{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"39223638","dateCreated":"1305735252","smartDate":"May 18, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"Kctillett","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/Kctillett","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/stephensstars.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/39223638"},"dateDigested":1531976917,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Pre-Reading Questions from Raymond","description":"Before starting the book, choose one of the questions below and respond in writing.
\n
\nEric Jensen says that one way we can positively impact students from poverty is to "deepen staff understanding." List a few questions you may have about how poverty influences children as they enter school.
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\nReflect on your own personal experiences and\/or beliefs related to poverty. Our own understandings of poverty may be rooted in our experiences from childhood. Perhaps we grew in upper-middle class neighborhoods and were never exposed to families in poverty. Our own family may have gone through periods of financial difficulty, but we still maintained a living standard that was middle class. Or perhaps you were surrounded by poverty on a regular basis. How do you think your own experiences may shape your understanding of poverty?","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"40202276","body":"I grew up in a middle class family (for some years low middle class and then years later a little bit upper middle class), how is that? Well, my parents don\u2019t have a degree, my dad barely completed middle school because he had to work to help his family so he attended to school at nights, and my mom got a technical degree but not finished high school. My dad used to work as a dispatcher in a drug store with my mom, lets keep in mind this was in Mexico were the minimum salary is really low. I don\u2019t remember these years because I was too small (like David I think so) by looking at the pictures I can figure it out.
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\nMy dad then got an opportunity to work with a company as a salesman where he worked for too many years, and my mom worked too as a sales representative, the incomes were just enough to feed us, dress ups, and attend to a private school (remember this is in Mexico) we had good education there, we didn\u2019t have anything we want (as toys, etc) but education was the main focus of my parents always. Years later my parents got an opportunity to own a drug store, and they bought it. Well thanks to that decision and their hard work I attended to a private university. My parents always encouraged us to study and get our degrees; we received a lot of support from them.
\n
\nDuring elementary school when we didn\u2019t have enough incomes as I said, I remember that I wished to have the new brand name tennis shoes or the new video game as my classmates but I couldn\u2019t because the low incomes. My mom used or I\u2019d say keep telling that we maybe are not rich, but we\u2019ll have at least at bowl of beans at the table and good education to grow professionally.
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\nSalazar","dateCreated":"1308023131","smartDate":"Jun 13, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"salazar08","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/salazar08","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1305832185\/salazar08-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40211528","body":"As always, I have many questions (these are my own for reflection and not meant for response):
\n1. How do our individual and collective experiences shape our understandings and ability to reach our students? While our focus for this book study may be on poverty, there may be other considerations, including race, gender, language, family structure\/support.
\n2. How can we use research related to brain development to meet the needs of students?
\n3. What "aha's" will be uncovered as we read?
\n4. How can we use this book study to further deepen a common vision for what we are about and who we need to be for our students?
\n
\n
\nMost of you know I grew up in this neighborhood. Actually, I grew close to Mendel Elementary, which is an area that has always been working class. Although I knew that many of my school-age friends' families struggles to make ends meet, I didn't have a notion that our neighborhood was considered less desirable until I reached middle school and high school. I think the fact that I grew up near but not in poverty has given me a certain level of understanding, but I cannot say that I ever lacked for anything.","dateCreated":"1308061130","smartDate":"Jun 14, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"Stubblefield1","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/Stubblefield1","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40324271","body":"I grew up not having a lot but not really in poverty. I didn't know we were poor when I was a kid. My parents did the best they could with what they had. My father is a carpenter and when he first moved to Houston, we did not have a lot. We lived a one bedroom apartment above a garage for about four years. As things got better we were able to move into a house. Eventually my father and mother both worked and we had made it up to about lower middle class.
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\nAfter I graduated from Mac Arthur High School in 1982, our family moved to a small town called Camp Wood with a population of 700. We had property seven miles out of town on top of a hill. My parents lived in a little pop-up trailer and my brother and I lived in a tent. Once our house sold in Houston, we were going to build a house, pay to get electricity run up the hill, drill a well for water, pay to run some telephone lines to the house. But, the people buying the house were not able to get the money like they thought so we had to wait because we had used up all our money buying the land. We didn't sell our house for quite a while so I had to live in a tent with no money, no food, no electricity, no water, no telephone for six months. We had to survive on the animals that ran around on our property. I finally understood the fear of not knowing where my next meal was coming from.
