How to Help and Educate Homeless Students in Grades K-12

According to basic statistics - Talk Poverty: http://talkpoverty.org/basics/, as of 2012-2013 there are approximately 1.2 million homeless students in U.S. K-12 public schools. A homeless person is defined as one who does not have a "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence," according to the McKinney-Vento Act at a glance. 

When thinking about educating youth who do not have a stable home to go to at night nor a safe consistent place to rest or eat, how can you expect them to be alert, fresh, aware, or even know the subject matter during the day.  When teaching homeless youth, a teacher must plan for students not able to prepare or have background knowledge in subject matter.  The classroom is where learning takes place and should not be expected to happen outside the school building or day.  This may seem like an odd thing for an educator to say, but when a student and their family is more concerned with where they are going to sleep tonight, how can the teacher expect the student to complete homework. What can be done in a classroom to help guide, educate, and develop homeless students?  The chain is only as strong as its weakest link is true in schools too.  If our weakest students are deficient because of environments or actions out of their control, what can we help them control?  How can we offer supportive, caring, safe environment while teaching topics that may not mean anything to them?
First and foremost, students need to feel loved.  When a connection can be made between student and teacher, students are more willing to work hard, even if they don't like it.  A simple question or comment about the child, offering an insight showing you notice them can help students to feel safe.  
Second, structure in necessary.  When everything else around them is unknown, it is nice to have one thing that is constant and consistent in their lives. Maintaining a structured yet flexible, when needed, classroom can help students to be prepared for what is next. Students need to know the rules and when the rules are broken, what the consequences are.  Some students will break rules to get out of class, others my break rules to get attention, whatever the reason be prepared for it.  It may be better to have "no tolerance" as opposed to "zero tolerance."  As a teacher you have the ability to make things fair, but that does not always mean same.  No tolerance allows you the ability to make decisions based on the problem and circumstances as opposed to zero tolerance which paints you into a corner with only one consequence for the actions.
Third, patience and empathy.  Understanding that everyone has different experiences, that is what makes our world great. In a classroom that can be difficult to teach to.  Through patience you will be able to learn where the student is starting at and what they are able to do.  Through empathy you will be able to comfort and reassure the student(s) of their abilities great and small.  
Lastly, differentiation of instruction, topics, reading, math, etc can make all the difference.  Is it important that everyone does the same thing the same way?  No, but it is important that everyone learns the topics being studied.  Centers, individual work, book work, activity based learning, etc can reach different students in different ways.  Some students will be more comfortable working alone whereas others may blossom in a group.  It is not necessary that every child be good in every situation, but it is necessary that every student show they are able to learn.  
When working with students who bring baggage to your classroom, show them love, give them structure, be empathetic, and patient.  Then watch your students grow into amazing young adults!

Legacy

I have been thinking all day about my legacy.  What exactly does that mean?  We are traveling as a family to Nashville, TN for a business trip.  As my kids and I are looking for things to do while Daddy is working, we came across the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, and lots of others.  Those two in particular bring memories of my great Aunt Ardis.  She died two years ago, but she played at the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted in to the MN country music hall of fame.  All of this got my very complex thinking pattern cranking.  Ardis left a legacy of music and entertainment that will most likely die with my family.  There are not many who will sit down and search out the Yodeling Sweetheart of the 1950's and The Flame in downtown Minneapolis. 

This was all a passing thought earlier today, but as I sit waiting for my boys at AWANA and youth group, I am listening to music.  Two songs, back to back, none the less, were about leaving a legacy!  Even on shuffle!!!  God wants me to think about this, what does it mean to leave a legacy for my kids?  When I die, what is left?  What have I done that will be forever remembered?  My children of course!  What I show, share, teach, engage, with my kids will forever be my legacy.  

God gave us rules to abide by and share in the Bible, these tell us the difference between right and wrong.  Man doesn't decide that, God does.  God gave us a way to be with Him in Heaven, Jesus.  It is only by Jesus that we are no longer separated from God, who is a righteous judge.  We are all sinners and have fallen short of Christ.   This is how my legacy will be left.  Did I share the love of Christ with those I came in contact with?  Did I teach my children to do the same?  Have I prayed for others?  Have I shared my time, gifts, and finances with those God has led me to?  Have I helped to bring as many with me to Heaven as I can?  As my kids move on, find and marry a Christian woman that God has prepared for them, they will begin to share the legacy I am building every moment, both the good and the bad.  

If I died tonight, have I done, said, shown, shared, and loved all I can?  Right now my answer would be, no, I haven't!  I was short with my boys today, I yelled, I rolled my eyes instead of showing compassion.  God has impressed this upon my heart.  I need to change how I talk my body language, my sarcasm, my demeanor for my children.  This is a difficult task when children can be like fingernails on a chalkboard!  Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  This is true!  Have I been running to Him or from Him?

