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BUSTED: Myths Exposed for New Teachers – Myth #7: There Are No Homeless Kids in Your Classroom
By Betsy Weigle
[Editors' note: Share your comments with the author and other readers in the Comments section below this article. ]
What does it feel like to be a homeless student?
Ask yourself…How eager to learn would you feel if you:
- woke up on friend’s sofa this morning
- fought eight people for bathroom time
- pulled on yesterday’s clothing
- headed out with no breakfast
This is the daily life of homeless students…every day.
Now ask yourself: Are there any kids in your room who are homeless?
The answer may surprise you…a lot.
Defining “Homeless Students”
There aren’t actually very many children who are bedding down in the streets or under overpasses, like so many homeless men and women. The situation has many more variables; the McKinney-Vento Act (the federal legislation that guides all homeless student programs in America) defines a homeless student as:
“Any individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.”
The following situations are included:
- Sleeping in shelters
- Living in automobiles
- Living with other families
- Living in buildings or trailers that are substandard or unsafe
- Waiting for placement in foster care
For most students in elementary school, this means they will usually be living with either their mom or dad, who will be experiencing hardships along with them. High school students may be completely without support from their parents…”couch surfing” in friends’ houses.
Some school districts have reported that their homeless student enrollment has increased between 50% and 100% in recent years. The recession has driven many at-risk families into unstable living situations…and their kids have become the most vulnerable victims of the poor economy.
The Faces of Homelessness
Have you seen any of these kids? I have…
Cintana lived with 14 people who shared two bedrooms and one bathroom. She couldn’t stay clean and was constantly embarrassed when other girls noticed. The psychological impact was hard on her; I remember consoling her one morning when she was devastated because someone else took her turn on the couch the night before…and she only got the couch one night every other week.
My own kids had slept in their own beds in their own rooms the night before; I wouldn’t have thought them ready for school if they hadn’t.
Trey hadn’t lived at his own home for two years when he ended up in a shelter as a sophomore. He did not get along with either of his parents, who hadn’t spoken to each other since their divorce. Trey had been using one against the other since middle school, alternating between their houses but mainly spending most most of his time at friends’ houses. One cold winter night he ran out of couches.
Read more homeless student profiles…will you recognize some of your own students?
Kids of All Ages Need Stability
Success in school rests on a foundation of stability. Some teachers overlook this fact, but consider this: If our own lives are predictable, without too much discomfort, we are able to tackle new tasks and learn new skills. But if we feel overwhelmed from events in our lives and our routines are out of whack, we have no interest in adding one more thing – such as learning something new – to our plates.
Children are no different. If they find themselves wondering how they’ll get a turn in the bathroom or find breakfast, they will not be as prepared as possible for effective learning at school. On the other hand, if they can get 6 hours of stability at school, it is often enough to help them hang on for the rest of the day and night…and, if we do things right, learn something.
The benefits of school stability apply to students of all ages; middle and high school homeless kids may express their needs differently, but they need the social support of school just as badly as the elementary students. Few of us were ready to be on our own without support at age 15 (or even age 18!); kids today have the same need for adult concern and guidance that we did.
Teachers Provide Stability
A teacher’s role includes:
- Being an advocate
- Linking up kids with district transportation options
- Making sure the homeless student is well connected to the classroom community
Getting services for homeless kids is a critical first step. Every teacher should be familiar with the requirements of federal law regarding homeless services and accommodations; it’s just part of our professional obligation. A new teacher can start by forming a relationship with her district homeless liaison..
Quiz: Do you know who your homeless liaison is?
Recognition of homeless status will often fall to you, the classroom teacher. Signs vary by grade level, but once you have established a strong student-teacher relationship, you’ll know when something is amiss. You can click here to learn more about recognizing homeless kids and download your 1-page homeless family recognition checklist.
After identification, our role is to be very flexible and to understand the impact that transportation challenges can have on the school day. Keep the child from feeling any discomfort if they must walk into your room late because of the homeless bus schedule, even if they interrupt the entry task or the algebra quiz. We all hate the attention we get when we show up late for meetings; don’t let it happen. Instead, let the student hear:
“Good morning, Sandra! I’m right here if have any questions on the task on the whiteboard.”
…or…
“Hey Jim…Samantha has your lab supplies set up and ready to go.”
Communicating with Parents
To really help your student, it’s a good practice to let parents know about options by using your normal communication to present “public service announcements.” This might include:
- Beginning-of-the-year letters to home
- Your newsletter
- Your website
All of these approaches are simple; they just build on your existing parent-teacher communication. See below for easy-to-use teacher resources.
Homeless Student Awareness Resources
The Teachers Homeless Student Action Center, which I have created on my own website, is dedicated completely to the role that teachers play. In addition to background information, case studies and a question/answer section, it includes numerous free outreach tools. You’ll find ready-to-use fliers and graphics to communicate with your parents, a lesson plan and PowerPoint for educating staff, and multiple cut-and-paste options for spreading the word by Facebook, Twitter, blog or website.
Note: All parent communication documents and graphics include Spanish translations.
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAECHY) provides critical awareness resources and guidance for professionals who are implementing the the provisions of the McKinney-Vento law. They also provide awareness resources, including posters and training support. The NAECHY’s annual conference is the only one in the country dedicated to improving the education and well-being of homeless children and youth.
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is the U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center in the area of homeless education. Aside from a variety of training and awareness resources, they provide links to all federal issues and programs impacting homeless students. Their list of state coordinators can set you on the path to discovering your local resources. They also staff a telephone hotline.
Fulfilling the Promise of Public Education
Public school is for everyone. More than most children, homeless students need the education that school can provide to break out of their life situation and become successful adults. They show up at school with a few strikes against them compared to their peers, and that’s why teachers must step forward to level the playing field and give them the best chance of success.
Let’s give every child, no matter their living situation, the best opportunity the American public school system can provide.
Next Month’s Column
Join me next month when I bust the next myth: Kidz Don’t Need to Spell Korrectly to Communicait Effectively. Are you skipping over spelling practice and focusing only on creativity in writing? Time to reconsider…
About the Author
Betsy Weigle is a National Board Certified Teacher with 13+ years of elementary school experience. She is a respected math, social studies and science curriculum developer and creator of a detailed website for new elementary school teachers. Visit her teaching resources website at www.Classroom-Teacher-Resources.com or connect with her at www.facebook.com/classroom.teacher.resources.
