POVERTY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

How Poverty Affects Behavior and Academic Performance

How Does the United States Measure Poverty?

• Poverty Thresholds issued by Census Bureau Thresholds represent annual amount of cash

minimally required for households. Method was established in mid-1960’s Thresholds are updated annually to account for

inflation

Nature, Nurture, and Academic Performance

Genes and Environment Geneticists claim DNA accounts for 30-50 percent of

behaviors Attachment between parent and child

Predicts relationships with peers and teachers Parental Education is substandard Home Behavior= School Behavior

stressful home environment usually equates classroom behavior

Reasons Poverty Affects Academic Performance

• Stressful Enviroments• Affect mood, sleep patterns, outlook on education

Not Fitting In• Clothes, jewelry, popularity, etc

Education and Long Work hours of Parents

decreased attention to academic needs of children

Common Behaviors of Children Raised In Poverty

• “Acting out” behaviors• Impatience and Impulsivity• Less empathy for others’ misfortunes• Inappropriate emotional responses

Improving School Performance

• More Afterschool Programs• Increased Parent Teacher Interaction• Customized Assignments• Effective Balance Among Lectures and Group Assignments• Mentoring

Beating The Odds

• Brain and Behavior challenges do not mirror all poor students• Children Raised in Poverty have a chance at

success.

Challenges Faced by Poor Students

• Increased School Absences• Tardiness Rates• Rates of undiagnosed and/or untreated health

problems or disabilities

Brain Growth and Income

Low Income Students are not read to enoughdecreased brain development

Poorer people have fewer areas devoted to learning at home

Less Likely to be taken to museums

Works Cited

• A Study Guide for Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do About It. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.• "National Poverty Center | University of Michigan."

RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.