I work in an urban high school with over a 90% poverty rate. We have students from diverse backgrounds and needs. 60% of our students are either special education or multi-lingual learners. Many are new immigrants, unfamiliar with the culture and climate of our city. The unifying factor is poverty, which causes stress on their families and on their still developing minds.
In order to focus on Bloom's Taxonomy in Pedagogical Terms, one must have Maslow's hierarchy of needs met first! The basic need of food is not always met and kids come to school hungry. They do not always want to eat the school food, or miss the breakfast due to the public bus schedule. As a professional school counselor, I hear their individual strories. Many kids come to me looking for a quick snack and someone to listen to them. I would like to offer them a variety of healthy choices that are nutritious and taste good. Some students ask for more than one and when pushed will tell me they do not have a lot of food in their houses. At the same time, the student is taking a quick break, I get the opportunity to look at their grades, attendance, future goals, to talk about enrichment opportunities and their personal lives. Sometimes, kids have been sitting in class all day and need a quick break. Other times, they are called down to discuss a particular issue that may have been brought to my attention by a classroom teacher or an administrator. Food is a universal need and usually a motivator. If one is hungry, it is more challenging to focus and learn, at the same time knowing they can get a snack makes them feel cared for and safe.
About my class
I work in an urban high school with over a 90% poverty rate. We have students from diverse backgrounds and needs. 60% of our students are either special education or multi-lingual learners. Many are new immigrants, unfamiliar with the culture and climate of our city. The unifying factor is poverty, which causes stress on their families and on their still developing minds.
In order to focus on Bloom's Taxonomy in Pedagogical Terms, one must have Maslow's hierarchy of needs met first! The basic need of food is not always met and kids come to school hungry. They do not always want to eat the school food, or miss the breakfast due to the public bus schedule. As a professional school counselor, I hear their individual strories. Many kids come to me looking for a quick snack and someone to listen to them. I would like to offer them a variety of healthy choices that are nutritious and taste good. Some students ask for more than one and when pushed will tell me they do not have a lot of food in their houses. At the same time, the student is taking a quick break, I get the opportunity to look at their grades, attendance, future goals, to talk about enrichment opportunities and their personal lives. Sometimes, kids have been sitting in class all day and need a quick break. Other times, they are called down to discuss a particular issue that may have been brought to my attention by a classroom teacher or an administrator. Food is a universal need and usually a motivator. If one is hungry, it is more challenging to focus and learn, at the same time knowing they can get a snack makes them feel cared for and safe.
Read more