A Framework for Understanding Poverty

ED-AD



Resources

he Internet has hundreds of resources for teaching and supporting learners who have educational and/or academic disadvantage. The following sites can be effective for professionals looking for new strategies and techniques. In addition, the publications listed here can provide a wealth of information about improving programs and instruction.

Publications

Online Resources

ED-AD



Publications

A Framework for Understanding poverty

A Framework for Understanding Povertyby Ruby Payne, Ph.D. is a practical resource for understanding the perspective of the student from poverty within the context of the middle class mindset of public education. It contains useful explanations of the role non-standard English plays in the ability of students to perform on standardized tests, suggestions for what barriers need to be addressed before progressing with curriculum, and many staff development activities. This book is useful for both classroom teachers and administrators. Contact aha! Process, Inc., PO Box 727, Highlands, TX 77562, phone: (800) 424-9484 or online at

Learning by Serving

Learning by Serving: 2,000 Ideas for Service Learning Projects is a very good source for service-learning programs in schools. It provides examples of many different projects around the country from all grade levels. The book provides examples and information on environmental and mentoring projects as well as single-discipline projects such as language, math, science, art, or business. Tips are offered on ways to get projects, to initiate service learning, and to find funding. Contact Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE), 1203 Governor’s Square Blvd., Suite 400, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

sourcebook on youth services

A Sourcebook on Integrating Youth Service into the School Curriculum is a comprehensive and well-presented manual describing service learning and the integration of youth into community development projects. It includes a number of case studies, resources, and materials such as checklists, lesson plans, and step-by-step instructions on developing and implementing service-learning projects. Available from National Youth Leadership Council, 1910 W. County Road B,

St. Paul, MN 55113-1337.

interagency collaboration

Interagency Collaboration: Improving the Delivery of Services to Children and Families is a useful guidebook outlining a process for developing family service centers within schools. In this case, a family service center is defined as “a collaborative strategy through which a range

of services are co-located at a school.” The benefits of these centers are described in detail. It lists examples of school-linked service projects and tools for looking at school-linked services for community involvement. Contact Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE), 1203 Governor’s Square Blvd., Suite 400 Tallahassee, FL 32301.

Building a learning community

Building a Learning Community: A Guide to Family-Driven, School-Linked Services is a guide that helps in creating a partnership for school-linked services, in the understanding of the community and school perspectives, and in mapping the current community health and social service system. It provides the steps involved in establishing an information system, funding a program, creating an information and referral network, and designing a full-service school. It includes examples of school-linked service projects and tools for looking at school-linked services for community involvement. Available from Institute for Responsive Education, Northeastern University, 50 Nightingale Hall, Boston, MA 02115.

Source:

Tavares, B. (2000). Tools for teaming: Resources for linking vocational programs with special populations. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii, Office of the Director for Career and Technical Education.

Online Resources

Institute for Responsive Education encourages and supports partnerships among schools, families, and communities to enable high quality educational opportunities for all children. IRE is committed to a more equitable distribution of educational opportunities and achievement for all children across the lines of race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, economic conditions, and geography.

A Framework for Understanding Poverty is the site for “Ruby Payne on Poverty.” The site contains a collection of publications and staff development tools which Dr. Payne has developed for the understanding of the economically disadvantaged student. These materials and tools also address the dynamics of the economically disadvantaged student within the structure of the educational system. The website has information on staff development opportunities, publications, workbooks, and discussion forums.

Find Your Local United Way provides support for economically and/or academically disadvantaged students by collaborating with local social service agencies. This web site links you to your local United Way.

Welfare Information site provides information useful to teachers and counselors such as publications about adolescence and poverty issues. Included is a “Promising Practices” section which highlights model programs. Within this site is a section just for teens at that has free publications online about adolescence, teen pregnancy, poverty issues, and other related topics. Also located at this site at is a section that provides information on grant sources for individuals with economically disadvantage and information on education and training advocacy and support networks. This site has extensive weblinks to other sites.

America’s Learning Exchange is a federally funded Employment and Training Administration designed website for those engaged in job development and placement, career guidance and counseling, assessment, labor market information dissemination, job seekers, employers, and students exploring the world of work. This site lists training resources and providers, skill identification services to identify the skills needed for a business, and general resources such as books, videos, software, and workshops within the workforce development system.

National Center for Homeless Education provides information and links to help educators, service providers, and families ensure that homeless children and youth have access to educational opportunities and success in the classroom.

Service Learning at Texas A&M University sponsors this website featuring community organizations involved with service-learning, lists of courses involved with service learning, and national links to service-learning.

Source:

Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support (ICSPS)/Special Populations Project1