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\nGoing through that experience made me truly appreciate what I had.","dateCreated":"1308412769","smartDate":"Jun 18, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"drdalton","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/drdalton","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40358023","body":"Towards the end of this school year, I was having a discussion with my students about their self-image and how they treated their peers. The topic of how to defend yourself verbally\/physically if they were being bullied quickly became a heated debate. I was posing the idea that if someone does something physically to you, responding back in the same manner would only make the situation worse. One of my little boys, however, came back with something along the lines of, "Miss Dorgan...my family has always taught me to defend myself and be proud of who I am. My father supports me fighting back if I am attacked, and that is what I will do, no matter what any teacher says." I don't know if the moments in my mind afer that would be considered "aha" moments, but it definitely made me wonder...
\n
\n-How can I teach my students that violence is not the answer when they may be surrounded by it on a daily basis, and their only form of survival is to fight back?
\n-When I tell my students not to defend themselves or feed the fire of battle with their peers, am I really giving them the right kind of tools to survive in a world I am not so familiar with?
\n
\nGrowing up as a child, my parents provided with me with all my basic needs and a few extras a long the way. I knew that no matter what, my family had the resources to provide me with the emotional and physical survival tactics for the middle class world because this was the world they too grew up in. It was very rare that I took a step back and really appreciated that fact, but at the same time, my experiences hadn't opened my eyes to any other world growing up in suburbia. It is way too easy to take what we have for granted, and I am just as guilty as anyone for not being appreciative for all that I have. Our society thrives on always going faster, stronger, higher, richer, or better...During our book study, I am hoping to grasp a better understanding on how to approach being a role model for the students and families I serve at Stephens Elementary.","dateCreated":"1308579374","smartDate":"Jun 20, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"lovebmd","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/lovebmd","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40455377","body":"I grew up in a middle class house. Me being the only child. At 5 we moved overseas and lived there for 5 years. Then back to the states and overseas again.I was very fortunate to have the upbringing I did and the opportunities that I did at such a young age. Honestly, my family never struggled financially and my parents were able to provide for me. A lot of it had to do with us being overseas and me being an only child. However, I never let it go to my head and my parents taught me to appreciate what I have and the opportunities that I was given. I love working with kids in poverty and love to share my experiences with them from growing up. I love to see the light in their eyes when they have learned something and they are so loving!","dateCreated":"1308879918","smartDate":"Jun 23, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"heatherblackwell","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/heatherblackwell","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40564115","body":"Both of my parents grew up in poverty.My mom remembers getting food out of the garbage can at school. My dad quit school to come to Houston and work so his parents wouldn't lose their farm. Both of my parents grew up picking cotton.
\nI was raised on the Northside, I grew up in Aldine. I don't feel we lived in poverty. My dad worked nights to make more money and sometimes 2 jobs. My mom was a stay at home mom until I was in Jr High. We went on a vacation every year, went to church every Sunday, out to eat once a week. My brother and I went to private school for 3 years. We were not rewarded for good grades, this was what was expected out of us. I thought this was how everybody lived. I don't think we did without as a child. I feel I had a wonderful childhood. My parents did the best they could.
\nThey did not have the money to send us to college.I am the first person on both sides of my family to go to college.
\nI see the area has changed so much from when I was a child and grew up here.","dateCreated":"1309348598","smartDate":"Jun 29, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"TheresaLucher","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/TheresaLucher","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40571147","body":"I say we grew up in a middle class house. But when I asked my mom she said we were low income. As the years passed things were better. It was my brother and I and at times my parents took responsibility of raising my two cousins. Neither of my parents finished college. My parents provided very well for us. We were never aware of financial difficulties. But when I look back we struggled. I remember wearing clothes that were given to me. My mom mentions she didn't eat to make sure there was enough for all 4 of the kids. I have enjoyed working with kids in poverty and have enjoyed sharing my experiences with them. My parents have always encouraged us to work hard and appreciate what we have. And that's what I tell my students.","dateCreated":"1309371859","smartDate":"Jun 29, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"ogarza1","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/ogarza1","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40592493","body":"I grew up in a middle class household with my parents and three older brothers. My parents were hard workers and did their best to provide for us what we needed and wanted. However, they also taught us to realize that hard work pays off and the importance of being responsible. We all had chores\/responsibilities and started working at young ages with various jobs. I remember babysitting and having a lawn mowing business with two of my brothers. In addition, I can remember conversations growing up about the importance of not taking things for granted and always being appreciative of what you have and are given. Growing up, my brothers and I were blessed and fortunate to have some opportunities to travel to nearby places for camping trips and family gatherings. In recent years my family and I volunteered to help give out Christmas gifts to the Homeless. Remembering the joy and excitement on the faces of these children when they received a special gift was a wonderful experience I'll never forget. While working with my students and sharing my own personal experiences growing up, I want them to also realize the importance of responsibilities and how hard work does pay off.","dateCreated":"1309446524","smartDate":"Jun 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"conover1","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/conover1","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40795113","body":"My first question when I began reading this book was: What does the author mean by poverty? Even though I didn't grow up in poverty, I grew up in a Third World Country and I have a different idea of poverty than the idea of the author. When you have seen what is called "absolute poverty" you know that our students are not in that situation. Extreme poverty is common in a lot of countries in America, Africa, and Asia. Right now I am in Colombia and I know a lot of problems in our Latin American countries are due to the poverty and its consequences. I have to adapt my idea of poverty to what is considered poverty in the U.S.A. and the way it is expressed by the author.
