Dec 30, 2011 2:28:40 PM cite

thank you, thai sean. i think you did well in being positive. i have travelled the world also and have taught in asia for seven years. now i am teaching children living in poverty up in northern maine. i also work with children that have oppositional defiance disorder. their ODD usually stems from some sort of abuse or neglect. research has shown that poverty forms children's minds which in turn forms their adult perceptions and their ideas of their self worth. this is what i meant by "mind set." A lot of teachers in this area believe that poverty is a cycle, where parents teach their children to work off the system. the book entitled, Teaching with Poverty in Mind written by Jensen has been a great help with understanding the dynamics around students living in poverty. he insists that we continue, above all else, to instil hope in our students. this hope can lead them a long way. i guess, overall, i asked this question to find more answers to how i can combat what i see in class and what i see when i go into homes that are poverty stricken. i know you answered concerning poverty around the world. i should have been more specific. here is a new question: why would people on aide get off it when their house, food, clothes, respite workers, behavioral health professionals (me), medical, case worker, etc is paid for? some do, but A LOT don't. what are some ways to show my students that there is more to life? that empowerment is more effective than charity?

by livnlrn75