Family’s SES

Family income

High-SES Middle-SES Low-SES

SOCIOECONOMIC
STATUS Parent’s education
level
(SES)
Higher academic Lower academic
achievement achievement
(school drop out)

Parent’s occupation

WHY?

• Neighborhoods with fewer economic

• Fewer educational resources
Sometimes, low academic achievements among…

Children REASONS EFFECTS

from Anxiety & depression

high-SES
High expectations

Emotionally distant with

Parents have from children
high
demanding Limited guidance &
jobs support
 CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
POVERTY
Chidren in extreme
Academic failure
poverty

Need attention & support

Factors for lower school achievement among the low-
SES students

Gaps in
background
knowledge

Unhealthy Lower-
social quality
environments schools

factors

Exposure to Poor
toxic attention &
substances health care
Inadequate
housing and
frequent
moves
1. Poor nutrition and health
• Fewer financial resources – inadequate nutrition & health care

• Effects of inadequate nutrition:

 impairments in attention, memory & learning ability.
Influence school achievement –hampering brain development

• Effects of inadequate health care: condition that interfere with school attendance & performance
 asthma, hearing problem, go unaddressed
2. Inadequate housing & frequent moves

Tight quarters

Sharing rooms

Frequently move from to

another apartments
EFFECTS
Change schools
• lose existing social networks
• Miss lesson & fundamental skills
3. Exposure to toxic substances

Excessive levels of
environmental EFFECTS Health & brain problem
toxins

Examples:
 Lead in the dust from deteriorating paint
 Pesticides or industrial waste in water supply
 Air pollutant (power plants & industrial incinerators)
4. Unhealthy social environments

Higher
frequencies of
violence &
vandalism

Low SES
neighborhoods

• Fewer productive outlets

Lower academic achievement

• Fewer positive role models
 5. Emotional stress

Students from low-income families High stressful condition

• High numbers of single-parent homes among

Distracted by personal problems
low-SES families

 Depression
EFFECTS
 Emotional problems

To the students who are experiencing unusual stress:

SOLUTION  Effective support – willing listener
 Consulation – school counselor, school psychologist
6. Gaps in background knowledge
Lack of basic
knowledge &
skills
Parents with
few basic
academic skills
Parents have
considerable
education
Low- SES families
7. Lower-quality schools

School in low-income neighborhoodsLess funding

Poorly equipped and maintened

Fewer
Low Less- opportunitie
Teachers at this expectation challenging Less s to develop
homework
school for students curriculum advanced
thinking skills
 FOSTERING RESILIENCE

Factors that can foster resilience in students from challenging background

Factors that foster resilience

 Take personal interest – teachers towards resilient students

Be a dependable source of
academic and emotional support  Be a willing listener – concerns
 Encouragement & support

Build on students’ strengths  Have more knowledge & skills on certain aspects

Identify & provide missing
resources and experiences
important for successful learning
 Provide basic essentials- nutritious meals (free, reduced-cost meal
program), clothes, adequate health care (low-cost clinics), school
supplies
 Identify basic experiences that students not have had.
(field trips)
• Identify, teach basic skills & engage in complex academic tasks
 WORKING WITH HOMELESS STUDENTS

Inappropri
ate
behaviors
Several suggestions to achieve academic &
social success :
 Pair new students with classmates – guidance &
assistance
Significant Chronic  Provide stationeries or portable desk
mental Children of homeless physical
health families problems  Find adult or teenage volunteers – as a tutors
issues
 Meet parents at the shelter
 Share copies of homework assignments, etc

Limited
social
support
networks