\nI wonder if the parents of our immigrant students from Latin America see themselves living in poverty after what some of them lived in their countries of origin. I know some of them lived in such hostile situations in their countries of origin that it might not be seen as poverty for them when they have now access to education, food, and health for their children, water, electricity, roads, etc.","dateCreated":"1310487609","smartDate":"Jul 12, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"amcala","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/amcala","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40889043","body":"Looking back we might have been poor, but I never knew it. I grew up on a farm in Iowa in a house that my grandfather helped to build. My dad farmed the land and my mother took care of the rest until I was about 12. About that time it became increasingly difficult to make a living from farming, so mom had to get a job working in a local factory. A few years in, farming became a losing battle for my dad, so he was forced to sell the equipment and the land. It was hard on both my parents. Soon my dad was also working in a nearby factory. My parents NEVER discussed finances with us, all I knew is that we had what we needed when we needed it and sometimes we got the unexpected surprise and sometimes had to put things on hold. We were often told no (which as far as my parents were concerned, was all we needed to know). There were families who seemed "rich" and I was often jealous of them, but most families around us seemed to be in the same boat as us. We entertained ourselves using what was around and our imagination and knew if we complained about being bored Mom or Dad would find something for us to do! We worked hard to help out when it was expected and knew that as soon as we were 16 we were to find a job and start working, college was for rich kids, not for us. So, at 16 I got my first non-farm job and have worked at least one full-time ever since and it wasn't until I was in my 30's that college finally became a reality. In some aspects I think I understand poverty, but I also think that living in poverty and how it affects you is greatly dependent on the environment you experience it in. Mine was a blessing, others do not have it so lucky!","dateCreated":"1310948574","smartDate":"Jul 17, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"vlrankins","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/vlrankins","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"40986261","body":"I grew up in a large middle class family. My parents were very frugal being children of the depression era. I am the youngest of 7 children with a 6 year difference between the next sibling and myself. I was actually spoiled and knew it! According to my oldest brother and sister, they would say I grew up in an upper class family! We always had what we needed but also knew the value of spending.
\nMy first taste of poverty was when I went with my mother on her "Meals on Wheels" run. She volunteered with this organization for over 20 years. I was about 11-12 and she had warned me that I may see some shocking things. It was the most eye-opening experience of my life. I had never realized what conditions some people lived in. I remember meeting kids wearing almost rags for clothing playing with imaginary toys on their dirt floors. I will never forget those faces.","dateCreated":"1311363995","smartDate":"Jul 22, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"dlandrews13","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/dlandrews13","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"41324409","body":"While reading this book I found myself going back in time only to find out the many faces of poverty and the effect it has in our classrooms. Although my family and I were considered middle class, I also experienced \u201csituational poverty\u201d a few times throughout my life. However, I was blessed to have a family, shelter, clothing, books, and many other things that most of children in my community did not have. I grew up surrounded by poverty. While reading this book, I could see Maria\u2019s face, in my mind. We were in elementary. Maria always got in trouble for incomplete homework, sent back home for dirty clothes, for not participating...for not learning. Often times she was bullied from other children. She was very poor and vulnerable. She seldom smiled and hardly spoke. She cried when toys were brought to the classroom, except her. Maria would stare at other children\u2019s food with empty hands. She just lived in her own world. No one was there to understand and work with her. After reading this book, I thought about poverty. I can now say that I had in front of me what poverty looks, smells, taste, sounds, and feels like. All of it is Maria and the so many children we have in our classrooms. I truely believe that children need to be respected, loved, cared about, understood, nurtured, and educated. As I plan the year ahead, I feel committed to continue to do all of that. Sometimes there are visible signs, but other times those signs are invisible. It is important for me, as a teacher, to have that in mind and always treat children like precious stones.","dateCreated":"1313029624","smartDate":"Aug 10, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"vivaldez","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/vivaldez","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":16}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}