Where are you at today?  Take up the full armor of God and run to Him!

Big Lake Man’s Robot Turns Winter Into Art « CBS Minnesota

Big Lake Man’s Robot Turns Winter Into Art « CBS Minnesota

This is just an amazing sight and creation of ice in Minnesota!  Roger Hanson is a computer programmer who has designed a program to spray water to create an ice tower!!

You have got to see it to believe it!

To Donate or Not to Donate

We have spent the last ten years managing Type I Diabetes in our family.  Imagine how frightening it would be to have a three year old boy and a doctor telling us, "Your son needs to go to St. Paul Childrens, IMMEDIATELY!  They are expecting you, we have already called!"  We had no idea what to expect or how we would manage.  Grandmas and Grandpas were frightened of hurting him by testing blood sugar or administering shots.  Mom and Dad were sleep deprived, emotionally drained, and son was managing as best as we could expect any three year old child to do.  As we grew into the disease, we learned more, understood more, and tried to do more.  I still find myself depending upon the doctors, even after ten years.  Understanding what insulin does in our son's body and what his blood sugars need to be is one thing, but making changes that could drop his numbers dangerously low, is another.

We use an Animus Ping insulin pump and it works well for our active, now thirteen, year old.  He plays football in the fall and has played baseball and soccer in the past.  We encourage him to always be active as it tends to help his blood sugars.  He is passionate about fishing and if he could do that all day every day of the year, he would!  Just check out the team shirt below!

I still find there are days where I am dragging from waking up every two hours to test his blood sugar, trying to gain insight as to how to change the basal and bolus rates.  I look at my sleeping baby and stare at his pin-pricked, calloused, discolored fingertips to find a good spot to poke for a test.  I maintain my composure but know in my heart that I would take this on for him if I could!  As we move into this weekend, we as a family, as for your support in finding both advanced treatments and a cure for Type I Diabetes.  Below is a link to our Team Zoubek page for the MOA Walk for a Cure.

Thank you for your support!

Team Zoubek Walk for a Cure

Common Assessments

Schools struggle with how to assess the students that walk through their doors. Many districts use tests such as NWEA or MAP testing.  This test is an adaptive test that moves up and down with the answers of the student, eventually leveling out their "grade level" score.  For many students this doesn't really show what they are capable of or how well they understand a topic.  Now, for teachers, there are ways to utilize the scores and build bridges for students, if they have honestly tried.  Many teachers become frustrated with the amount of testing that needs to be done.  Not only are there the regular quizzes, tests, and daily formative assessments but there are the summative assessments that are supposed to show growth, such as MAP.  In Minnesota there are also state tests called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment  (MCA) that are taken in the spring.  Minnesota is now offering a online math test prep called the Optional Local Purpose Assessment (OLPA) to prepare for the MCA math test.  The results are only for the school/student and are to prepare for the spring MCA.
I would contend that if districts really wanted to see benefits of their teaching, they need to create common assessments that each grade level, course, and school will use.  These assessments would be used to see what is working in a classroom and what adjustments need to be made.  Teachers may continue to teach how they teach, but it will be telling if one class out performs another.  I would say changes would need to be made at that point.  The goal of this for teachers is collaboration.  Sharing what works, what doesn't, and how to become better teachers.  This in turn affects the performance of the students.
I encourage each parent, teacher, student, community member to become involved in making change at each level.  Our youth is too important to leave behind!

The Ice Project

The Ice Project

We have nearby neighbors that have a geo-thermal system heating their house.  Roger Hanson is his name and he is a computer programmer gone wild!  Check out the photos!!  

He has an amazing system for creating this and is working on getting this up on Facebook   As far as education is concerned, we are talking math, science, computer, language, marketing...the list goes on!  I have linked the title to his website showing more photos over time.  If you haven't been by his house to see this in person, this is the next best thing!
Enjoy!!

Money, time, and organizational savings

As I was adding my "Coke Rewards" points into my account this morning, I got to looking at all my school collections items and thought I would share this. My sons' schools collect all the food labels, milk tops, etc for extra supplies. It became overwhelming to keep track of all the small tokens. I have a small wall space tucked away behind some cupboards so I decided to use this as my collection area. I use push pins and sandwich bags to hang on the wall. After finishing, opening, cutting, etc each savable item I place it in the appropriate bag. After I have a full bag, I send it to school with one of the boys. This works out great when Grandma sends more in the mail as well! Remember every dime counts when everyone's dimes are counted together!! Don't forget that many schools have an inkjet cartridge recycling program that earns them money too! If you don't use your "Coke Rewards" donate them to your local school, if they don't have a program, email the principal to get one. Every little bit helps!