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Rose Padilla Johnson has been with the San Leandro, California-based Davis Street Community Center for almost 30 years. As CEO of the center, Rose Padilla Johnson is in charge of an organization that provides vital educational assistance to San Leandro residents.
Educating children becomes complicated when socio-economic factors interfere with the child’s ability to learn, preventing them from performing in school. Lack of food and other essential resources, living in a high crime neighborhood, and parents who work long hours are the makings for a child who might struggle in school without supplemental support.
However, teachers who decide to work in these areas can facilitate education by using a few of the following strategies. The first day at school attended by low-income students can be overwhelming. Teachers often walk into the classroom with high expectations of what their students should be able to accomplish versus what they can actually do.
The next strategy toward improving student outcomes in low-income neighborhoods includes building relationships with students. Face-time in the form of short meetings throughout the term, in addition to in-class instruction, is the foundation of building a rapport with students, which leads to trust and shared power. To further invest in these relationships, consider sponsoring a school club, which provides additional opportunities to interact with students.
Do not be afraid to be creative with course content. For example, gaining access to technology resources is often difficult for students who come from families with limited means. For this reason, consider providing time before or after school for students to complete computer-related work, or alternatively, inform them of where they can access technology (i.e. public libraries, coffee shops, and fast food restaurants).
Teach with social needs in mind. Many times, students are not going to come to school primed to learn. Incorporating engaging activities (i.e. book clubs, films, and music) can be a way to tap into the interest of the student to get them engaged in the subject.
