Supporting students From lower socioeconomic status

Bianca Saenz

It is a well-known fact that students living in poverty face significant disadvantages compared to their upper-class peers. This leads to generational poverty and keeps low-income families where they are. Supportive educators can ensure proper education for low-income students and offer opportunities for growth and a proper education. As an aspiring educator, and
prior low-income student, I wanted to take a deep dive into the relationship between socioeconomic status and appropriate education.

Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds often face unequal access to an adequate education. It is crucial for educators to have faith in their students' abilities. Unfortunately, students in low-income areas may not have access to the district's most successful teachers. Teachers who lack care for their student's needs and do not believe in their abilities may hinder their academic performance and overall growth. Educators who keep high expectations for their students while recognizing the elements working against them will produce students who will continue to grow throughout their academic career. A supportive educator can provide students with opportunities to learn and grow academically while also teaching them important life skills.

Students living in low-income areas tend to be behind academically when compared to their middle-class/upper-class peers. Poverty causes an unpredictable living situation which
bleeds into education. These effects of poverty on academics include inconsistent attendance, lack of motivation, and lack of high-quality educators. All of these effects of poverty are
completely out of the child’s control – parents and their relationship with education play a huge role in the attitude that the child develops towards academics. Parents with a low socioeconomic status may have done poorly when they were attending school, and their own beliefs on education affect the child’s outlook on schooling. As educators, we have to remember that students living in poverty require extra support and understanding – and there is nothing wrong with that.

Students will not grow if their teachers do not believe they can grow. Upholding expectations is just as important for students living in poverty as their middle-class/upper-class peers. Showing students that you believe in their abilities will instill within them the confidence and determination to reach their goals. When thinking about providing students living in poverty
with extra support, we need to keep in mind that teachers must showcase empathy, not pity. Eric Jensen’s (2009) Teaching with Poverty in Mind, explains what principles this switch embraces. After a quick read, I learned that educators should create a school-wide culture of caring and upholding high expectations for their students. Teachers can also practice showing empathy for their students by talking to students respectfully (not condescendingly) and by providing students with a positive environment through verbal affirmations and positive posters.

When educators are aware of their student’s lives outside of school, they are able to build effective relationships. Caring educators are incredibly influential and will shape their students
throughout, not only their educational career but their lives after education. This deep understanding fosters a supportive environment where students feel valued and understood.