Repeated injury (bruises, welts, burns)

21. Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Students • Experts estimate – students spend 5 times as many hours in homes/neighbors than in school • Learning in those environment • Family – primary influence on students • Gap between the rich & poor – grown in the last three decides

22. Upper Class • Composed of highly educated, highly paid professionals (bachelor’s degree or higher, making $170,00 or higher) • 5% total population • Gap between upper class and others – growing

23. Middle Class • Composed of managers, administrators & white collar workers • TEACHERS • $40,00-170,000 • 4/10 families

24. Working Class (lower middle class) • $25,000-$40,000 • 1/3 population • Most high school education • Blue collar jobs (manual labor – construction, factory work) • College – reality for about 1/3 kids

25. Lower class • Makes less than $25,000 • High school education or less • Work in low paying jobs (entry level) • 1/5 families • ½ completes high school • 1 of 4 – college • Lowest – depend on public assistance

26. Underclass • People with low incomes who continually struggle with economic problems • Escaping – very difficult • Poverty = special challenges

27. Poverty • Government – poverty threshold – household income levels that represent the lowest earning require to meet basic living needs • 2011 - $22,350 • Nearly 1 of 5 students = poverty • You will deal with the negative effects of poverty (regardless where you teach) • Government – free/reduced lunch • Most families do not participate

28. Poverty • Teachers report – 65% of students come to school hungry • Snacks, help students sign up for free/reduced meals • 5 times more likely to drop out of school • Integration programs – busing, magnet schools, vouchers • Research – effective

29. Important • Make sure you are staying up to date with your reading!!

30. Homelessness • Direct result of poverty • Accurate count – difficult • Kids – suffer inadequate diets & lack of medical care, fail to attend school regularly, suffer from a # of learning challenges, more likely to repeat a grade & drop out of school • Urban school – target homeless children – send buses out, students can shower, wash clothes, clean underwear, changes of clothes, provide medical treatment.

31. Homelessness • You can help!! • Being a willing ear to listen • Make a special effort to maintain HIGH expectations for ALL students • Research – dress/grooming factors can influence teachers’ instructional decisions • Talk with experienced teachers about resources available • Pass out information

32. Socioeconomic Status & School Success • Constantly predicts a number of indicators of school success, including achievement test scores, grades and truancy, dropout and suspension rates • Experts have identified factors that allow for differences in achievement: • Fulfillment of basic needs • Family stability • School related experiences • Interactions patterns in the home • Parental attitudes and values

33. SES: Cautions and Implications for teachers • Remember these are group differences, individuals within groups will vary WIDELY • Avoid stereotypes – students are individuals • Keep expectations HIGH for all students • One program based on Ruby Payne’s book – has been criticized for stereotyping these children

34. Students at Risk • Are in danger of failing to complete their education with the skills necessary to function effectively in modern society • At risk- medicine – which uses the term “risk factors” • Term became popular after 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education – U.S. – a “nation at risk”

35. Educational Problems • High dropout rates • Low grades • Renton in grade • Low achievement • Low participation in extracurricular activities • Poor attendance • Misbehavior in class • Low self-esteem • Low test scores • Lack of interest in school • High suspension rate

36. Background factors • Low SES/Poverty • Homeless • Divorced families • Inner city • Minority • Nonnative English speaking • Environments with Drug/Alcohol Abuse • Neighborhood – high crime activity rate

37. The Dropout Problem • Decrease chance of personal success, more likely to have problems with transiency, crime & drug abuse • Min. wage jobs, earns 50% less than of a high school graduate • More males drop out then females • Unstable families, high rates of student mobility, higher graduation standards, exit exams • In 2012, President Obama’s State of the Union address speech, he urged every state to require students to stay until 18 or graduate

38. The Dropout Problem • Survey • Students: • Were not motivatedor inspired to work • Classes not interesting • Lack of challenge • You as a teacher can make a difference!!! • We need BETTER teachers!!! • Government – teachers who produce achievement gains – up to $10,000 to move to schools with a large # of students at risk

39. Students at Risk and Urban Schools

40. Effective Schools • Involve parents & other members of the community • Full-service schools – family resource centers – social & health services

41. Questions? • What do effective schools for students at risk emphasize? • What do effective teachers for students at risk ensure? • What should effective instruction and support look like for students at risk?

42. Effective Schools • Safe, orderly school climate in which • Academic objectives focusing on mastery of content • Cooperation, a sense of community, prosocial values • Student responsibility & self-regulation with decreased emphasis on external controls • Strong parental involvement • Caring and demanding teachers who hold HIGH expectations for all

43. Effective Teachers • Caring, demanding & hold high moral & academic expectations • They refuse to let their students fail • Activity involve students' in learning activities • Provide instruction that is challenging, motivating & connected to students’ lives • Design instruction so the ALL learn & they know it • Confidence, self-esteem

44. Effective Instruction • High classroom structure with predictable routines • Clear learning objective • High levels of interaction between the teacher and students • Frequent & thorough assessment • Informative feedback to promote student success • Emphasis on student responsibility